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Requested By :

Espacole and Spork

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I am inventing Quarian words. I will invariably fuck up some of these later on, but it's fun, so, I will endeavor to catalogue translations AND my reasoning. Feel free to chip in your own ideas and understandings as you like.

Anra Si'yon - the love I found.

(Drawn from Keelah Si'Yah, or, 'by the homeworld I hoped to find one day' where Keelah seems to mean Rannoch, more or less. So Si'Yah means 'hop to find' and Si'Yon' means 'have found'. Anra, of course, means 'the love' in this)

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"We have concluded the repairs as expected, and the Creators are loading what is theirs onto it." Goliath reported, voice crackling out of the personal terminal on her desk. Behind her, the open bathroom door leaked steam out into the room while water dripped down Shepard's hair, splashing across the floor. "All items of note, therefore, have been completed. We are forming an escort formation for your vessel and the Creator ship as we speak."

"EDI will coordinate the exit." Shepard said, "Joker, our pilot, is waiting on her."

"Acknowledged." Goliath answered, "Farewell, Shepard-Commander. We are glad this could be concluded in a mutually beneficial manner."

"Me too." The connection clicked off and she straightened, sighing tiredly and pulling her towel more tightly around herself. "God dammit… I feel for Nikos, but these things will always creep me out."

"I feel the same." She smiled as Tali pushed off the wall behind her, wrapping her gloved hands around Shepard's waist and tucking her mask in against her neck. It was cool, and after a hot shower, sent a bit of a chill down Shepard's spin in a pleasant, familiar sort of way. "So, are you done with your shower?"

"Not quite, no." She smiled, lacing her fingers in between the Quarian's and leaning back against her. Outside of her armor, Tali was actually taller than her, and just as broad, so she could mostly take her weight without complaint - even if Shepard had to be careful with that, given how much of her was metal, now. Smirking, Shepard went on, "But it seems someone needs some attention, hm, anra si'yon?"

"Oh, someone's been studying…" Tali chuckled, pressing her hips against her and wiggling side to side comfortably in a way that would have been sexual from a human partner in a human relationship, but from a Quarian was more… Comfortable than anything, with the 'special sensors' in her suit turned off as they were. "And yes. I do want some attention. It's been years, and… The last time I saw you…"

"Right." She pulled away from the Quarian, who whined as she withdrew, and turned to loop her arms over her shoulders and press her forehead against hers in as close to a kiss as they could manage without immuno-blockers for the both of them. "I'm sorry, Tali."

"It isn't your fault, anra si'yon."

"Lacking fault does not mean lacking harm, you know."

"Oh, keelah, you watched Fleet and Flotilla…"

"Garrus said it'd be useful." She smirked, "And it wasn't… Bad."

"I will end the ax'kah." Tali threatened quietly, "I swear it."

"He was trying to help." Shepard chuckled, pressing their hips together and wiggling side to side to emulate the Quarian's own gesture. "And you're deflecting."

"I am." She sighed, "A good girlfriend would take the hint."

"When did I say I was good at this?"

"Fair." She sighed, "Just… Let's put the bastards down and leave it. Alright? You're alive and that's what really matters to me."

"Fine by me." When Tali was ready to talk about it - or if she ever was - Shepard would be waiting. But her emotions were her own, and Shepard wouldn't ruin their first bit of time together by pushing her. Bobbing her head towards the bed, she smiled, "Nap time?"

"That sounds spectacular." Tali sighed, "Though it'd hardly be a 'nap' at this time of day, Shepard."

"Oh, shut up and sleep with me."

"Fine, fine." She chuckled, "Keelah, I haven't had a good, proper sleep in days…"

"Mhm." Shepard smiled, pulling away and turning to her computer, tapping out a few commands. After a second, a dull, rattling sort of rumble echoed from around the room and she smirked, padding towards the bed. "Had to make a new sound-file. Hope it works."

"Oh, Shepard." The Quarian sighed, "What did I do to deserve you?"

Guilt panged in her chest and she didn't answer, tossing her towel onto the couch and flopping onto the bed, waving the Quarian over with a smile. She settled in beside her under the covers, suit-heaters warming against her skin as it regulated their different body temps, and Shepard relaxed into the affection. Even if she knew Tali deserved better, the Quarian was happy with her, for now, and she'd be damned if she was stupid enough to push it away.

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"You're sure she's out of reach?"

"Quite out of reach, in fact." EDI answered crisply, "Commander Shepard is… Indisposed, at the moment, for everything barring emergency protocols. I did notify her of your request earlier, so she is aware of it. If, however, you desire immediate consultation-"

EDI was cut off when Grunt, agitated, turned and smashed his fist into the window of the storage bay he lived in.

"Yeah…" Pyrrha murmured, "I think it's fairly important we work toward a solution more quickly than not."

"Very well…" EDI answered, going on a moment later, "Miss Lawson is awaiting you in her office, to discuss your request. Along with a related matter, which she has been made aware of. Please, head there and speak to her."

"Very well…" She frowned and turned to look at Grunt, raising her voice and calling out to the agitated young Krogan. "Grunt, can you stay calm enough here while I go speak to Miranda?"

"I will be fine." He growled lowly, turning and thudding over to a low, messy cot he'd dragged in and shoved into the corner, sheltered behind his pod. Dropping onto it he snapped, "Just go. And… Just get it done, Battlemaster, before I break something more… Important."

"Alright…" She sighed, turning and stepping through the door, eyeing the trio of Cerberus soldiers, complete with light, open faced helmets, bracers and simple breastplates with barrier generators overlaid over it. Quietly, she said, "Just… Don't agitate him?"

"As you say, Ma'am." One said, sighing, "Rather not fight him in a narrow hallway anyway, so… Yeah."

"Yeah." She nodded, turning and stepping onto the elevator.

She found Miranda waiting in her office, busy at work on… Something she was doing at her terminal. When Pyrrha entered, she flicked her a look, smiled, and then waved a hand at the seat across from her before returning to what she'd been doing. Frowning at another delay on what was, more and more, seeming like quite the time-sensitive matter, she took the seat, hands folded in her lap. She watched the other woman for a while, while she worked, cocking her head and tucking her hair behind her ear, before she got impatient and spoke up.

"I need to get to Tuchanka."

"Why?"

"Something is wrong with-"

"Grunt." Miranda nodded, flicking her a look and smiling thinly before leaning back and reclining in her chair, crossing her arms under her bust and taking a long, deep breath. "Doctor Solus informed me shortly after you spoke to him. Commander Shepard, too. Both of us agree with his recommendation. But is it so severe that you need to push us to hurry it along?"

"I think so, yes."

"You command him, Nikos." Miranda seemed almost scolding, albeit in a gentle way, with a pretty smile and a police bob of her head. "I'm not trying to offend, but you have to be more commanding, now. Or he is liable to challenge you."

"Alright…"

"So." Miranda's smile warmed, "Do you need us to hurry this?"

"Yes." She nodded more firmly, "I… If we do not, I fear for Grunt's stability. Mentally, I mean. Whatever is happening, he needs attention for all of our goods."

"Very well." Miranda nodded, leaning forward again to work at her terminal. "I will clear the Kodiak for departure once we Relay out of Geth-space. You may take a small team, excluding Vakarian, Krios and the Justicar, and head for Tuchanka once we near a Relay to the CItadel. EDI will notify you."

"Yes, Ma'am." The AI reported, "It will be five days until then, however."

"That can't be helped, I'm afraid." Miranda sighed, flicking Pyrrha a look. "You will need to keep him in line until then, Nikos. Can you do that?"

"I can, yes." She nodded, "He's avoiding the crew of his own accord, right now. As long as he keeps doing so, Penny and I should be more that sufficient to keep him, um, 'in line', as you said. And, if not, our Aura will protect us should he become violent. I, especially, can restrain him easily enough. Albeit with no small amount of… Damage, to the ship."

"Will it cause a hull breach?"

"No." She chuckled, "I'm smarter than that, Miss Lawson. I'll restrain him with the flooring."

"An unoriginal but, from my recollection, highly effective solution." Miranda chuckled quietly, flicking Pyrrha a long look before reclining and crossing her arms again. "On that note… May I ask you a question?"

"I believe you just did?"

"You are not funny." Miranda chuckled, rolling her eyes and standing. She paced around the desk and leaned against it in front of her, looking down at her with her head cocked. Looking up at her now meant looking past her chest, which made Pyrrha want to stand, to. But standing up would mean bumping into her unless she pushed the chair back, which would-

"Regardless of your poor comedy." Miranda smirked, pushing off the desk and turning to look out a small window into space, which left Pyrrha staring awkwardly at her back until she stood and joined her, looking out into the black as a Geth corvette escort slid down, maintaining a formation she couldn't see.. "Aura… It seems so powerful."

"That sounded more like a statement than a question." She ventured.

"It was." Miranda nodded, "The question is… What it's like, on a world where such is more common?"

"In short?" She sighed, "Necessary. The, ahem, natural threats of my world make it a requirement for the people who defend against it."

"What sort of threat is that?"

"Fishing for my secrets are we?"

"Oh, Nikos, if I were truly invested in knowing, I have… Ways." She cocked her head and half-turned to show off a stretch of neck and a peek of her upper chest, and then laughed when Pyrrha flushed. "My, but you're amusing."

"W-What?"

"No mind." She waved her off, turning back to the window and smiling. "I was just… Curious, I suppose. About Aura. It's nature, and its history, and its application on a culture. I can only imagine an army made up of people like you and Polendina, and the idea… Well, with the Reapers coming, I can't say it isn't an enticing picture to conjure up."

"Together, we're… Potent, I admit." Pyrrha sighed, reaching up to brush a hand against the scar of her chest, hidden by her body-suit. "But not invulnerable. Believe me, I'm aware of that. Any army of Hunters you would build would be just as vulnerable as any other."

"How do you mean?"

"We didn't have Barriers." Pyrrha pointed out, turning to the woman and smiling. "Or Biotics. Our Aura is all we had. Our Aura, and our Semblances - and the latter could often be as dangerous as anything else, if you were particularly unlucky."

"It can?" Miranda turned to her, genuine interest sparking in her eyes.

"Mhm." Pyrrha nodded, smiling and turning back to the stretch of black as the nearby nebula that made up the Perseus Veil itself came into view, coloring the darkness spectacularly. "Oh, goodness, but that's beautiful…"

"You would know." Miranda offered, making Pyrrha snap a look around to the woman as she turned away, heading for her seat once more. "You were saying something about… Harmful Semblances?"

"Some… Friends of mine, on another team, had an uncle." Pyrrha answered, turning back to look out on the nebula as it grew larger, more of it coming into sight steadily. "His Semblance caused misfortune for all those around him, and even himself, constantly. From what I understand, it was never enough to cause harm to any of them, but…"

"Not something to enjoy." Miranda hummed, "I suppose I should hold that in my mind, before I ask."

"Ask what?"

"For you to unlock my Aura, of course."

"I'm sorry?" Pyrrha rounded on her sharply, turning on a heel as her heart picked up.

"Nothing untoward, I promise you." Miranda rushed to assure her, looking… Genuinely startled, even worried, for a moment. Holding her hands up in a gesture of peace, she explained, "It would be a request, not a demand. If you were uncomfortable with it, or simply said no, it would end there. And it's not even something I am asking for now."

"I-I see…" Pyrrha sighed, taking a breath and looking away, down at the ground, before she turned back around to the nebula. If only to avoid the bright blue eyes boring into her. Clearing her throat, she said, "I… Would consider it. I'm sorry, I just-"

"What happened to you was traumatic." Miranda cut in, "I understand. Rest assured, I wouldn't press you for it. Besides, you eat a lot thanks to our Aura. And I already do thanks to my Biotics. I can't imagine how much I'd need after a skirmish if I had to handle both…"

"I can imagine it would be… Unpleasant." Pyrrha chuckled, "Anyways…"

"I'll arrange fuel, rations and clearance, as I said." Miranda sighed as Pyrrha turned and angled towards the door, subtly asking if the second officer was done with her. "But, as enjoyable as our talk has been, I have a meeting to get to."

"I won't keep you, then."

"Good evening." Miranda nodded, which Pyrrha returned as she headed for the door. As she stepped through, though, the woman added, "I look forward to the pleasure again, any time you like."

Pyrrha blinked, but the door closed behind her. So, with a sigh, she picked up her tinned dinner and turned to head for her room to get some rest.

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Pyrrha blinked as the dark, stony stretch of the Dark Lord's hall materialized around her. The cool air brushed over her bare skin, where her armor - lacking the armored undersuit she wore - didn't cover her thighs and shoulders. But she didn't mind, standing and looking around. She'd grown used to her armor, as she grew, and even as used to her new armor as she was, it still felt right to wear her old gear in her old way. Although she could have done without her scar being bared to the world…

"Ah, Pyrrha, good." She turned, looking down the hall which had, since her last time, seemingly been repaired. The Dark Lord was on his throne, as usual, with his chin in his palm and his elbow on the arm of the throne, and he bobbed his head as she turned and approached. "It's good to see you. Please, how have you been?."

"It's good to see you, too." She said, kneeling when she reached the base of the throne. "And I've been well. As I'm sure you've seen."

"Yes, well…" He chuckled and she lifted her head to meet his smiling face. "I must say, it's rather amusing. The follower of the God of Destruction negotiating a peace? Even if it was not all by your own effort, that is a touch ironic."

"You disapprove?"

"Oh no, not even slightly!" He laughed, waving her off, "I approve, in fact. Greatly. I enjoy destruction, sure, but this war? It's not even beautiful in its destructive artistry. It's all rather… Sad. Seeing it move towards a close is a great thing."

"I'm pleased to hear it."

"Unfortunately, that's… Not why I called on you." He sighed, going on when she stood, brows furrowing in worry. "The Reapers are targeting you, specifically. You and your companion, Penny."

"Because of our Aura?"

"In part." He nodded, "But no. Because of our relation."

"Directly?" She murmured, "Why? I knew they wanted 'unique specimens', at least judging by the Collectors, but-"

"I fear my brother has meddled a bit." He answered, "I… Spoke to one of the Reapers, a short time ago."

"You did?"

"Mhm." He nodded, "To test my hypothesis. Risky, yes, but… Well, I needed to know. And after a short time, it remarked that I was 'not the other one'. Which means that my brother, or the local gods, have intervened in some respect."

"I see…" That would complicate matters… Shaking her head, she said, "I will keep an eye out, and stay on guard. And I will pass on your instructions to Penny to do the same."

"Very good." He nodded, "And… If that is true, then the Gods have violated their promise. Or my brother has. Regardless, I will be watching, and will try to intervene where I am able."

"Alright." She nodded, more than a little comforted by the idea of a literal god waiting in the wings to protect her more directly. Presumably, if any other gods came for her, but even a qualified protection on that level was…

A lot.

"Was that… All?"

"For now." He chuckled, "What, are you disappointed?"

"N-No!"

"Hah. You are!" He waved her off when she flushed and stammered a denial, and then the world began to fade and he sighed wearily. "Get your rest, Pyrrha. You'll need it, and sooner than I would like, I'm afraid…"

Before she could respond, the world faded to darkness around her. And she jerked awake in the dimly lit space of her shared quarters, tossing her blanket off and reaching instinctively for the sword laid under the edge of her cot. Her fingers brushed against it but she caught herself before she drew it, and let out a shaky breath.

"Pyrrha?" Penny blinked awake a few feet from her, droopy, sleepy expression snapping unnaturally to wakefulness when she turned to her and saw her up. Worried, she asked, "Are you quite alright?"

"I'm fine." She sighed, "But… Our Lord has a warning for us."

"I see." She blinked, "Shall I fetch some water for us to talk?"

"That would be wonderful, yes…"

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ON TO TUCHANKA!

After a short AN…

Those with keen eyes will be able to read into Miranda, here, based on last chapter. But, gotta own up toa fuck-up on my part-

Pyrrha, here, is close to twenty/twenty one by now, due to the time passing in V3 - at LEAST half a year, imo - meaning she'd have been at or close to eighteen at time of death. There's also been a bit of time in ME's universe, now. So she's at minimum nineteen, closer to twenty, but I personally have her at twenty one here.

That's all fine, but my fuck-up was with Miri.

Miri, here, was MEANT to be twenty four to twenty six. Because I misremembered when ME2 happens, so I thought there was a whole ten years missing. Don't know why, just… Didn't remember it right. Anyway, this is all supposed to be creepy, albeit in a wholly different way, so if you find it icky… Good? It is either way, this just adds a layer.

Again, my fuck up, and I apologize.

Also, to be clear, there won't be a SHIP TO THIS. It's just Cerberus fuckery because… It's Cerberus.

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Poofy Ohio :

That is also a good ship, however, I wanted something more unique, here. Sorry. XD

Arguable Reader :

Hence my including it here, at least in part.

Guest W :

Basically, yes. TIM has her doing it to fish for favor and information. Given Miranda's looks and outfit, I FEEL LIKE one of or both of those two have used that in the past.