When he arrives in the comm room, the Spectre is fingering the loose strands at her temples, "I have always been curious about the color of your hair," he looks over at DeClan, "and yours, it's an anomaly of sorts, no?"
"Genetic defect is more accurate, most are filtered upon conception. My mom decided it wasn't important," DeClan offers.
"My father's a red head. It would be kind of wrong to remove something native to himself," Adan laughs, attempting to break the tension rising in the room.
Nihlus nods, "It's good that the two of you arrived first, I wanted to talk to both of you."
"About what?" They chime together.
"Yes, what is it that they want to speak to them about?" Anderson asks as the door closes behind him.
"This isn't just a shakedown for the Normandy, it's a shakedown for the two of you as well." Nihlus' gaze shifts between the two, ignoring Anderson.
Anderson interrupts and each twin's bullshit meter fly into the red before they really listen, filtering out the extraneous info; taking in only the important bits.
Each hears the words Specter, Eden Prime, Beacon and covert mission then Joker's panicked voice heralds incoming vid feed from the planet.
DeClan stays until the feed cuts off but Adan took off once she heard the panicked voice of the marine.
She returns with all her weapons in place and something new.
She's changed and upgraded her armor.
It's now a matte black, the signature N7 badge and stripe are faded with wear.
He nods his appraisal when the stripe and badge fade away as she tests her tactical cloak.
"What in the hell are we waiting on?" She asks her eyes darting between Anderson and DeClan, as Nihlus is always in armor.
"You," Anderson says his hands clasped behind his back.
"Yes, those marines need help but we are here to locate, pick up and transport a Prothean beacon back to Alliance space. That is your mission."
He turns away from the trio, "You ETA is thirty minutes, gear up and good luck."
The trio heads down to the cargo bay where Nihlus grabs his weapons, the Mattock and sniper rifle that Adan modified weeks before.
When she grabs her old Viper, Nihlus gently takes if from her and hands her another.
A quick examination of the weapon reveals it's from the HMWSR Master line of Sniper Rifles.
"Nihlus, I can't..." She starts but a shake of his head silences her.
"You can and you will. Consider it an early betrothal gift," Nihlus glances at both her and DeClan before he leaves them.
In tense silence she assists DeClan, checking the specs on his armor and weapons before sliding them onto the mag strips.
"So a betrothal gift?" His voice is tight with an emotion she can't place.
She meets his eyes, answering with a terse nod, "Can you marry me, DeClan?"
"Can he give you children, Adan?" He counters, opening his omni-tool and drawing away.
He doesn't notice the wince that pulls her mouth into a hard line as she walks away when Joker announces their approach.
Alenko, Jenkins, Nihlus and Anderson are already waiting on the open cargo door, Jenkins rattles on excitedly and Kaidan gives her a nod.
Nihlus' eyes are on her, then DeClan as he approaches, his mandibles flutter once in question.
"So Nihlus, you're going with us? This is going to be great!" Jenkins laughs.
"No, Nihlus is going to scout ahead, Alenko and Jenkins you're with the XO," Anderson corrects the young marine.
Nihlus' eyes land on DeClan then Adan, "You," he nods toward her, "with me. The rest of you, we'll see you on the far side."
The opening of the shuttle door steals DeClan's words and when she shrugs his hand from her shoulder, he wishes he could take back his hurtful words.
It's too late, she and the Turian leap off the ramp and disappear as Joker takes off for the next rondo point.