Laryna

Waking up several hours later to hazy sunlight filtering through the canvas walls of our tent, I sighed, more content than I was yesterday. My previous worries still haunted me, but somehow during my sleep I had decided to not let them rule me. I was here. He was here. For now, it was enough.

Trying to ease myself free quickly proved impossible. Every time I attempted to move, Garrus just pulls me tight against his body. The hard ground wasn't manipulated like a mattress. I didn't want to wake him up; I have no idea how long we've been out and wanted him to get what sleep he could, but I wasn't sure how long I could wait until my bodily demands became to much. Not to mention I needed to rinse out my pants, since they've absorbed much of our activity last night.

Giving in, I forcefully extracted myself, making my turian start. He blinked a few times and was instantly alert, looking around in mild alarm.

"Hey, you," I said softly. "It's fine. I just need a moment. Go back to sleep."

Garrus considers a moment, rolling around his neck to ease the stiffness there. "I'm good. I really need to stretch." I nodded my understanding; my body was protesting silently about the rough sleep on the ground. Unable to delay any longer, I duck out of the tent. I looked around, trying to figure out the best place for some privacy, and some water. Garrus joined me, his pants salvaged and hugging his legs.

"There's a small pool you can refresh yourself at just over there," Thane said, and I somehow managed not to jump. I turned around to glare at the drell, and he returned my stare with a slight tilt of his head; his only betrayal at his own amusement. I broke first as a smile spread against my lips and I laughed. I nodded and quickly headed in the direction he sent me.

To bad the way was a little treacherous, covered in mostly naked, sleeping krogan.

The pool was a little murky looking, but a quick scan didn't show anything harmful in it. There were shallow bowls and a few pitchers off to the side, sending a clear message: don't foul the water. So I found a spot nearby to relieve myself after taking the time to strip away my boots and soiled pants. Afterwards I just strolled back over, not caring my lower body was exposed, claimed a bowl and a pitcher, and went about filling it up. Garrus watched me, clearly amused, as I used the separated water first to clean between my legs and then my sticky clothing. Getting them back on cold and damp was far from pleasant.

"No more camp sex," I grumbled as I struggled to get the denim material over my thighs. My lover lift a brow plate, clearly not convinced I was serious. He'd see, if we ever had to do this again.

The return trip proved...interesting, as I found something I clearly missed on my way here. Garrus immediately spun on his toes and turned his back while I attempted to hold in my laughter. There was our little human biotic, completely exposed, snugged down in between two krogan. Evidence of her exploration last night marred her skin in between her tattoos and covered her legs. I nudged Jack's foot, and she sleepily grunted and snuggled up tighter to the krogan she was facing. I shrugged, and with a light touch to Garrus' shoulder, lead the way back to our camp.

The rest of the morning was spent hunting a quick bite to eat from the meager leftovers and packing up the camp while most sported hang overs, and most of those krogan. Thankfully the large aliens were quick to garb themselves again; they weren't comfortable out of their gear unless they were fucking, and that part of the entertainment was past.

"What's the plan, Shepard?" Wrex asked after we got the tomkah's packed up.

I smiled in the direction of my team. Most of us were biotic, and weren't suffering from the alcohol consumed last night, and I briefly reconsidered my original plans, and quickly decided against it. It would still benefit everyone, and allow some fun cut loose maneuvers that couldn't be done on the Normandy.

"Sparring today," I replied to Wrex. He snorted. "Don't give me that. Besides being fun, there's some serious skill being tossed about. You're welcome to join us. And any of your warriors, though they'd be more useful for the group training tomorrow… but I don't want to ask anymore of you, Wrex. I'm sure you've got important matters to attend too."

"Tomorrow, yes, but the day after a welcoming is always spent as a krogan wills," he replied in a tone that instantly had me doubting his words. Not that I'd call him out on it. "And some of my boys would benefit with going toe to toe with some professionals. Most have never even seen an alien, much less fought one. We'd be happy to partake in your training."

About two hours later we were all gathering in the open wastes outside the barracks, having had the chance for better food, water, and a change of clothes. Everyone was stretching and checking over equipment, Wrex and his krogan-roughly a dozen he chosen to participate-milling around with superior smirks on their faces.

I was amused to no end when Garrus and Jacob showed their solution for live ammo. I couldn't follow the technical terms they spewed about how they worked, but it reminded me of old paintball vids I've seen from a couple hundred years ago on Earth. They even had a couple different colors available. I removed my normal thermal clip from my pistol and loaded the trick clip and took a practice shot at a rock. A very precise red dot appeared on the stone, puffing up some dirt from the collision, and I couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't Armax Arena gear, but it'll suit our needs.

"Jack!" I yelled, and the biotic looked up from where she was fiddling with her flimsy breast straps, trying to get them properly snug again. "I'd promise you a no holds bar when we got ground side!"

"Hell, yes," she yelled back, rushing now.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Garrus asked.

"Nope," I answered, and flashed him a grin. "Want to get a few other matches set up, probably a safe distance from us? I'll take Jack the furthest cleared position from the building. And you better save a decent match in you for me. With our clothes on, Vakarian," I quickly added when his eyes got darker. Garrus smirked and brought up his omni-tool while walking over to the others. I watched him a long moment while I waited to Jack to join me; he was falling into the new, random responsibilities I gave him seamlessly.

I couldn't ask for a better partner.

Jack and I made our way to our battleground. We fell into a heated but still friendly banter about our fuck partners the night before. I was getting use to being able to communicate with the feisty little woman in terms that suited us both well enough. I think my new, more relax approach with sex in general was to blame; I've been laid more in the last few days then I had in a few years before my death.

"So, what's it like?" Jack asked while she linked her fingers together and stretched her arms into the air above her.

"Hmmm?" I asked, retying my left boot.

"Fucking a turian." She smirked as I looked at her from the corner of my eye as my fingers paused.

I shrug as I return to my laces. "It's great. I'm ruined for human men." For anyone else, ever.

"Yeah?" Jack chuckled. She runs a hand along some of the exposed flesh of a breast. "Maybe I should tap that. Is he really that big?"

Standing up, I cross my arms and roll my eyes at her. "I feel disinclined to answer your question. Find your own turian."

"Relax," Jack laughed, her smirk getting bigger. "The chances of anyone else catching that crazy lovebird's attention would be impossible. Is your buddy Wrex coming back with us? It'd be nice to have my own fuck buddy."

Personally, I couldn't see Wrex going for the petite biotic. For all her talk, Jack was more vulnerable than I think even she knew, and Wrex liked his women strong. But, having never asked, it's not like I could say for sure. "He's taken on a lot of responsibilities here. Preparing his people for the change he wants, and getting ready for the Reapers."

Jack looks at me funny, and I know that look in her eyes. I've been seeing it since Eden Prime. Disbelief. I felt my biotics flare in annoyance, and her eyes narrowed. It shouldn't be pissing me off as much as it suddenly was. Sure, Jack knows about the Collectors, knows their threat, but the only proof we have of them being connected to the Reapers was the similarities between the husks, technology, and my word that it exists. None of which she witnessed. No one wants to belief that monstrous sized, sapient starships larger than skyscrapers were in route to wipe us all out. I didn't want to believe it.

I was upset because I thought I had successfully made a connection with Jack. I thought I had earned her trust. I wasn't worried about her shooting me in the back or going on a killing spree on my ship. To see the disbelief in her eyes… it hurt.

A lot.

My aura blazed with my emotion. I couldn't help it. I lit up like a bonfire, my custom implant humming pleasantly in my skull. Jack responded in kind, and I could tell that the size difference that made me so uncomfortable the first time we dueled was considerably lessen.

We were both just freak experiments, after all. Jack hasn't improved, though. Her powers were just superior to any other human and even most asari she comes across that working on making herself stronger, either through sheer power or discipline, has clearly never crossed her mind. I, on the other hand, have done nothing but improve. Some of it I even owed directly to her. And knowing that she just couldn't be bothered to believe me, I was eager to show her how much I've learned in controlling my new raw power.

No words were exchanged as we started to circle each other. I had a feeling she knew exactly what got me fired up, and there was no apology in her. I was calmer now, forcing my emotions to the side. By the time Jack made her first move, I was relaxed again. I leap out of the way of her shockwave, my biotics giving me more than enough distance to escape its effects. Dirt flew as it tore up the ground, its power impressive.

Distance ruled as we traded biotic attacks, showing off power and our abilities to counter each other's attacks. It felt good to really let loose, and it was a little frightening to see how much Jack has held back on the ship and even in the field. But the same was true for me. This was no stress testing. This was a full release, and I could feel it hum through every cell in my body. The land around us quickly became torn and unstable as our power raged around us.

It was intoxicating.

I understood Jack's feeling of security in her power. Why she didn't bother with more discipline. I didn't agree, but I get it. It was amazing the asari weren't more warlike with such energy at their fingertips all the time. I closed in on my sparring partner, attacking brawl style. It was a form she was more familiar with and would serve to warm her up better than more of the advanced forms I knew. She responded eagerly, allowing herself to be lured into the melee fight over distance. Gradually, I merged into other styles, constantly switching it up, testing out my biotics with each against someone that could take it.

There was a sweet, low burn in my limbs when I considered calling it; I didn't want to wear myself out against a single person. I opened my mouth to say something when I noticed Jack's eyes dart to over my shoulder, and I reacted, spinning on my toes and bringing up my arms defensively. I caught the downward swing of a powerful kick, only to feel it twist in against my arms and I received a painful blow to my side from its pair.

Stumbling backwards, Thane regarded me calmly, his own biotics gently curling around his body. It was his only pause as he nimbly went about attacking both Jack and I at once. I was able to weave and block most of his attacks my way, but Jack was quickly becoming overwhelmed. I couldn't believe as fast he was. And the way he moved… I haven't been able to move like that since I was a kid. To use to heavy armor, I suppose. It doesn't grant the best range of flexibility while in a fight. Hell, if it weren't for some recent bending with Garrus, I likely wouldn't be doing as well as I am right now. I was always wary when my team went out in such light armor, but quickly came to trust their judgments when the results were undeniable.

Thane shifted his focus suddenly to just Jack. I hesitated, not sure if this was a free for all or not. Taking a deep breath through my nose and exhaling through my mouth, I came to her defense. I used a similar kick he had to cut the air in between them, forcing him to stop his advance. Without missing a beat he switched to me, and I received several grazing blows since I was his sole focus. Gritting my teeth, I countered. A small smile tugged at his lips as I forced him back a few steps.

I'm not really sure how long we went back and forth. I dimly realized after awhile that Jack was missing in action, but I found myself enjoying my sudden match against Thane to much to care. Even though I kept my biotics amped up, my superior power barely matched his grace. If I hadn't had some training in similar fighting styles, I'm sure he would have handed me my ass by now. I can't dismiss the possibility that he was going easy on me.

It was hot as hell. If I hadn't allowed Garrus to mark me and recently admitted to myself about how I felt about my turian, I don't think I would have been able to stop myself from jumping Thane. The thought of this strength and grace in bed was arousing.

When did aliens become so damn hot?

I started laughing. At myself. At the exhilaration of the fight. At simply being alive again. Thane openly grinned at me now, showing more emotion-warmth and understanding-then I had seen to date. We continued to flow around each other at a rapid pace, tiny mass effect fields exploding and sparking as occasionally our attacks landed or distractions were attempted.

"Are you two planning on fighting yourselves into a stupor?" Garrus' duel toned voice asked, surprisingly close. Thane and I paused mid stance, both looking over at my turian, and I'm glad I was already flushed from the match since it hide my blush. We both straightened up at the same time, breathing heavily.

"As long as there isn't any bets riding on the outcome," I joked, wiping some sweat off my forehead. Garrus let's out a little snort, betraying his amusement. I turned back to Thane, and smiled at him warmly. "Thank you. I haven't had a chance to fight like that since my N7 training. I enjoyed it."

"I did as well," Thane agreed, nodding politely. "Thank you. Let's do it again, sometime. Perhaps," and he looked at Garrus, "we could add another opponent. Jack was a little...inexperienced for our pairing." Garrus and I watched Thane, mouths agape, while he casually strolled back towards the barracks.

"Did he just…"

"Nah. I'm sure we misunderstood."

"Likely just some lingering effects from last night."

"That seems the most logical."

I paused. "I could always find out."

Garrus blinks a few times, then started pacing while shaking his head. "I rather not. Our pairing was complicated enough to arrange safely, and drell are even more so. And," he looked over at me possessively. "I don't think I'm willing to share." I couldn't help but laugh. He gave me a turian grin and gently ran a talon down my sweaty neck. "Is that okay?"

"Of course," I replied. "Threesomes are usually more stressful and complicated then they're worth. At least in my experience."

He cocked his head, clearly struggling with if he wanted to inquire or not. I nodded my head towards the barracks and we started back. I could see where several others were facing off, including a lot of Wrex's krogan. They weren't smiling like they were earlier. Wrex was strolling in between their fights, taunting his warriors.

"Perhaps you should show them how it's done, old man," Garrus said as we approached. I looked at him, hiding my surprise at his clear challenge.

"You're on, Vakarian," Wrex accepted, grinning eagerly.

I quickly made my way clear as the two converged on each other. I picked up a bottle of water and a towel that was left in neat piles by the barrack's outer walls and joined the small group that weren't in active matches. Wiping the worse of the sweat from my neck I came to a stop by Thane with a small smile and a nod.

Wrex had discarded his upper armor, leaving him more exposed like his turian opponent. Garrus preferred not to spar with his armor on; it greatly limited his speed. I watched his lean form as Garrus also removed his loose fitting shirt, all hard muscle topped with gleaming silver plates. The damage to his shoulder was apparent in the hazy Tuchanka sunlight, the worse of it still hidden under the bandage that covered the right side of his neck and face. It gave him a look of vulnerability, and I hoped Wrex knew Garrus well enough to know that wasn't true.

It was a brawl. Garrus has had a lot more experience in facing krogan one on one since his time on Omega, and he had put on a lot of muscle in his workings as Archangel. Not that he wasn't fit on the SR-1, but we had a lot of down time between missions and I had still mostly ran my ship military, so everyone was responsible for their own fitness routines. We didn't do sparring sessions or have the advantage of constant activity. I remember Garrus mentioning once that he wore his armor most of the time when he didn't need to work on the mako just for the weight. That and he didn't want to make any of my human crew uncomfortable; most have not spent much time around causally dressed turians. Myself included.

Watching him now, fighting topless against our old friend, I could appreciate the changes. And not just from a sexual stand point. He wore more form fitting clothing and civvies on my ship now, other people's opinions be damned. Garrus also fought more primal than he had before in his close combat; our mission yesterday was the first time I seen him use blades. While most soldiers carried one or two hidden in our armor, they were rarely used for combat situations. Omni-blades were still new; I hadn't even realized his was sporting one.

Combine his increased strength with nearly two years of tactical evaluations against some of the biggest crime organizations in known space, his already impressive weapons skills, and the leadership cues he developed, Garrus was a force of nature.

Wrex was finding that out the hard way. I could see flashes of biotics from the red krogan, who was holding them back, likely in the silent offer of an evenly matched fight. They were mostly involuntary twitches. Natural responses to threats on the body. Even I had responded similarly, just a few nights ago, in silent defense to what that turian was doing to me. So...so well. Garrus hadn't reacted negatively to my dark energy, even if I hadn't attacked him with it, there would have been no way for him to escape the even secondary effects.

The Urdnot chief was using his biotics for a little boost now, in much the same way I had recently learned to do. Garrus was still holding his own, even if he was no longer holding the upper hand. Even as focused as they both were, little smirks were clear on their faces.

I had some of the others training with biotic teammates to learn counters and resistance, but I don't think Garrus has had much of it himself. Having faced Eclipse asari commandos, I doubt he was a stranger to dealing with biotic effects. I wondered if he'd allow me to bring my talents into our bed.

My mind drifted back to the last time I had that experience myself; with Kaidan. He is only a L2, but his control at the time far exceeded my own, and I had allowed him to lead in that regards that night before Ilos. His glowing fingers stroking my skin, lighting my nerves on fire. The residue energy nearly making my hair stand on end as it pulsed over me, head to toe. Never painful, maddeningly arousing. His control was absolute.

I frowned. My own abilities were so strong now, and I was using them more for raw power and personal amplification than any more subtle control. I doubt Garrus would enjoy if I burned out his nerve endings.

"They are both impressive," Thane stated at my shoulder. I nodded.

"Yes," I agreed. I eyed the drell from the corner of my eye, watching as he studied the fight. "If you don't mind my saying, you don't really seem like an assassin."

A slightly amused looked crossed his face. "You've spent too much time fighting thugs who think custom-painted armor makes them professionals. The hanar trained my body for this role since I was six years old."

I looked at him directly now. "You've been killing since you were six?"

"Of course not," Thane gently scoffed. "I didn't make my first kill until I was twelve. They were training me. I was not to be used and thrown away. I was an investment."

"You were a child, not an investment!"

His face softened. "I've given you the wrong idea," he apologized. "They valued me. Yes, as a resource. But also as a person. They… regretted their need for me."

I sighed and turned back to the match. "The hanar? Excessively polite, worship the Protheans? They don't seem the type who'd train assassins." I cringed as Wrex delivered a particularly heavy head butt to my turian. Garrus snarled and started a full frontal counterattack.

"Every species trains assassins. The hanar are only unusual in that they need other species to do the killing for them. They have a strong grip, and natural toxins. But have you ever seen one move quickly outside of water, or fire a gun?" I bite my lower lip to keep from smiling. I'd have to show him a Blasto movie in the near future.

"Why did you parents agree to this?" I asked, pushing aside my sudden humor.

"The agreement was made under the Compact," Thane replied. "It was an honor for our family."

"The Compact?" I inquired, bouncing on my feet slightly as I watched Garrus temporarily knocked down Wrex. He rolled with it until he was on his feet again. Not something the bulky krogan would have been able to do in armor, and a little surprising without.

"We live on the hanar homeworld because they rescued us-some of us-from extinction. We owe them our lives. That is the Compact."

I tore my eyes away from my friends and gave Thane a carefully inquisitive look. "What exactly are the terms of the Compact?"

He turned his body slightly in my direction, and while he continued to watch, I knew most of his attention was on me. "There are many things the hanar can't do, even with mechanical aid. They ask drell to assist them."

"This can't be legal," I muttered, shaking my head. "They made your whole race into slaves!"

"Don't insult me, Laryna," Thane snapped. It was the first time I ever seen him angry. "Anyone can refuse to serve. Few do. We owe our existence to the hanar. We are proud to repay that debt."

Taking a deep breath, I considered. The Council would never allow the hanar to enslave the drell. Batarians were rarely allowed on the Citadel for their open use of slavery. "Why was your race going extinct?" I asked while I milled.

"Overpopulation," he answered simply. "That must sound trite to you. Humans developed mass effect drive before the problem became actue. Our homeworld, Rakhana, had few resources. We hadn't even developed fusion power when the soil began to fail from overuse and pollution. The hanar found us a century ago. They sent hundreds of ships. Evacuated thousands of us. Billions more had to be left behind."

"What's the state of Rakhana now?"

His eyes bore into mine at the question. "Do you read your philosophers? A man named Thomas Hobbes? 'When all the world is overcharged with inhabitants, then the last remedy of all is war, which provideth for every man, by victory or death.' As Rakhana died around them, my people slaughtered each other for mouthfuls of water. Crumbs of food."

I shivered at the mental image. "But you don't kill for the hanar anymore. You're freelance. What changed?"

"I was asleep for a long time, yes," Thane started, and I found the wording a little curious. "I paid no attention to what my body was asked to do. But then-" I looked over as he paused, and watched as he eyes got wide but clearly unseeing. His voice was slightly rasped as words started flowing from him. "Laser dot trembles on his skull. One finger-twitch, he dies. Then the smell of spice on the spring wind. Sunset-colored eyes defiant in the scope. The laser dances away." He blinks a couple times, and folds his hands carefully behind his back, his composure restored. "My apologies. Drell slip into memories so easily."

There was something profound I was missing here. "Was that one of your assassinations?"

"Ah," Thane hesitated, meeting my eyes briefly before looking away again. "Yes. Perhaps we can discuss it later. I've wasted too much of your time." And he glides away, walking over to Kasumi. A brief word, and they were off for a match. I turn back to my lover's match, slightly frustrated. There was something I was clearly missing about my assassin. In those last few moments, there was a profound sadness I couldn't place. Not something I would expect from someone that just propositioned Garrus and I.

A crowd was starting to form around the two warriors now. Both were clearly straining now, neither holding back, but they've been at it for awhile now. I was glad that there was at least as much effort going into not really harming each other as they were doing in overpowering the other. I also had the feeling that unless one of them were willing to play dirty, there wasn't going to be a clear winner.

"Okay!" I shouted, lacing my words with as much humor as I did command. "I think we can call this one a draw, boys. Time to stop showing off." I was a little surprised when both turned and snarled at me. Narrowing my eyes, I flared my biotics, taking a threatening step forward. That snapped them out of it, and they both straightened out of their stances, looking a little sheepish. Groans met with their surrender, and both Wrex and I snapped for everyone to go find someone to hit.

I handed them both a water bottle after they walked over, playfully shoving each other and bantering. I smiled, which they both returned to me in their own ways. Moments like this is what makes being back worth living for.