AUTHOR'S NOTE: Alright, finals are done but I do still have work for the summer. I want to increase the upload schedule to what it was previously, the once every week, but give me another cycle to test the waters and see how work decides to schedule me. If it's light enough, well...

Commander John Shepard

After dropping Tali off at the Normandy, I made my way to the embassies on the Presidium to see David. The journey by skycar didn't take that long to the Presidium ring, then just going along to the Human embassies, parking in one of the built-in garages, and to the embassy proper. The receptionist outside of David's office recognized me, gave a grin, and let me through without hassle. David was at his desk working, typing along. He looked up, smiled, and stood. I returned the smile and gave my old friend a hug.

"Good to see you, John. How goes your mission?" he asked.

"I've a bit to tell you. Move to the lounge, get a drink?" David nodded in response and we entered the lounge, the butler, Elliot, manning the bar, polishing a wine glass.

"Bourbon?" David glanced at me.

"Sounds good."

"Right away, sirs," the older Englishman stated, grabbing a fine bottle as David and I took a seat on one of the couches. Elliot made his way over with the bottle and two glasses, poured, and returned to the bar.

"So the last time we talked, you had just been inside the vault of the now deceased Donovan Hock. How'd that happen?"

"A favor and contingency of the recruitment for Kasumi Goto. Bit of a Master Thief. Her partner and lover were killed by Hock and his Graybox stolen to get at the information inside. The plan was just to get into the vault during a party and get his Graybox back. It went loud after getting in the vault and we had to shoot our way out, killing Hock in the process."

"I see. I see. Did you enjoy the role of Mission Impossible?" David smirked.

"I have to admit, I kinda did," I chuckled.

"So, what else has happened?"

"We went to Illium for a pair of recruitments, and also met up with Liara while we were there. Even paid for premium docking for us."

"Really? What's she been up to?"

"After she got her inheritance, she started up an information brokerage on Illium. Primarily because she found herself with a bone to pick with the Shadow Broker. She's tracking him down." David gave a whistle of surprise.

"Well that's ambitious."

"Putting it lightly. As for the recruitments, we got ourselves the Drell Assassin Thane Krios, free of charge, I might add. He finds our mission compelling, and as he's got Kepral's Syndrome, he's not concerned with death. He's a very interesting man," I added. David nodded silently, having heard of the Drell affliction. "Second, an Asari Justicar, Samara. I'd bet Tevos would recognize the name if you ever dropped it. An extremely powerful biotic, absolutely no doubt. She's hunting down some sort of serial killer, but is working with us while Tali picks up the trail from some information we found for her."

"If you want, I can put in a query for C-sec."

"Appreciated, but my money's on her running off to Terminus," I shrugged. David nodded. "On Illium, we had a little bit of rest, Tali and I went and had a dinner date, Eclipse crashed the party. We got out fine, but Tali got knocked out with a crack visor, left her bedridden for a while."

"I'd hate to be any of those mercs," David remarked.

"Yeah, so would I. Still, two of em managed to survive and get thrown in custody. And Tali being bedridden gave her a chance to be innovative, and find a way to contribute to the ship despite just being in the med-bay." David raised a brow in curiosity. "She's been developing a new method of shield tech, for ship's primarily. Instead of just having the barrier just there, static, the new version would be oscillating. Like the shield projectors spin around like a gyroscope, just rapidly and intentionally so that the shield reforms every… I don't know, nano-second. The point being that it will slap aside projectiles rather than just taking the full force of the blow."

"Yes, yes, I can see how that would work. I don't know the numbers, but," David trailed off.

"Yeah. She's a fucking genius," I chuckled. "Following that was the little heist, and after that was TIM telling us a Collector ship was dead in space. We investigated, suspecting a trap, TIM knowing but not telling us," I grumbled. "But we made it out alive with some valuable data." David had kept listening, his brow furrowing after I mentioned TIM withholding information, but knew he and I shared the same thoughts. He gave a little gesture for me to share the information. "First, that they can use the Omega-4 thanks to a special IFF. Second, EDI confirmed this from their DNA. The Collectors are some kind of advanced form of Husk made from Protheans." David's eyes widened.

"So. Knowingly or not… that's what Saren's goal was." He took a long sip of his bourbon, finishing it. "That's something to think about. You said you had something to ask of me?"

"Right. One of the crew, Jack, I remember telling you about her. I've learned more about her past. Cerberus had her since she was… very, very young. They ran all kinds of experiments on her, keeping her like a prisoner, as well as dozens of other children."

"Despicable," David muttered.

"Jack knows where that facility is, now. Was. It's abandoned, on Pragia, and she wants to blow it all to hell." David was silent a moment and took a breath.

"Give me two days."

Garrus Vakarian

Spirits… my head. I grunted in pain as I struggled to open my eyes. Thankfully, this room was still darkened. I was in a bed I didn't recognize, and… clothes are tossed about? I was then aware of another's quiet breathing, and my eyes dropped to the sleeping form beside me in the bed. A naked Turian woman to go with my naked self. Right. Elements of last night were coming back to me. Not much, though. I really wanted to get absolutely hammered. I went to… some bar, started drinking, and… yeah, at some point, I shared some drinks with her. What was her name? A… Ana? No, Anlea. Right. Soldier in the hierarchy. Took some losses in some raid on a pirate hideout. There for the same reasons I was. Thing was just that I wasn't planning for any hookups, she was. I took a deep breath. Would have been nice if I could remember a bit more of the evening. Still, suppose I should get back to the Normandy.

I shifted my legs off of the bed, standing to start gathering my clothes when my companion started to stir, turning around in her bed facing me.

"Fun night. I think. You remember much?" she asked, still clearly on the tired side.

"People don't drink like I was if they're trying to remember," I remarked.

"True," she managed a chuckle. Anlea removed the blankets from her body, very aware of what she was doing, and what she was leaving visible. Running her hand along her thigh to keep my attention. "One more for the road? That we'll actually remember?"

How could I say no to that?

Commander John Shepard

It was the morning after I spoke with Anderson, Garrus wasn't back on the ship yet, so I'll probably want to check in on him sooner or later. Engineering was either finishing building or testing the experimental shield tech. Hm, probably as good a time as any to get a certain little something started. I got dressed for the day and headed down to CIC, and from there, to Mordin's lab. The Professor was working at his Terminal while Lia appeared to be copying results from an experiment with the Seeker Drone on her data pad.

"Shepard." Mordin greeted without even looking up. His greeting took Lia by surprise and she immediately stood straight, facing me.

"Good morning, Commander." I gave a warm, reassuring grin.

"Please, Lia, relax. No need for such formalities with me. And you can just call me Shepard."

"Thank you, Comman-Shepard," she stopped herself.

"Mordin, can I speak with you? In private?" I asked.

"Of course." Mordin gave a nod to Lia as she left the room through the main CIC entrance.

"Not medical matter. Would see Chakwas otherwise. How can I help?" I opened my mouth to speak, and felt a surge of embarrassment like I was a schoolboy again. I closed my eyes and shook my head.

"So, you've probably figured out by now that Tali and I are… together, right?"

"Yes. Curious. Human-Quarian relationships unusual. Not unheard of, but unusual. Curiously, in short span of thirty years, Humans already achieve the second largest numbers of interspecies relationships as a race. The largest of course, belongs to Asari." I couldn't help but laugh.

"That is not at all surprising."

"Surprising for Salarians. Most curious trait about species that does not reproduce regardless of species. Regardless, here." Mordin typed at his Omni-tool and a transfer immediately started on my own. "Guides for Dextro-Levo relationships. Positions comfortable for both Quarians and Humans. Lists of soaps and cleaning agents for both you and Tali'Zorah to make use of. Enjoy." Well, now I looked like a Tomato.

"Woah, woah, Mordin. Slow down. She and I… aren't there yet."

"I see. What then do you need?" Mordin asked without skipping a beat.

"I was hoping to see if you could actually turn my quarters into a clean room. Use the ante-chamber as the actual decon unit. And I'd also like to see if you could do that without Tali knowing," I explained.

"Ah, yes. Smart. I shall go and procure the materials and leave current lab work to Lia. Depending on quality of seals already present, should finish by end of day.

"That's appreciated, Mordin. Thanks," I nodded. I followed the Salarian out of his lab, and as I went back to the elevator, Mordin gave Lia her to do list. Let's see how the engineers are doing. I pressed the proper key, waited a moment, stepped out, and turned towards Engineering proper.

"Aaand… module ten hooked up and powered," Donnelly called out as the whirring sound in engineering was louder than usual. A cycling mechanical whir, and ten devices hooked up and steadied on some tables set up in the center of engineering, all of them being monitored and flashing with kinetic barriers as the generating side came face up. Some of which appeared darker, flickering when they appeared, others, brighter and steadier. Of those, most were slower, but one was noticeably faster. Donnelly had heard the door open and was the first of the engineers to see me. "Oh, 'ello Shepard," the Scotsman greeted. Daniels leaned around the corner with a grin and wave, and I made my way around from the right side of engineering to look down the center. Tali was at the far end, reading a terminal as she gave me a sideways glance and a wave, her eyes appearing to narrow in one of her smiles, and Kenn was standing straight as Lia had been.

"Receiving data from all ten modules. Should have conclusive results in an hour or two," Tali stated.

"Good timing for you then, Shepard, we've got more free time with our shore leave. Skyllian-5, anyone?" Donnelly asked.

"Been a while. Might need a refresher, but I'm game," I shrugged. I resisted the urge to smirk. Oh, I still remember very well. I'm just looking to throw off Kenneth.

"Shep's game, I'm game," Gabriella added.

"I know I haven't played it before. Have you, Kenn?" Tali asked.

"I-I haven't. Sorry."

"Ach, don't worry about it, lass and laddie. We can teach ya, and go easy."

"Putting any credits on this?" I asked.

"Friendly wagers. Nothing more," Kenneth shrugged.

"Yeah, I totally believe that," Gabby remarked.

Commander John Shepard

I'd say easy money, but Ken was not bad at all. I still came out on top, and his face about halfway through as he realized he was not able to read me that well. And despite Kenn and Tali being new to the game, they both had the advantage of us only being able to see their eyes. Now, I had the benefit of being able to read Tali by her eyes and the occasional other body gestures while making educated guesses with Kenn. Gabby, I should add, wasn't bad at the bluff either, but she was much less distressed about losing money than Ken was, considering how confident the Scot was. Said she was just happy to see him taken down a peg. I was also happy with that, but a bit more so with the additional hundred credits.

"Whether it's a game or combat if you're ever underestimated…" Tali chuckled as she and I went to the lounge to talk a little bit. My request and I messaged ahead to make sure Kasumi would be alright with us having a bit of privacy. We got up to the crew quarters without hassle and took seats at the bar. Though neither of us got drinks. "You wanted to talk?"

"Yeah, I, uh… I did." My mouth went dry and I shifted in my seat. "I wanted to talk about the night we had our… talk, and the morning after." Well, I just made it sound like we did more than just fall asleep on one another. Tali went rigid and I heard her take a deep breath.

"Oh! Oh. W-what about it?" she asked.

"Well… I think I mentioned that for Human men… having a beautiful woman," Tali went rigid again at the description, staring at me wide-eyed. "Fall asleep on them is a bit of a dream come true. And I was wondering… maybe you'd want to do that again. Maybe… maybe even move up to my quarters?" Tali was silent, then snapped back to reality, closing her eyes and giving her head a shake. A part of me thought that was her saying no, but I forced the understanding that she was just clearing her head.

"I'm-I'm sorry, what did you call me?" she asked quietly. I'll admit I blushed, but I got the sense she was blushing just a bit harder.

"Well, er, beautiful."

"B-but you haven't even seen me," she murmured.

"I don't think I really need to know that," I shrugged. Wait. "Not that I can't wait to see under the mask," I hastily reassured. "Just… I'm confident that I'll be more than happy with whatever I find. Assuming it's not Garrus," I joked to break the tension, and it managed to work, and she allowed the chuckle. "So…"

'So… what? Oh, you asked something, didn't you?" she asked, embarrassed. I couldn't help but chuckle, but I made sure it didn't last long or become a laugh.

"Did you just get lost in a trance after hearing that?"

"It's not exactly something I hear every day!" she retorted, flustered.

"Then I'm going to change that, beautiful," I teased, and she froze again, before punching me on the shoulder and folding her arms over her chest. I just put my arm around her shoulders, and she released a deep breath, leaning into me. "I asked if you'd be willing to spend more nights in my quarters. Just to sleep," I reassured. "Like we did that night. Though probably on the bed, still on one another. It was… very nice. Would you… want to move in? With me?" I asked. Tali was silent again, thinking.

"W-well… it was… nice. Very nice. Um…" she was thinking again; I imagine her mouth open as she searched for the words. "Would I be… intruding? On anything?"

"Not at all."

She took a deep breath.

"Ok."