The intimacy of touches forming a melody, the melding of skin and trust and heat. The swelling desire rising around them and the sweet taste of kisses. Passionate movements against each other in a slow ecstatic rhythm. Mumbles and moans and an often whispered 'I love you'. Lana was awoken from her vivid dream with a shock of embarrassment and a flush on her cheeks.
'Hell no, I wasn't just dreaming about-'
Groaning, Lana buried her face in her pillow, her hands in her hair. This wasn't the first time that she'd had dreams about him, now it was finally becoming irritating. They were both obviously aware of the attraction now, but surely no grown women would have these sort of ideas yet, right? Sighing, she rose from her bed, deciding a cold shower would be ideal. How would she be able to look him in the eye with these ideas without a stupefied grin on her face?
'Guess it's time to find out.'
The riots on Feros were finally getting out of hand since the destruction of the Reapers, more species, humans especially, were relocating to the planet due to the colossal damage to Earth. Deciding that peace had missed its due date, soldiers were finally being sent down to see what they could do. Part of Lana wished to be out there despite everything, tired of the dragging days on the ship and hoping that she could put her gun to use again. She'd been asked out on missions by various people but was always preoccupied or hit with sudden fear. Sitting at the window of the canteen, she couldn't help but touch the glass with her fingertips, gazing out into the spirals and swirls of the stars before her, the majestic colors of the clouds fascinating her. Was it only now that she had realized their beauty? Unable to help herself she smiled, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Hey, Lana." Lana looked up to see Rani who stood with crossed arms, smiling gleefully.
"You seem happy today." Lana remarked, Rani nodding proudly.
"Sure am, guess who's been asked to accompany the Commander on a special mission?"
"I hate guessing games."
"Well it's me, unsurprising I know, but!" Chirped Rani, her hands clapping together. "I can take someone with me."
Lana raised an eyebrow, hope suddenly flickering in her gut and her arms crossing.
"I know you're bored shitless, that you gotta get out more, you've been telling me for the past few weeks, so I had a clever little idea. Well, Whaddya say?" Rani hoped, smiling expectantly.
"Hell yeah!" Lana beamed, instantly rising from her chair.
With an overjoyed yay, Rani led Lana away from the canteen.
Awkwardly, Lana tugged on the straps of her armor, the feeling of the cold plates against her skin alien after so long, and her now petty revolver replaced with a deadly submachine gun.
"M-9 Tempest, not bad for a spare gun." Lana praised, examining the weapon with close inspection.
"Not to mention heat sink capacity and extra rounds." Reminded Rani, approaching from her seat on the small ship.
"But nothing of course-" A clicking sound from the asari's gun, "beats my baby."
Rani held up her gun proudly, before pressing it to her chest as if she adored it. There were visible splashes of purple and pink spray paint on the gun, forming an image which appeared somewhat like an M. Whilst being slightly worn from damage it was polished and obviously well cared for, clearly appreciated by its somewhat overly attached owner.
"Your baby? You mean that crappy pistol you have there?"
"Ah! She's not a pistol, she's a heavy pistol! And an M-5 Phalanx, just so you know. And this 'crappy' pistol has more upgrades than you can count on those little human fingers of yours!" Rani declared with pride, the gun in the air once again.
"Isn't that a System's Alliance gun?" Lana couldn't help but jeer.
"Yeah, so what?"
Laughing, the two took a seat as the ship landed in the destination; the Citadel's wards. The ludicrously tall buildings stood clumped together as if they were one massive skyscraper, there textures appearing soiled and filthy. Skycars hovered here and there as civilians of all species made there way around the overcrowded place. Shops were littered with people, some almost scavenging for whatever they offered, the Keepers seemingly observing. Lana remembered her brother speaking of harsh places like these and warning to steer clear unless necessary. Frowning, she continued to follow Rani and the few other people who had joined them on this mission, their Commander leading them. Noticing that they seemed serious and tense, she turned to her friend curiously.
"So, what's the mission again?" she inquired. Rani laughed a little, turning to face her.
"Well, some guys from C-Sec asked for backup. We're looking for some geneticist named Anay Kar, a volus, apparently this sicko's been selling organs on the black market." She explained, noticing Lana cringe.
"So, it's another Dr Saleon?"
"Precisely. Anyway, we're meeting up with some others before we go and get him. Gotta be sure he doesn't make a run for it."
Lana hands clutched her gun almost instantly at the sound of this criminal. The thought of criminals being allowed to run freely angered her, especially ones like these, it made her want to flee back to the little black box inside of her head, only if she did she wouldn't be able to keep this newly found courage burning. Frowning again, she continued to follow the others through the streets, often looking around the apartments to see timid faces peeking through windows, observing silently.
Eventually they found the others, only four of them, all holding guns and heavily armored like them. They look honorable and austere, most of them she hadn't seen before.
"Ready for this, boys?" The one leading Lana's group asked, the four nodding.
"Let's go."
One by one they entered a building with a green cross sign stabled onto it, clearly a hospital. Inside, it was hauntingly obvious that the building was unoccupied, not a soul in sight and the silence practically screaming. The walls of the interior were chipping away to reveal the structure underneath. The furniture scattered around the place were battered and unattended. Oddly, no technology or computers were anywhere to be seen, it were as if the building was from a different era. Soon, they were climbing the stairs, careful not to make them creak in case anyone was there, Lana and Rani in the middle of the group treading slowly, guns pointed in front of them just in case. Coming to a door, everyone backed up against the nearest wall, the Commander's checking the device beside it to see if it would open. To everyone's expectations, it was locked.
"We're gonna bust it open." He whispered.
There were a few nods and gulps around the group as the Commander aimed his weapon at the door and fired, the supersonic velocity of it's projectile forcing the door from it's hinge, sending it flying into the darkness of the room. Suddenly the team had charged into the room, swearing bloody murder on anyone in there. However, there was no one. Pointing their guns around aimlessly they entered further into the room, searching for a source of light. Lana, feeling unsafe, squinted in the pitch black of the room, searching for the criminal. Sure she had seen something in a corner, she approached, turning away from the group.
"Look out!"
Realizing the fleeing figure sprinting towards her, Lana turned away, kicking her leg up to meet the face of the bastard volus and approaching as he fell. Surrounded by the torches of her teams weapons she could see him clearly, her gun now at his head, bending until he could see her.
"Gotcha." she snarled, knocking him unconscious with the but of her gun.
"Well, we got him. We finally got him!" The Commander cheered. "Looks like the guys at C-Sec'll be buying you a drink tonight, eh Lana?"
Lana shrugged, smiling proudly.
"Thanks, that guy needed to be caught, simple as. But that drink will go down nice knowing he's behind bars."
"I'll say!" Rani cried out as she approached. "Well, let's get the hell out of here."
With pride and confidence, Lana walked to the ship along with the team.
Sorry for the lack of Vann here, I still have a bit of writer's block at the moment. :(
Oh and if the mild language and the... details described in the first paragraph bother you, then you miiight not want to read on. There's gonna be a lot more of that in here, just a little warning! :)
Spacetastic awaaay!