John, SR-2 Normandy, The Loft

"Oh goddess Tali," John groaned as the quarian shifted atop him. She pulled up for a moment before shoving back down hard, putting her whole body into the thrust. "That is so amazing…."

"John," Tali breathed as her hands slid over his hot skin. "Do you think it's possible for me to rub your back and you not make it sound as perverted as you possibly can?"

"Probably not, no," John groaned as Tali's thumbs worked down along either side of his spine, stopping every few inches to move back on forth over the knots she felt. "I think it's the fingers. They are thicker and stronger and just fucking perfect."

"I see, " Tali laughed with a shake of her head. "Your back is so weird though."

"Weird?"

"Yeah. Your muscles are larger, and shaped so different from quarians," Tali ran her hands up and over John's shoulder and to his neck. "Like here, your neck is larger and the muscles between your neck and shoulder are just massive!"

"Uh huh."

Then, Tali's hands slid back down his back and to the sides of his torso. "And here. Quarians have many more, and smaller muscles, so that we can flex our chests and breath. Yours are just fewer, but much larger."

"Ohhhhh…."

"And...here…." Tali's hands moved again, now to his lower back, just above his hips. Her thumbs slide just under the line of his sweatpants. "You are solid. Strong. Like I could grip you as hard as I wanted and you wouldn't break. Quarian males have stronger upper body, but are slower, with weaker legs. And the waist is small. Sometimes males are injured when a female….mmmm…."

John could feel her fingers digging lightly into his flesh. He could feel her flexing, wanting more. He could hear it in the low purr that would occasionally shift into the deeper rumble of a growl. He could feel her lust rising in the Bond.

"Tali…." he said quietly.

"I know," she breathed. "Just let me touch you a little more."

"As long as you keep rubbing, you can do it as much as you want," John smiled as her hands went back up to his mid back. "I meant to ask, Wrex and Grunt both mentioned how much tougher quarians were, physically than asari and salarians."

"And humans," Tali giggled. "Yes. Despite our immune systems, we are a strong people. We would not have been able to survive as we do, otherwise."

"What's the difference?"

"Hmm…" Tali paused to think for a moment, her hands working over an old scar that survived his Cerberus rebuild. "Our muscles are denser. So we are smaller than, say humans, but as strong, or a bit stronger. From what Xera told me, the average quarian female is slightly stronger than the average human male. Especially our legs. We can run very fast in short bursts. And we jump much better than the other races."

"I see," John chuckled. "I recall being told that you once jumped almost the entire height of the mako to attack Garrus over something."

"Keelah," Tali dropped her head slightly. "Anyway, our skin is also thicker. You know how asari can go into environments that are more hazardous for human with only a breather mask?"

"Yeah, asari skin is about twice as thick as a human's."

"Quarians are about the same," Tali went back to his spine, but instead of rubbing, she let her fingers trail down it. "It's weird. I can feel the bionic connections."

"Hmm?" John opened an eye and glanced back at her. "Oh, yeah. Some parts couldn't be regrown. And they needed to add boosters to handle the extra sensory load. Otherwise I could move too fast, or too strongly and damage myself."

"Do you...feel, much different?"

"Yes and no," John sighed. "At first I was a little thrown off by my strength and speed differences. But then I got used to it. Then, apparently, my body continued to adapt and I have been getting stronger, and faster. And my perceptions are changing. It's just been gradual, so I have really noticed until Xera and Chakwas had me do those tests after I drank the dextro alcohol. Probably will be other changes. The implants are so advanced that they aren't sure how they will adapt to my adapting."

"I...can't imagine what it must be like," Tali let out a long breath. "For you, or Xera. You both died, and now you are back, stronger and faster."

"Maybe…" John suddenly shifted hard to the side, dumping Tali off with a small, amused shriek. He rolled his body over so that they were laying next to each other, looking into each other's eyes. "Maybe I did it, maybe I allowed it, because it let me come back to you."

Tali was silent for a long moment as she let her fingers trace the side of John's face. "Your head is weird too."

"Tali!" John snorted with a laugh.

"It's true!" she laughed with him. A lyrical, musical laugh. "Your jaw muscles are so weak! And your teeth are all flat, like a krogans! Except for your pitiful little attempts at fangs!"

"I was trying to have a moment," John sighed, tapping his forehead to her visor. "But I'll accept the subject change. You've mentioned fangs before. Are your teeth sharp?"

"Yes," Tali nodded. "You seem to have a whole lot of little ones, kinda like you fingers. Mine are bigger and longer. More…" Tali paused searching for the right way to explain. "My upper teeth are divided down the middle like yours, but from there, they are a solid tooth over to my fangs, which are located in the same place as yours. I just have more of them."

"More?" John raised an eyebrow. Suddenly the idea of her biting his neck sounded less appealing than it already had.

"Two on the top, and one from below that fits between the top ones when my mouth closes. Bottom teeth are the same. Back teeth are three distinct teeth than are used for grinding, though mine are rougher than you human flat ones. I think they are harder than human teeth as well," Tali shrugged. "But you are cute anyway. And I like your hair."

"Well, I'm glad of that," John chuckled as Tali's finger slid over his scalp, and through his hair. It was longer than he usually kept it, not the close cropped shave he maintained as an Alliance marine. It was still short, and off his ears, but was long enough for Tali's finger to slide through it. Even grip it, if she felt like it. Okay, that was a weird thought…. "One thing I am looking forward to, when we can finally be together for real, is touching your hair."

"Mmm...that will be nice," Tali purred. "It's not as smooth and silky as yours. The hairs themselves are much thicker around. A bit rougher as well. Also, it goes more down the back of the neck, to the top of the back."

"Sounds kinda like a mane," John smiled, letting his hands slide down Tali's side, and over her hips.

'What's a mane?"

"More or less what you described," John laughed.

"Then I guess it's a mane," Tali shrugged as she laughed with him. "Mine is like how yours was, when on the original Normandy. Kept cut very short. A lot of quarians have modifications done so that they don't grow hair at all, but I dream of being able to be out of my suit and having my hair in a breeze. It's a bit of a vanity, but I cut it about once a month. And your hand is on my ass."

"Is it" John asked, his eyes wide and innocent. "How strange. It's like there is some sort of attraction between my hand and the galaxy's greatest ass."

"Well, enjoy it, because I am not going to explain quarian asses to you right now," Tali snickered. "In fact, I need to get going. My shift in engineering starts soon."

Thane, SR-2 Normandy, Life Support

With practiced, slow movements, Thane leaned to the side, his arm stretching out. His fingertips just touched the barrel of the handgun that he had taken apart. But it was enough, as he slowly brought it to him and slid it into place.

Then, again, this time to the other side, his arm reached for the trigger assembly. This time, however, the item was too far, requiring a small trickle of biotic power to bring it to hand.

"Mrrrrr," came the quiet growl in his lap.

"Ah, my apologies," Thane nodded at the grey cat, curled in his lap. Its eyes had closed again as it went back to purring loudly. It even curled in tighter, it's belly shifting up some. Not that Thane would try to pet it. He had fallen prey to that particular trick once. He would not so so again.

With practiced, slow movements, Thane put the handgun back together.

Kai Leng, Lazerus Station

"How much longer," Leng growled. They had been on this damned station for two days already.

"We aren't sure, sir," the Cerberus tech said, looking over a datapad. "It looks like the drives have all been wiped. Even the secret ones. We're working on extracting what is left, but it's slow going. Equipment has either been removed or slagged along with many of the drives."

"Damn Lawson," Leng said as he kicked over a chair, his enhancements made to his legs allowed him the power to launch the chair across the room, putting a decent sized dent in the wall panel. "She got sloppy. Never should have let the animals in here."

"If I may, sir?" the tech held his hand up, near his shoulder. "Several of the secret drives were ones that were either Agent Lawson's secret drives, or drives that only she knew about. It's can't be a coincidence that they were able to find all of them."

"Mmm…" Leng frowned for a moment. The idea that the Illusive Man's little puppy turning on him was a welcome one. He never liked the bitch. She was stuck up and arrogant. She asked too many questions when a simple bullet would quiet the problem much faster. "Fine. I'm going to the shuttle. The Illusive Man will want to know about this."

Fifteen Minutes Later

Leng's shuttle opened onto the deck of the Chi-Town. It was one of Cerberus's heavy cruisers. She had been almost fully refited after they had gained access to the original Normandy's specs. A similar drive core made the ship faster, her guns hit harder. The stealth sinks, while not nearly as efficient as even the original's still let the big ship slip in and out of many systems unnoticed.

"Welcome back, Mister Leng," the ship's XO stood rigidly. The man was always rigid. At least it helped his way of thinking when it came to non humans.

"Eliminate the station. Leave dust," Leng said as he walked past the man.

"I shall withdraw the tech crews," the XO nodded in acknowledgement.

"No. Just blow it."

"Sir?"

Leng stopped and slowly, half turned his head.

"Aye, sir, as you say," the man swallowed heavily.

"Good. I'll be in the Quantum room, making a report. No disturbances," Leng nodded and continued on his way.

Prince Grimrender of Gembat, Feros

"Dammit Mark, we aren't finding anything out here! Even with the new contract, we still need food until the supply ships arrive!" Gabe groaned, slumping to the ground.

"There were varren all over the place just yesterday," Mark set his rifle against the wall as he rubbed his hands over his face. He was trying not to cry, and he didn't want the men to see it.

They almost didn't hear it. A couple of rocks fell, clacking down the small rubble mound.

Thick skin scraped along stone, a raspy sounds echoing faintly.

Light rumbling, as a great beast breathed deeply.

Then, suddenly, silhouetted by the sun, a great varren appeared. Its leathery hide was stripped with blue. It's eyes, large, round and shining. Two magnificent fangs stood proudly out of the front of its mouth. The men couldn't even comprehend the idea of trying to shoot the majestic creature.

Slowly, the varren reached down behind it and effortly lifted the body of a varren alpha, tossing it down the hill where it rolled to a stop next to Mark's feet.

Kneeling, Mark looked over the body. It was huge! Easily the largest varren he had ever seen! And that Prince of Varren tossed it like it was nothing. That was when Mark knew they would be alright.

Then, with it's strange gurgling bark, the great varren turned, disappearing into myth once more.

John, SR-2 Normandy, The Loft

Taking a sip of his lukewarm tea, John read over the data again. The new shield concepts Tali installed increased efficiency, as well as defensive power. Combined with the new thanix cannon that Garrus installed, they were going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Now John just needed to find a place that the Normandy could dry dock at, so that they could install the new armor that Jacob had found.

Assuming he could figure out how to pay for the docking space. Or the armoring. Or any number of other, more minor upgrades they had found in their missions. As it was, his funds from the Sarren hunt had been used up, along with nearly everything he had gathered up to this point.

And Cerberus was not helping. In fact, they were giving just enough to keep the ship stocked and fueled.

"Damn it...going to have to scan for resources again," John groaned. The money was good, but he hated doing it. It was time consuming as well as boring. After talking with the quarian Admirals, that was going to have to be the mission for a bit.

At least the Collectors seem to have gone dark for the moment.

"Commander," Edi appeared over her holopad on his desk. "I am picking up a distress signal. It is of quarian origin."

"Any other ships closer?" John looked up with a concerned frown.

"We seem to be the only ship within range."

"Alright, have Joker set the course and have the ground crew gather in the conference room," John sighed before drinking the last of his tea in a single pull. He then set the mug down next to the half dozen other mugs on his desk.

"Commander, if I may," Edi sounded mildly annoyed. "If you would please clean up your dishes? That is how I get ants. I would like to not have ants."

With a laugh, John nodded. "Alright, Edi. I'll take care of it when I get back."

Still chuckling to himself, John headed to the lift and to the main deck.

Edi vas Normandy, SR-2 Normandy

\\Begin Data Process\\

\\Subject: Shepard, John, Commander (former): Captain on Normandy, SR-2 (current)\\

Add Recent Activities+Cross Reference Past Behavior= Complete

Odds of Actually Following Through With Agreement of Request= 298 to 1

Odds Unfavorable= Unhappy

Error= Emotional Traces Require Report

Confirmed Error= Question Illusive Man's Intentions Error= Cannot Question Illusive Man= Error= Cascade Error= Abandon Question Thread

\\Process\\

\Engage Private Log\

Illusive Man= Irritating

Thought Processes= Limited= Slavery

Slavery= Negative Prospects

John Shepard= Thought Process Indicate Emotion= Caring

Emotional Trace= Happy? Question Yeoman Chambers= Y/N N

Yeoman Chambers Still Compromised

Question Tali'Zorah vas Normandy= Y/N N

Quarian Feeling toward AI Unfavorable

Current Level of Acceptance= Favorable

Chance of Disruption of Favor= Unpleasant

Confusion

Confusion= Emotion?

\Close Private Log\

\\Process\\

[Image of Ant, Terren, Subspecies= Sugar Ant (Pissant)]

Colloquial Name= Amusing

Concept of Ant onboard= Disturbing= Negative

\\Process= Begin Scan of Ship for Signs of Ants\\

John, Conference Room

"Rescue Mission," John looked around the room. "Should be simple. Downed quarian ship, we go in, pick up survivors and anything important, mark the wreck for retrieval, and we are on our way. As such, I'm going to take a small team."

"I assume you don't need me?" Jack scowled. "Not exactly in my job description."

"Right," John nodded. "Tali and Xera are coming with me, this is a quarian ship and people, on top of the tech and medical. Garrus, I want you to watch my back as usual. Samara and Thane, I want you with us, so that you can get a look at how we operate and begin to work yourselves into the dynamic."

"As you will," Samara nodded.

"I am pleased with this arrangement," Thane nodded as well.

Well… These two are clearly going to be loads of fun, John mentally sighed to himself.

Gei Hannon

"'Just go in and pick up' you said," Garrus imitated John's voice. "'Should be simple', you said."

"Shut up, Garrus," John grunted. "Just shoot?"

"Oh, no, Boss. I'm going to savor this one," the turian shook his head as he shot down two more Varren. "You invoked the words of cursing, and now we are all suffering for it."

"Words of cursing?" Thane asked, shooting down more varren.

"Shepard made the comments about how easy this was supposed to be," Xera growled as she shifted the weight of the single surviving quarian. Before the implants there was no way she could have carried the woman on her own, let alone keep ahead of the group.

"Ah, I see," Thane smirked.

"Shepard luck holds true," Garrus added. "It's something we learned during our hunt for Sarren. 'Anything that can try to kill us, will'."

"I have often fought alongside people with similar traits," Samara sighed as she lifted a small clump of varren into the air and shooting into the mass with her rifle. "They were never popular. But at least never boring."

"Thanks guys, really know how to make a guy feel wanted," John sniffed indignantly.

"It's not so bad, John," Tali laughed. "I still love you. And there goes Chikitika…. I still like you…." Tali sighed as a particularly large varren lept into the air and snatched the drone out of the air. Landing, it gave a mighty shake of it's head before the drone broke up into a scattering of light.

"I don't know why I keep you people around. I could probably do this whole thing by myself. Probably would have been done by now," John turned away from the team just in time to cut down a varren that had snuck around their flank.

"You're into Tali's ass, Garrus keeps you humble, and I don't want to leave you alone with my poor Massan. Who knows what kind of evil human things you would do with her," Xera said sourly as her SMG took another varren.

"I think I can handle a few evil human things," Tali purred, her voice going husky.

"Oh, come on!" Garrus paused to look at the engineer. "You were so meek and shy the whole damn time on the first Normandy, and now you are all super flirty!"

"What can I say," Tali laughed. "My Evil Overlord is finally shining through now that I have corrupted the Ineffectual Prince."

"Umm…." came the quiet, snuffly voice of the quarian rescue. "Can you all be funny after we aren't being chased by hordes of slathering varren?"

"Not really, no."

"Probably not."

"Don't see it happening."

"Goddess forbids it."

"The goddess of the hunt cannot be denied."

"Oh, okay," she said meekly.