Chapter 29: Destroy
"No, I'm fine. I need to do what we came here to do. This entire fucking mess might have already spooked Morinth. She might not even be at Afterlife tonight," Shepard said. "If she's not, I need to find her before she leaves Omega. I'm not going to do this to Samara. I'm just not. Their damn scans can wait."
Garrus pulled his mandibles in tight. "Shepard, you just collapsed in my arms after being taken for a joyride. You are not fine. You agreed to go to Dr. Chakwas right away when this happens."
Shepard threw her arms out to her sides before letting her hands fall down to slap against her thighs. "What good are the scans going to do, Garrus? Jane isn't some disease that they can find a cure for it they just keep looking."
"No, but maybe they can find a way to kill her – destroy her connection, whatever!" Garrus said.
"I don't want that, Garrus." Shepard paced back and forth between Thane and Garrus. "And even if I did, you don't know what something like that would do to me! Jane is a part of me, what if destroying her leaves me brain dead or something?"
"They'd never do it if they weren't certain they could do it without hurting you, but you've got to give them the chance to try and understand what's going on here," Garrus said.
"You don't understand. It – it isn't her fault. I … I can't just cut her out of me because things went bad," Shepard said.
"Spirits. She torments you on a daily basis and you're defending her?" Garrus' shook his head in bewilderment before looking to Thane. "See if you can talk some sense into her. Maybe she'll listen to you."
"Garrus, the scans can wait. Will you just trust me to look after my own health, please?" Shepard asked.
"I'm afraid that it's not either of them that you need to convince, Commander." Dr. Chakwas walked toward them, stopping to lean against the doorframe and crossed her arms.
Shepard growled in frustration. "Twenty minutes, just you. If they need something scanned, poked, or prodded you can do it for them. I'm not wasting all night on this."
"Thirty minutes, and you come back for more tests when you're through with your mission," Dr. Chakwas countered.
"Dr. Chakwas, I –," Shepard said.
"Siha," Thane said.
Shepard looked at him and he raised an eyebrow. She looked to Garrus and he flared his mandibles, brow plates raised. She looked back at Dr. Chakwas and the woman smiled, knowing she had won. Shepard growled again and crossed her arms.
"Fine. But one of you is figuring out a legitimate sounding excuse to tell Samara. EDI, call them back to the Normandy," Shepard turned and stormed off for the airlock. "Someone tell Aria I'll be back in a half hour."
Dr. Chakwas followed Shepard back to the Normandy and watched her with crossed arms as they waited for EDI to get the doors back opened. Shepard walked onto the Normandy without saying a word to anyone and took the elevator to the med bay. Dr. Chakwas remained just as silent beside her.
"Alright, what do you need me to do?" Shepard asked.
"For starters, remove your armor," Dr. Chakwas said. "And then you can try to remember that we're trying to help you, Commander."
Shepard sighed as she worked at the clips on her armor. "I know, doc, I know. There's just so much I'm trying to do here. So much I'm trying to balance and find time for and I can't do that if I'm having to stop to run to the med bay to get scanned every five minutes."
"Is it happening every five minutes?" Dr. Chakwas looked up from her omni-tool with a raised eyebrow.
Shepard groaned. "You know what I mean."
"Sit down, Shepard." Dr. Chakwas said waving a hand at the bed. "I can't begin to imagine how incredibly frustrating this is for you, but you have to know that this is a serious matter. Jane is clearly unstable, and unpredictable. Unfortunately, the one person that I knew who could have helped Jane is no longer alive … so it is my job to do what I can to help you instead."
"I'm so sorry about Dr. Tulina. I didn't know that was going to happen … I'm sorry," Shepard said.
"Mmm. She was pregnant. I was going to be a father," Dr. Chakwas said beginning the scans.
Shepard's jaw dropped. "I – I … gods, Karin, I'm so sorry."
Dr. Chakwas gave Shepard a grim smile. "You've never called me that before, Commander. I guess something like this does tend to rip formality apart. We hadn't told anyone yet. We were waiting for the right time. I'm not sure when I thought that would be … but it doesn't matter now."
Shepard threw her arms around the woman in front of her, crushing her to her chest. Dr. Chakwas let out a startled gasp followed by a soft chuckle. She wrapped her arms around Shepard and patted her back.
"It's alright, Commander. I've had more than two years now to deal with the loss. I've accepted it as much as anyone can with these things." Dr. Chakwas pulled away with a sniffle and wiped a tear from her eye before clearing her throat. "Here now, sit still if you want out of this med bay and back out on Omega in thirty minutes."
Shepard watched the doctor as she worked, running her omni-tool at a snail's pace over and around Shepard's head. She offered her arm without complaint when Dr. Chakwas asked for a blood sample and even kept quiet when she asked to swab the inside of Shepard's mouth, even though Shepard really didn't see the point in that. When finally Dr. Chakwas said she could leave, Shepard rearmed and re-armored herself before stopping next to the med bay door.
"You've already lost so much working with me. Why do you stay?" Shepard asked.
Dr. Chakwas took a deep breath and smiled. "Because I didn't lose you, too, dear. Even if it seemed that way for a while. You're going to figure this all out and make those collector sonsofbitches pay, and then you're going to shove your boot right up those reapers' asses and I'm going to be there to put you back together again when you do."
Shepard laughed. "Such language, doc. I love it."
Dr. Chakwas chuckled. "Besides, who else will make sure Joker takes his medication?"
Shepard grinned and left the med bay, having EDI call Samara and Mordin back out to the airlock as she went. She took the elevator up to the CIC and waited with Mordin until Samara arrived. Mordin watched her with steady eyes, making her feel as if she were a specimen he wanted to dissect.
"I'm fine," Shepard said.
Mordin smiled. "Was considering possibility of drawing Jane out intentionally. Under secure conditions, of course. Direct observation, tests during phenomenon. Would provide more information, allow more insight. Was unable to observe much, many distractions in battle. Behavior fascinating, relatively normal. Continued to fight, saved Aria, surrendered control voluntarily."
Shepard cast a wary glance at Mordin as the elevator opened and Samara walked out. "We'll talk about this later."
Mordin smiled and turned his attention to Samara as she approached. Samara had a concerned look on her face when she stopped in front of Shepard.
"Shepard, are you well? They said you were injured and being tended to in the med bay," Samara said.
"Shotgun blast to chest, bruised ribs. Nothing serious," Mordin said.
Shepard glanced at Mordin and he blinked. "Yeah, I'm good. They just wanted to make sure nothing was broken before the implants caused a bone to mend wrong. You ready?"
"I see. Yes, I am ready," Samara said.
Shepard saw something in the asari's eyes that unsettled her. Just as the day they first met, Shepard felt like Samara was seeing something in her no one else could. It was unnerving. They left the airlock and made their way back into Omega. The twisted mass of metal still smoldered on what was left of the transportation platform, but no one seemed to care enough to put it out. The area was still empty, Shepard imagined that in a lawless place like Omega, when something this big went down people closed up shop and locked themselves away until the dust settled.
Shepard was shocked to find that the foyer was already cleared of bodies and Aria's goons were at work cleaning blood off the floor. A couple of them looked up when she walked in but quickly averted their eyes and got back to work. Bodies still littered the floor in the bar itself but men were working to fix that.
"Where are they taking the bodies?" Samara asked.
"I don't think I want to know," Shepard said.
"Incinerators," Mordin said.
Shepard shuddered. They picked their way through the mess where they were waved up the stairs by guards. Shepard spotted Aria sitting on her couch, her arms spread wide across the back of the cushions with a smug grin of satisfaction on her face.
"Shepard, you ran off so fast, I thought perhaps you'd changed your mind about chasing down your Ardat-Yakshi," Aria said.
Shepard climbed the steps and stopped in front of Aria. "Doctor insisted on looking at my ribs. I'm fine, by the way."
Aria stood and turned her back to Shepard, looking out over her bar. "You did me a favor, Shepard. That doesn't make us friends, so don't mistake me for someone who cares. Your Ardat-Yakshi's latest victim lived in the tenements, to the left when you leave here. Follow the signs. I'm sure her distraught mother can give you some information."
"You have known of her existence, and you have done nothing to kill her?" Samara asked.
"She isn't my problem; she hasn't tried seducing me or messed with my business. Why should I care?" Aria asked.
"You are asari, it is the way with Ardat-Yakshi," Samara said.
"This isn't Thessia, Justicar," Aria said.
Shepard stepped up next to Aria. "Think you'll get this place opened tonight?"
Aria glanced at Shepard. "Someone's going to lose their head if those doors aren't open for business in the next hour."
"We should get going. Thanks, Aria," Shepard said turning to leave.
"Good luck," Aria said.
Shepard led Samara and Mordin out of Afterlife and to the neighborhood Nef, Morinth's last victim lived. She made a show of asking one of the very few people they saw on the street about where the family of the dead girl lived. Lucky for her, they pointed her right at Nef's apartment so Shepard didn't have to waste more time pretending she didn't already know.
They knocked on Nef's door and her mother answered, right away she wanted to know if they had come about her daughter. Shepard and Samara spent some time talking to the woman, gathering what information they could. Mordin stood at a respectful distance, but still listened intently. He waited in the living room while Shepard and Samara looked over Nef's bedroom and watched her video logs. Jane was silent, worn out from her latest success at seizing control, nothing more than a faint static in the back of Shepard's mind. Still, Shepard remembered enough on her own having reviewed the memories in anticipation for Samara's mission. She just wasn't sure how much of it remained relevant with Afterlife in shambles. She wished she had thought to ask Aria just how much of the multileveled nightclub had been damaged in the attacks. If Morinth wasn't in Afterlife, Shepard needed a plan; an excuse to get into her apartment.
Shepard listened as Samara ran through her plan to send Shepard in alone and unarmed in the hopes of attracting Morinth's attention. Samara questioned whether Shepard thought Afterlife would indeed be open as Aria insisted. Shepard told her that Aria would open the place even if there was still blood on the walls if she had to, and that it was possible that the VIP room hadn't even been touched.
"Of course, that doesn't mean that Morinth will show tonight," Shepard said. "The place might be pretty empty after the mercs."
"I think she will have been drawn to the destruction. She will be curious to see who lived and who died," Samara said.
Shepard nodded her head. "Alright. If nothing else, maybe we can get more information. Maybe find out where she lives."
"I would be careful what you ask. If word gets back to Morinth that someone is looking for her, she will likely flee," Samara said.
"Let me talk to Mordin for a minute. Maybe you can see if Nef's mother can remember anything else," Shepard said.
Shepard left the bedroom and excused herself and Mordin before leading him outside. "OK, so I know that everyone thinks that I need someone to watch over me in case Jane does something and right now that's supposed to be you, but Samara and I have to go this one alone."
Mordin opened his omni-tool and waved it in front of Shepard before looking at the screen. "Will see you back on the Normandy. Much to discuss. Many tests to run."
"That's it?" Shepard's eyebrows shot up.
"Not a child, Shepard. Commander of Normandy. Am part of Normandy crew. Jane sparks scientific curiosity, concern perhaps." Mordin shook his head resolutely. "Does not negate command structure."
Shepard smiled. "Thanks Mordin. Hey, don't let the others give you any flak for this, OK? If they say anything, point them in my direction."
Mordin nodded and turned to walk away when Shepard called out to him.
"Hey, Mordin. I forgot in all the commotion. You want to stop by and check on your clinic before you leave?" Shepard asked. "I know that place meant a lot to you."
He smiled. "Will head there now."
"Good," Shepard said as she waved goodbye.
Shepard stepped back inside the apartment and smiled as Samara put a reassuring hand on the woman's shoulder. Samara whispered something to the woman and she nodded her head, wiping tears from her eyes. Samara left the brokenhearted woman to her mourning and rejoined Shepard.
"Are you ready, Commander?" Samara asked.
"Yeah, I just need to make a stop in the markets before we go," Shepard said.
"As you wish, Commander," Samara said following Shepard out of the apartment.
Shepard led Samara down to the markets and straight to Kenn's Salvage where the young quarian was busy working. She asked Samara to give her a moment, leaving Samara a little ways away as she approached the counter.
"Excuse me?" Shepard said.
His head jerked up and he looked around, the sparks from his wielding dying down. "Hello there. Might I interest you in some salvaged tech? Every credit goes toward a ticket to get me off this forsaken rock."
"Not fond of Omega?" Shepard asked.
"I don't think Omega is fond of me," Kenn said.
"Are you on your Pilgrimage? Omega's a rough spot for a Pilgrimage," Shepard said browsing through his kiosk.
"I am … or at least I was. Omega wasn't supposed to be a final destination, but everything I had got stolen when I got here so I've been running this place trying to save up enough credits to get on with my Pilgrimage." Kenn leaned against the counter. "It hasn't been easy though, Harrot – he runs a stall down the way – he's forcing me to keep my prices high so that customers will go to him instead of me. I don't want any trouble, so I've done what he asks."
"Where are you trying to go?" Shepard asked.
Kenn shrugged. "Anywhere is better than here."
"How much do you need?" Shepard asked.
"I still need a thousand credits to get a ticket, at the rate of business here though, that could take quite a while. I'm a little surprised you know about the Pilgrimage, not many who aren't quarian do," Kenn said.
Shepard smiled and said, "One of my best friends is a quarian. I've also got a quarian crew member on her Pilgrimage right now."
Shepard scanned her credit chit and completed her purchases, making sure to grab the FBA couplings for Ken and Gabby down in engineering. Kenn pushed away from the counter to check the screen to see what he needed to get for her.
"Wow, you're seriously buying all of this?" Kenn asked.
"I am," Shepard said.
"I – hey listen, let me give you a discount, but just don't tell Harrot, OK?" Kenn said.
"Sure, I appreciate that," Shepard said.
"I can't tell you how much this will help me, thank you. I can have your purchases delivered to your ship in the next hour," Kenn said.
"Actually, I've got a proposition for you, Kenn." Shepard leaned her elbows on the counter.
"Oh, uh, what kind of a proposition?" Kenn asked.
Shepard couldn't help but to smile at the hint of nervousness in his voice. "I have something I have to do on the station that requires me to leave my armor and weapons behind. I need a place to store them for a while. Going back to my ship right now would draw attention that I don't need."
"So … you want me to watch your stuff for you?" Kenn asked.
"Well, I was thinking you could deliver them to my ship along with my purchases," Shepard said.
Kenn shifted nervously.
Shepard lifted off her helmet, letting her hair fall loose and exposing her full face. "And in exchange, you can have your pick of either the thousand credits you need for your ticket or a free ride to the Citadel."
"I – that sounds too simple. What's the catch? Is it something you stole … or something dangerous?" Kenn asked.
"Well, we're talking about guns and armor so dangerous, yeah technically but it's not stolen," Shepard said.
Kenn studied her for a moment and then cocked his head to the side. "Wait. Do I … do I know you?"
Shepard smiled and extended her hand, "Probably. Commander Shepard, Council Spectre."
"Oh. Oh!" Kenn took her hand and gave it an enthusiastic shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Spectre – Commander … I don't know what to call you."
Shepard laughed and said, "Shepard's fine."
"Shepard," Kenn said.
"So? What'll it be?" Shepard asked.
"Yes, absolutely but I can't ask you to do either of those things. It'll be an honor to help you, really," Kenn said.
"I insist, Kenn." Shepard started taking out her weapons, checking to make sure the safety was on and removing the clips.
"Oh, uh … I guess a ride to the Citadel would be wonderful … if you're going there anyway. I mean, Spectres have to go there all the time, right?" Kenn asked.
"Not all the time, but often enough. It's our next stop, we'll be leaving Omega tonight if everything goes according to plan," Shepard said opening her omni-tool.
Shepard called Samara over to help her out of her armor and watched as Kenn packed it all away carefully into crates. She asked him for his extranet address and then sent him a message to show to Miranda Lawson when he arrived at the Normandy. He read the message and nodded enthusiastically, repeating Miranda's name aloud.
"Are you sure you can handle all of this yourself? I've got a salarian still on the station, I can send him up to escort you back to the Normandy," Shepard said.
"Oh no, I've got it, no problem at all, ma'am," Kenn said.
"Thanks." Shepard turned to look at Samara. "How do I look?"
Samara reached out unexpectedly and adjusted Shepard's hair before nodding her head in approval. Shepard smiled before leading the way to the Afterlife VIP room. Samara pulled Shepard aside and ran through the plan again, reminding Shepard that she wouldn't be alone.
Shepard put a hand on Samara's shoulder. "I've got it, Samara."
"Please be careful, Shepard. I do not think you truly understand what she is capable of," Samara said.
"I'll be careful, I promise," Shepard said.
They made their way to the VIP entrance and stopped in front of the bouncer.
"What do you want?" the hooded turian asked stepping forward.
"Jaruut sent me, said this was the place to be. Better than anywhere else on Omega," Shepard said trying to recall what the others had said before.
The turian nodded his head to the door. "Go on in. Word to the wise: start a fight, we'll hurt you. Someone attacks you, it's OK to defend yourself."
"Got it," Shepard said walking through the door.
The hall was mostly empty, only a couple leaned against the far wall making out, their hands disappearing inside each other's clothing. Samara stopped near a stack of crates in the shadows near the door.
"I will wait here. Do not hesitate to come and speak with me if you feel uncertain, Shepard. We cannot afford mistakes here or Morinth will run," Samara said.
"I won't let that happen, Samara. If Morinth is here, we'll get her," Shepard said.
"Thank you, Shepard, for understanding my plight and allowing me to share this burden with you. I know that it is not a simple thing that I ask of you, and it is not something that I ask lightly. I cannot imagine sharing this burden with anyone else," Samara said.
"I'm honored that you trusted me to help you with this," Shepard said.
Samara smiled and bowed her head, stepping back into the shadows. Shepard went through the next door and stopped. The VIP was overflowing with people. More than she remembered ever seeing here in any of Jane's memories. The music was louder as more bodies pressed together on the dance floor. Shepard had expected Afterlife to be quieter after the attacks on the nightclub, but instead it seemed as if people had flocked to the place.
"Fantastic," Shepard grumbled under her breath.
"You can do this," he said.
Shepard nearly jumped, startled by the sudden intrusion of the masculine voice in her head after the extended silence from Jane.
"Uh, hello?" Shepard thought.
"I'm here," he said. "I'll walk you through it if you need some help."
"Who are you?" Shepard thought.
"Commander John Shepard, at your service, ma'am," John said.
"Are you the one who's been … leaking through?" Shepard thought.
"Yes ma'am. I apologize that I haven't been able to be of more help. Jane doesn't make things easy for us in here these days," John said.
"Where is she? Where is Jane?" Shepard thought.
"She's still here. She's just resting and I'm doing what I can to keep her that way for as long as I can. I'm awful sorry about the things she's been doing, ma'am," John said.
"So it's just you right now?" Shepard thought.
"Well, the others can still hear you of course, and I can hear them just fine, but Jane is out of commission for a while," John said.
Shepard made her way into the bar, pushing past the crowd of people. "You sound more, uh …"
"Sane?" John asked.
"I was trying to find a nicer way of putting it, but yes," Shepard thought.
"Not a one of us in here is sane anymore, ma'am. Some of us are just worse off than others," John said.
"OK, you have to know that I'm not fond of that ma'am crap, right?" Shepard thought.
"Sorry, Commander. Old habits and all. I don't know how long I've got, so let me get you through what I can," John said. "I recognize a few of the people here. There on your twelve, that turian is harassing that asari dancer."
Shepard remembered them, too, from what she'd already seen of Jane's memories. She made her way to them out on the dance floor. When she was close enough to hear their conversation she stepped up next to the asari and crossed her arms.
"Hey asshole, I'm sorry that you're too ugly to get anyone to sleep with you without paying for it, but as the lady said she's not a hooker," Shepard said. "So back the fuck off."
John chuckled in Shepard's mind. "Well that was eloquent. I see why Jack has taken a liking to you."
"Mind your own business, unless you're offering." The turian looked her up and down. "I'll pay you half of what I would have paid her."
John chuckled. "That was stupid."
Shepard laughed and shook her head. "Oh I'm going to enjoy this."
She stepped forward and punched the turian in his mandible before sweeping him off of his feet. He landed on his back, just barely avoiding having the spikes of his crest stab into the hard floor. Shepard grabbed his arm and flipped him to his stomach before he fully even understood the predicament he'd found himself in. She kneeled, scooping her arm beneath his chin and pulling him back, her knee jammed into his spine.
"You're already incorporating his training into combat, interesting," John said.
"If it works, it works," Shepard thought.
"Apologize to the lady," Shepard said.
The asari stood above the turian, her arms crossed and a satisfied smile on her face. The turian choked and stuttered out something.
"I didn't quite catch that," Shepard said.
"I'm sorry," the turian said.
"Good, now get your sorry ass out of here." Shepard released him and stepped back.
The turian scrambled to his feet and pushed his way through the crowd, headed straight for the door. The asari smiled at Shepard.
"That made my night, thanks," she said.
"Happy to help," Shepard said.
"Do you think she saw that with this many people around?" Shepard thought moving through the crowd again.
"I don't know. She'll see you eventually, though. Alright, see that jittery looking guy over there at your two?" John asked.
"Yeah. He uh," Shepard paused to search for what she could remember. "His partner is in trouble or something, right? Is that really the kind of thing that would get Morinth's attention?"
"Does it really matter, Commander? The woman will die if you don't help her," John said.
"Right, OK. I'm on it," Shepard thought.
Shepard made her way over to the man. "Hey, you're looking a little freaked out. Everything alright? You need a doctor or something?"
He rubbed his neck and glanced over at his friend sitting at a table with a gang leader. Shepard followed his gaze.
"I uh, no I don't need a doctor. But I could use some help. My friend's in trouble and I don't know what to do," he said.
"What kind of trouble is your friend in?" Shepard asked.
Shepard listened as the man laid out the situation and what he needed from her. Shepard nodded reassuringly and told him she would take care of things. She made her way over to Moirall's table and dropped the words 'terminal' and 'eternity'. Shepard watched as the woman made an excuse and left the table before moving off into the crowd. She worked the bar for a half hour, dancing, playing aloof when people hit on her but still nothing from Morinth. Shepard kept her eyes open, scanning the bar as nonchalantly as she could.
"I don't think she's here," Shepard thought.
"She's here," John said.
"How can you be sure?" Shepard thought.
"Because I … I know Morinth. I know her well. I'm one of the one's she got to," John said.
"What do you mean, 'got to'?" Shepard thought.
John showed her a scene where he stood watching Morinth and Samara square off. Morinth trying to sway him, convince him to take her with him instead of Samara. Shepard felt the pull that John felt, the confusion, the seduction. She blinked away the image when John intervened, pulling Samara's arm back so that Morinth could kill her mother. She swallowed back the bitter taste it left in her mouth and looked around the bar. Her eyes landed on Morinth, watching her. Shepard lifted the corner of her mouth and turned away, rebuffing a man's attempts to get her to dance with him.
She pushed through the crowd and ordered a drink before turning to lean against the bar, glass in hand. Shepard sipped at it casually, letting her eyes roam over the dance floor. She swung her head back around and spotted Morinth, gliding through the crowd straight for her. The crowd parted away from Morinth, Shepard wondered if it was the instinctual sensing of a predator on the prowl or if she was that well known at the nightclub. Shepard took a swallow from her glass and watched Morinth doing her best to portray mild curiosity and nothing more. Morinth came to a stop a couple of feet away from Shepard. Shepard took another swallow from her drink and watched as Morinth looked her over from head to toe.
"I've been watching you," Morinth said.
"That right?" Shepard asked swirling the ice around in her glass.
"Mmm. I hear the whispers. They say that you're Commander Shepard," Morinth said.
Shepard's jaw clenched involuntarily. She took a sip of her brandy and forced a smile.
"Just run with it, see where it goes. This thing isn't over just because she knows who you are," John said.
"Not tonight. Tonight I'm just Dawn," Shepard said.
"That's good, I like that," John said.
"Dawn. I like that, there's nothing more beautiful than watching an actual sunrise after a long night. I haven't see you here before, Dawn. My name's Morinth," Morinth said.
Shepard shrugged. "I don't make it to Omega often, but I figured it was time for a little shore leave while I was here."
Morinth twisted at the waist, looking back over her shoulder. "I've got a booth over there in the shadows. It's quieter over there, why don't you come sit with me?"
Shepard took a second to look over Morinth, Samara had been right; the Ardat-Yakshi had a way of pulling people in just by existing. Shepard pursed her lips and nodded, taking another sip of her brandy and pushing away from the bar. Morinth turned, the crowd clearing for her once more as she led the way back to her table.
"Careful Commander, don't let her pull you in," John said.
"I didn't see you with anyone. Did you come here alone; no one from your crew with you?" Morinth asked.
"I spend day after day with them. It's nice to get away for a little while," Shepard said.
"This doesn't feel right," Shepard thought.
"Walk away if you want to, Commander, but you know that you won't get another chance," John said.
"So what do you do on shore leave, Dawn?" Morinth asked.
"Depends on where I'm at," Shepard said with a shrug pulling in bits of memories from John. "I like to check out the clubs, see if there's anyone interesting around to talk to and if not, then I'm happy if they have good music."
"What do you think of Afterlife?" Morinth asked.
Shepard looked around the club, considering her answer. She forced her eyes to keep gliding past the all too familiar turian and drell she spotted sitting at a table together a few booths down. Morinth's back was to them, but something in her gut told her she knew they were there and watching Shepard. At least they were making an effort to not be obvious.
"I like it; it has a dark feel to it. The music is good. Gets inside my head; I feel like I could lose myself in it. What about you?" Shepard asked.
"They shouldn't be here," Shepard thought.
"Can't say that I'm surprised that they are, Commander," John said.
"You took the words right out of my mouth. I find myself attracted to dark things. Dangerous things. Music has to get inside you, speak to your soul," Morinth said.
"Yeah. I've heard good things about a band called Expel Ten. I haven't had the chance to check them out yet though," Shepard said.
"Why don't we get out of here? I've got some of Expel Ten's music back at my place. I'd love to have you all to myself for a while," Morinth said.
Shepard finished her drink and sat her empty glass back down on the table. "Why not?"
Morinth smiled and stood and headed for the door. Shepard followed her lead, throwing a warning glance back over her shoulder at Garrus and Thane while mouthing the words 'stand down'. She pushed forward, walking next to Morinth and smiled at the asari when she turned to look at Shepard.
"This feel a little too easy to you?" Shepard thought.
"Yeah, yeah it does. Keep your eyes opened and don't let her get in your head," John said. "She's … she's waking up. I'm sorry, Commander."
"What? No, John wait," Shepard thought. "John? John?"
"John isn't available right now, can I take a message?" Jane asked.
"Damn it," Shepard thought.
"Come on, Dawn. You didn't really think he'd be able to keep me down forever, did you?" Jane asked. "Oh gods, you were seriously hoping that he would."
"What do you think about the shootout at Afterlife earlier?" Morinth asked as they walked.
"I heard it was some mercs trying to take down Aria," Shepard said.
"She's taking you the wrong way," Jane said.
"What? Are you sure?" Shepard thought.
"Absolutely. Unless she's living somewhere else this time, her apartment is back the other way," Jane said.
"I heard you were there, right in the thick of it fighting alongside Aria," Morinth said.
Shepard heard gunshots and shouting back the way she came. She turned to look over her shoulder but they had already turned too many corners for Shepard to catch even a glimpse.
"Shit. Shit. Shit. Damn it. Gods please tell me that isn't them," Shepard thought.
"You could say I owed Aria a favor," Shepard said.
"I think you're in trouble, Dawn. Want me to handle this one?" Jane asked.
"Fuck off, Jane," Shepard thought.
"Aria owed me a favor, we're even now," Morinth said. "She sent someone to tell me that you had a Justicar with you, Samara, and that you were looking for me."
Shepard stopped in her tracks. Morinth spun to face Shepard.
"I think she expected me to run. It would make Aria quite happy if I weren't on Omega anymore, but she'd never try to get rid of me herself." Morinth took a step toward Shepard. "I hear whispers that you're recruiting, Dawn. Looking for an army to fight your wars. I can be that for you, I can be everything that my mother is and more. All you have to do is kill her and I will be free to go with you. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Dawn?"
Shepard could feel Morinth's mind pressing against hers, a gentle whisper filled with promises of ecstasy. Shepard shook her head, trying to clear her mind and pushed back against the sensation. Morinth's eyes widened.
"That's never going to happen," Shepard said.
Morinth lunged at Shepard, wrapping her hand around the base of Shepard's skull. She pressed against Shepard's consciousness again. Shepard punched Morinth in the jaw. The asari took a step back but didn't let go of Shepard.
"You're strong, Dawn, but I'm stronger. You want to kill Samara for me, don't you, Dawn? Tell me that you want to kill her," Morinth said pushing harder, wrapping her warped, black tentacles around Shepard's will to resist.
"I'm right here if you need me, Dawn. All you have to do is ask," Jane said.
"Fuck you." Shepard said, wrapping Morinth up in a Reave.
Morinth grit her teeth and dove forcefully into Shepard's mind. Shepard's mind exploded with a thousand angry voices, shoving themselves back through the deadly link Morinth established.
"No, no, she can't have us. Don't let her take us. Kill her, kill her!" The voices blurred together, a cacophony of insanity. "Turn her into a banshee! She's a banshee. A banshee, kill her now before she screams."
A red haze filled Shepard's vision as the suddenly terror stricken Ardat-Yakshi started to sink to her knees pulling at Shepard, forcing her to squat down.
"What are you?" Morinth's lips moved but her voice was lost in the chaos.
Shepard could feel her feeble attempts to sever the link. Morinth tried desperately to pull back, to push forward, but nothing helped. A tear slid down Morinth's cheek, her lips trembled. Her body gave out and she became dead weight, held up only by her hand wrapped around Shepard's head utterly unable to let go. Shepard could feel the life leaving Morinth, that spark inside of her slowly extinguishing. And it made her feel like a goddess.
When at last Morinth was dead, the link was severed at the sudden silence was deafening. Morinth's hand fell away from Shepard and her body fell lifeless to the floor. Blood trickled from the Ardat-Yakshi's eyes and nose. Shepard smiled.
Garrus was there, lifting her to her feet. Thane leaned down and checked Morinth for a pulse. Samara looked between Shepard and Morinth, unable to put right in her mind what her eyes were telling her. Samara's lips moved, but Shepard heard no sound. Garrus spun her around to face him. His talons digging into her arms as the iris of his visor contracted and expanded, contracted and expanded.
"Shepard!" Garrus' voice broke through the silence sounding a mile away.
"It's alright, we killed her," Shepard said soothingly.
More and more sounds began to break through growing in volume. Shepard felt something wet on her cheek and reached up to touch it, pulling her hand away she saw blood.
"Spirits," Garrus said crushing her against his armor.
"We should leave before more of her men arrive," Thane said.
"She is truly dead?" Samara asked.
"Indeed," Thane said.
"I do not understand," Samara said.
"Samara, we need to go. We've got to get Shepard out of here before anyone else shows up," Garrus said.
"Yes, of course," Samara said.
Garrus turned, a hand wrapped around Shepard's upper arm. Shepard took two steps and the world tilted around her just before everything went black.
She awoke back in the med bay of the Normandy, a bright light shining in her eyes. Shepard put up a hand, trying to block the light.
"How are you feeling, Commander?" Dr. Chakwas voice cut through the last of the haze.
"The implants have already cleared the subconjunctival hemorrhaging, and her cranial pressure has returned to normal," Miranda said.
"I feel fine, doc, get that light out of my face would you?" Shepard said trying to sit up.
Strong turian hands pushed her back to the bed. "You're not moving until Dr. Chakwas clears you, Shepard. I'll hold you here until the reapers come if I have to."
"Physically she's fine, though I have half a mind to call in a psychologist to have her evaluated. What were you thinking, Commander? No back up, no armor, no weapons?" Dr. Chakwas scolded.
"It wasn't supposed to go down like that," Shepard said looking around the room to see who else was present and finding Thane tucked back in a corner watching her. "It's never happened like that before. She knew we were coming for her, Aria sold me out."
"Are you sure it was Aria?" Garrus asked.
"That's what Morinth said," Shepard said.
"That doesn't make any sense, Aria is the one who told us where to find you and how to get into the VIP," Garrus said.
"It makes perfect sense for Aria, she settled two debts and was pretty much guaranteed to get rid of one nuisance or another," Shepard said trying to sit up again.
Garrus looked at Dr. Chakwas and she nodded so Garrus let Shepard go. Garrus turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Shepard asked.
"To rip Aria's throat out," Garrus said.
"No, Garrus. Leave Aria alone," Shepard said. "That's an order."
"She tried to have you killed, Shepard. There's no way I'm letting that slide." Garrus growled.
"I said stand down!" Shepard raised her voice and slid off the bed, moving closer to Garrus. "Why is it that the only fucking person on this ship that seems to remember that I am in command is the same one who would gleefully cut my head open and dissect my brain if only he could put it back together again?"
Garrus' mandibles clacked tight against his jaw and he crossed his arms as Shepard began to pace in front of him. Thane shifted in his corner. Miranda took a step forward, Dr. Chakwas a step back. She held her hand out to them.
She stopped pacing and stood in front of Garrus once more before continuing in a calmer tone. "OK, that's not exactly fair. But my point still stands, Garrus. I told you to do something, as the Commander of this ship, and I expect you to listen. I understand that you are upset with Aria, and rightfully so. I'm not happy about this either but killing Aria is not the way to handle this."
"Understood, Commander. Is there anything else or may I be dismissed?" Garrus said.
Shepard's shoulders sagged and she shook her head. "Go."
Garrus turned and marched out of the med bay. Shepard watched him walk past the windows, shooting a pissed off glare at her on his way to the main battery. Thane moved to the door, his hands tucked behind his back.
"Thane?" Shepard said.
He paused and turned to her. "Yes, Siha?"
"That order was meant for everyone," Shepard said.
Thane's lips twitched at the corners before he bowed to her. "As you wish, Shepard."
Thane left the med bay. Shepard ran a hand through her hair and turned to Dr. Chakwas and Miranda.
"What happened with the Ardat-Yakshi, Commander?" Dr. Chakwas asked.
"You know what an Ardat-Yakshi is?" Shepard asked.
"Samara informed us when you were brought into the med bay, she was concerned after you collapsed that the Ardat-Yakshi had caused you permanent damage," Miranda said.
"She tried to convince me to kill Samara for her and take her on as part of the crew instead. When I resisted her … compulsion, she forced a melding with me and tried to kill me. The others killed her instead." Shepard shrugged. "It was like they held open her link and bombarded her with crazy."
"You're lucky to be alive, Commander. It looks like Jane has saved your life again," Dr. Chakwas said.
"You need to run more scans right now, doc?" Shepard asked.
"We took care of it while you were unconscious," Miranda said.
"We have everything we need, for now. You're free to go, Commander," Dr. Chakwas said.
"Thank the gods," Shepard said turning to the door.
"Commander?" Dr. Chakwas said.
Shepard turned back to the doctor and raised an eyebrow. Dr. Chakwas crossed the room to stand in front of Shepard and put an encouraging hand on Shepard's arm.
"Give Garrus some time. I know he probably doesn't talk about it much, but when you died it destroyed him," Dr. Chakwas said.
Shepard winced.
"I know that's hard for you to hear, and I am sorry. He loves you, Commander, and I know that you love him. None of this can be easy for either of you. He only wants to protect you," Dr. Chakwas said.
Shepard rubbed the back of her neck. "He's hoping that you guys will find a way to destroy Jane and the others."
Jane and the others remained silent, not even a whisper of static in her mind. Shepard wasn't surprised; Jane was always quiet for a while after making a move to take Shepard. Even longer when she succeeded. Whatever that was on Omega, they were all in on it and it must have taken a lot out of them all.
"Is that what you want?" Dr. Chakwas asked.
Shepard shook her head. "No. I know she's trouble but she's been through hell, too. More hell than any of us. I still think that there's a chance she can pull herself together again. I see her trying, sometimes at least."
"Have you told him this?" Dr. Chakwas asked.
"Yeah, but he doesn't want to hear it. All he sees in Jane now is something that is a threat to me and he wants to rip her out and be done with it," Shepard said.
"Commander, I respect Garrus but the matter of the fact is this is your decision to make and no one else's. Nothing will be done to you or Jane against your will, as long as you still have the ability to make that decision for yourself. I give you my word," Dr. Chakwas said.
"Thanks, doc," Shepard said.
"Of course, Commander." Dr. Chakwas gave Shepard's arm a squeeze before returning to her desk.
Miranda followed Shepard out of the med bay. "What are you going to do about Aria?"
"I'm going to go thank the Queen of Omega for her aid in taking down a serial killer and then we're going to leave," Shepard said.
"That's it?" Miranda asked.
"That's it," Shepard said.
"Please tell me you at least intend to put your armor back on and take a team with you," Miranda asked.
"Yeah, where is it anyway? And where's Kenn?" Shepard asked.
"Your armor and weapons were returned to your cabin. Lia is keeping Kenn occupied with Legion down in the hangar. He passed out, by the way, when he saw Legion," Miranda said. "You could have taken the time to warn him that there was a friendly geth aboard."
"It didn't even occur to me. Is he OK?" Shepard asked.
She stopped in front of the elevator and pushed the button.
"Oh yes, he's fine," Miranda said with a dismissive wave. "Commander, are you sure walking back into Afterlife is wise?"
The elevator opened and they both stepped inside, Shepard hit the button for her cabin. "I know Aria. This wasn't personal, believe it or not. Everyone around Aria are pieces on a game board to her. Only the strongest or most loyal get to stay on the board. This was a test more than it was an attempt on my life. I'm alive and Morinth isn't, I'm the strongest so I get to stay. For now."
"For now?" Miranda asked.
"That's how she sees it. So long as I don't use my strength against her, threaten her position on Omega I'm worth keeping on the board," Shepard said.
"But you have no interest in Omega, why would you?" Miranda asked.
"Exactly," Shepard said.
The elevator doors slid open and Miranda followed her into her cabin. Shepard found her armor on her bed and the guns on the coffee table. She started putting her armor on.
"Shepard, I've given it some thought. What you said earlier, about replacing the Illusive Man," Miranda said.
Shepard looked up at her as she snapped a greave into place. "Yeah?"
"Do you really think this is feasible?" Miranda asked. "That we can kill him and I can take over?"
"I do," Shepard said.
"Then I'm in. I still think it's insane, but I'm willing to do it," Miranda said.
Shepard grinned. "Glad to hear it, Miranda. Just promise me you won't call yourself the Illusive Woman."
Miranda scoffed. "I promise."
"Good, now go get ready. You can go say goodbye to Aria with me," Shepard said.
"I'll meet you at the airlock." Miranda left the cabin.
"EDI, is Mordin still on Omega?" Shepard asked.
"Yes, Shepard. Would you like for me to call him back to the Normandy for you?" EDI asked.
"Yes, please," Shepard said. "And then tell Grunt to meet us at the airlock."
"Right away, Shepard," EDI said.
Shepard got the rest of her armor on before putting the thermal clips back into all of her guns. The silence in her head was starting to make her uneasy. She laughed at the irony as she left her cabin and took the elevator back down to the CIC. Miranda and Grunt were already waiting for her. They left the airlock and headed straight for Afterlife, passing by Mordin on his way back to the ship.
The upper level of Afterlife still showed obvious signs of damage, but the bodies and blood were gone. It didn't seem to deter any of the patrons from getting drunk off their asses and having a good time. Shepard wove through the crowd and stopped at the foot of the stairs leading up to Aria's office. She recognized the batarian guarding that staircase as Bray and the memories of his kindness toward Shepard in her other lives brought a smile to her lips. It did not bring one to his. He looked at her with as much indifference as he could muster and nodded his head toward the stairs. Shepard climbed the stairs with Miranda and Grunt at her heels. She looked up at Aria, sitting on her couch with a smirk on her face as soon as she rounded the corner. Shepard went up the last few steps to stand in front of the asari.
"We're headed out. Thanks again for your help with Morinth. I hope things stay quiet for you around here for a while," Shepard said.
"You impress me, Shepard. I didn't expect you to be the one to come back alive," Aria said.
Miranda and Grunt shifted behind Shepard. Shepard only smiled.
"Yet here I am. I left your girl lying in a back alley somewhere. I hope you don't mind, I wanted out of there before more of her mindless slaves showed up. Taking innocent lives really isn't my thing," Shepard said.
Aria flicked her fingers dismissively. "I'm sure she'll find her way to the incinerators just like every other corpse left in the streets. Safe travels, Shepard."
"Goodbye, Aria," Shepard said. "Give some thought to what we discussed earlier."
She turned and walked back down the stairs and back out of Afterlife.
"Christ, she didn't even try to deny it or apologize," Miranda said.
"Aria never apologizes," Shepard said.
Back on the Normandy, Shepard set the coordinates for the Citadel before heading back up to her cabin and changing out of her armor once more. She dropped down on the foot of her bed and rested her forehead on her palms. She knew that Samara would be waiting for her, waiting for an explanation of what went wrong and how it was that Shepard was able to kill Morinth. Her gut twisted in knots as she contemplated whether she should tell Samara the truth, and whether or not Samara would feel robbed of the moment or grateful. She decided that she couldn't deal with Samara tonight. The whole Omega thing had taken much longer than anticipated having dealt with Aria's crisis and Jane. She would go see Samara the next morning, after training. Maybe by then she would know what to say.
Shepard felt ill at ease knowing that Garrus was upset with her as well. She didn't know whether she should go to him or give him his space. She didn't even know what to say to him. She wouldn't apologize for expecting him to follow her orders, but maybe she should apologize for blowing up the way she did. Shepard ran her brush through her hair and took the elevator down to the third deck.
The door to the main battery slid open just as she was about to knock. Garrus nearly ran into her before coming to a stop. Shepard searched his eyes, still seeing hints of cold anger in the pale blue. Grundan Krul put down a datapad and squeezed past Garrus and Shepard leaving them standing in the doorway alone.
"Can I come in?" Shepard asked.
Garrus turned and waved his arm toward the room. "You're the commander, it's your ship."
Shepard chewed on her lower lip and stepped inside. She sat on the cot just vacated by Grundan Krul. Garrus stepped inside enough for the door to slide closed behind him and crossed his arms before leaning against the doorframe.
"Maybe I could have handled that better," Shepard said.
His mandibles flared. "Maybe? Shepard you've never raised your voice to me like that. You've never talked down to me, never made me feel less than an equal until tonight. You've always told me that you don't think you could do any of this without me but now I've got you putting me in my place like I'm nothing more than an unruly subordinate. In front of other crew members, no less."
"You've never challenged a direct order, not like that. In front of other crew members, no less. Hell, you growled at me, Garrus!" Shepard said.
"I – Spirits, that wasn't directed at you, Shepard." Garrus rubbed his hand along his crest and shook his head. "It's just this whole damn situation. You could have died tonight, Shepard. All because Aria wanted to play some game – after you just saved her ass!"
"I know. I'm only alive because of Jane and the others," Shepard said.
Garrus chuffed and shook his head.
Shepard ran a thumb across her forehead. "Aria isn't a threat anymore. She played her game, knowing she'd win no matter the outcome. She took her measure and now she knows my mettle. She'll leave me alone now, content with the idea of what I can do for her and I'll let her live content with the idea of what she can do for me."
"What is that, exactly?" Garrus asked.
"Before? The Blood Pack, Blue Suns, and Eclipse fighting alongside our armies in the war," Shepard said.
"And now?" Garrus asked.
"If I've played my cards right, all that and every able-bodied person on Omega willing to fight and die to protect what they've built for themselves," Shepard said.
"It's Omega, Shepard. No one out there cares about anything but themselves," Garrus said.
"What about the team you built? From people on Omega? They cared about something other than themselves." Shepard stood up. "I've seen what the people of Omega are capable of when their way of life is threatened. I've seen what Aria is capable of when Omega is threatened. And I've seen how she is able to rally everyone on that station into a fight against impossible enemies to take back what is theirs. When the reapers come, all they need is to hear their Queen tell them to fight for Omega."
"I hope you're right about this, Shepard," Garrus said.
Shepard moved to stand a couple of feet in front of him. "I'm sorry I made you feel like that, Garrus. It wasn't my intent. I never want to make you feel like that."
Garrus looked down at the floor between them. His mandibles fluttered softly and his mouth opened as if to speak but nothing came out. Shepard stood there for a minute, waiting for him to look at her or to say something. When it was evident he wasn't going to do either, she turned to the door to give him his space. He reached for her, his fingertips brushing her wrist. She stopped in the doorway and looked back at him. He held his arm out for her and she stepped into his embrace. Garrus pressed his forehead to hers and breathed in her scent.
"I love you, Shepard. I just need a little space. I think I'm going to sleep down here tonight, but I want you to know that I love you. More than I've ever loved anyone," Garrus said.
A tear slipped down Shepard's cheek and she nodded. It wasn't the first night she'd spent without Garrus, he'd often fall asleep down in the main battery exhausted from running numbers, calibrating, or pushing his contacts for information. It was the first time he made a point of telling her he wouldn't be coming to her bed, and it was because she'd pushed him away; because she hurt him. Again.
"I love you, too, Garrus. I'll see you in the morning," she said.
Shepard kissed him on his mandible and left the main battery another tear sliding down her cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand and took a deep breath as the door closed behind her. Grundan Krul looked up at her from a table in the mess hall as she made her way down the steps. He scooted a coffee mug across the table and filled it with coffee before sliding a tray of deli meats and fruit over next to the mug. Shepard smiled and wiped her face on her sleeve before making her way to the table and sitting down across from him.
"I've never paid much attention to what you humans eat," he said as she sat down.
"This looks perfect, thank you," Shepard said.
He nodded his head at her and sat in silence while she dug in. She hadn't even realized how hungry she was until there was food in front of her. About halfway through her plate she glanced up at him to see he was watching her from above the rim of his mug. She knew he was thinking about the way she had scrambled away from him in Afterlife and the look of terror that must have been on her face.
"Do we need to talk about it?" Shepard asked.
He shook his head.
"We good?" Shepard asked.
"We're good," he said.
Shepard sighed. "I wish everyone was as easy to get along with as you."
His lips twitched in a half smile and he refilled her mug. "Give him time."
"Yeah, that seems to be the going consensus," Shepard said.
She finished off her food and drained her cup before taking them over to the sink. She felt bad leaving dishes for Gardner to wake up to in the morning but it was late and she simply didn't feel like dealing with them herself. Shepard waved to Grundan Krul who nodded his head to her. She stopped outside of the elevator and glanced at life support. She was supposed to get started on meditation with Thane when she was done on Omega but everything had gotten so out of hand. Shepard chewed on her lip while she thought about it.
"Maybe it'll help me sleep," Shepard thought.
No one responded.
"EDI, is Thane still awake?" Shepard asked.
"Mr. Krios is awake and currently in meditation in life support," EDI said.
"Thanks, EDI," Shepard said absently turning away from the elevator.
She tapped gently on the door to life support. Thane's voice beckoned to her to enter. Shepard hit the door's release and stepped hesitantly inside. Thane stood from the floor and turned to her. He was dressed in loose draw string pants the color of straw and nothing else. Shepard paused a few feet in.
"I know it's late, but EDI said you were still awake and I wasn't sure if you'd still want … the thing is, Garrus is still upset with me," Shepard said tapping the side of her head, her voice shaking, "and they're all still quiet in here and I – I don't think I can sleep."
Thane crossed the floor to wrap his arms around Shepard's shoulders and pulled her gently to his chest. Shepard took a shuddering breath as she buried her face under his chin and wrapped her arms around his ribs. They held each other in silence for a few moments until Thane pulled away and gestured to the spot of empty floor in front of the observation window.
Shepard moved to the floor and sat down, pulling off her boots as his insistence and setting them out of the way. Thane crouched beside her, putting a hand on her stomach and one on her spine he pushed, urging her to straighten her posture. He spoke softly to her about the flow of energy in her body and how it could be blocked by her posture and poor air flow. He made adjustments – sometimes so minute Shepard couldn't even tell the difference – in other areas, pushing her shoulders back and down, lifting her chin, adjusting her legs, turning her palms upward.
Satisfied, he sunk to the floor in front of her. Shepard smiled at the way he sort of just melted into his meditative position on the warm metal surface, making her feel graceless after the way she'd plopped down and pulled her legs in under herself. Thane instructed her to close her eyes and focus on her breathing as he ran her through a series of breathing exercises, claiming they would aid her in clearing her mind and opening the channels in her body to allow the energy to flow freely.
Shepard tried to quiet her mind, but it seemed like the harder she tried the more images wanted to creep forward to haunt her. She breathed in as an image of Morinth's face in her final desperate moments filled her mind. She breathed out as she remembered the raw, visceral satisfaction she got from taking Morinth's life. She breathed in as she saw the look on Grundan Krul's face as she fled from him on the battle field while he was only trying to help her. Breathing out brought her the feel of her own angry snarl as she yelled at Garrus. Breathing in again reminded her of the voices pulling at her, trapping her in her own mind helpless to do anything but watch Jane fight her battle. Something must have shown on her face because Thane broke his measured breathing to instruct her further.
"Feel the solid floor beneath you; hear my voice and the hum of the drive core. Feel the air as you pull it into your lungs and it leaves again. These are the things that are now. They are all that matter in this moment," Thane said. "Acknowledge, the things that press into your mind and then let them go. They are not important in this moment, Siha."
Shepard gave a slight nod of her head as she continued to breathe. After a while the images and thoughts slowed to a trickle and eventually faded completely. Shepard sat in that place of nothingness, where no thoughts entered her mind and even the sound of their breathing faded away for a couple of minutes. Ephemeral and elusive, the moment past and try as she might she couldn't find it again. The sounds of the drive core, the steady rhythm of Thane's breathing, and the feel of the floor beneath her began to make themselves known again and Shepard opened her eyes.
Thane watched her, a soft smile on his face. "How do you feel, Siha?"
She thought about it for a moment before she answered. "Relaxed. Calm. But wishing it had lasted a little longer."
"That will come in time with regular practice." Thane stood to his feet and held a hand out to Shepard. "Do you think you can sleep now?"
Shepard let him help her up before she leaned back against the table. "I think my chances are definitely better than they were before I walked in here. Thank you."
"It is my pleasure," Thane said.
Shepard chewed on her lip until Thane gently tugged it free with his thumb. "What is it, Siha?"
"Nothing," Shepard said.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. She reached out and trailed her fingertips down his chest before grabbing the drawstrings hanging loose at his waist. She gave them a little tug and Thane chuckled, heeding her unspoken request he moved closer. Shepard looped her fingers together behind his neck and smiled.
"I'm just happy to be here with you," Shepard said.
"As am I to be here with you." Thane settled his hands on her waist before using his thumbs to lift the hem of her shirt, rubbing his thumbs back and forth across her skin.
Shepard's eyelids fluttered and she took a deep breath. Thane chuckled and slid his hands further up her sides, pressing his palms against the dip in her waist before lifting her up to sit on the table. He leaned into her and kissed her, the tip of his tongue brushing against her lower lip. Shepard deepened the kiss, sliding her hands forward to caress the delicate red of his throat just beneath his jaw. A small moan escaped Thane before his hand captured Shepard's and gently pulled it away, his lips leaving hers.
"You should get some sleep, Siha," Thane said.
Shepard groaned. "I don't want to now. Sleep is overrated. I want more of this."
"Then perhaps," Thane said moving Shepard's hand to the table, "it is time for more exercises."
Thane pulled Shepard's other hand away and pressed it to the table's surface. He trailed his fingertips up her arms and brushed her hair back, exposing her neck before meeting her gaze. Shepard pursed her lips.
"I think you're using this as an excuse to tease me," Shepard said.
"I assure you, Siha, the suffering will not be yours alone," Thane said.