The Captive
Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.
Chapter 5: Green Monster
"Humans are pathetic. They're brash, unintelligent, and they never learn." Vitani said acerbically.
Shepard's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. The pale faced Turian continued. "Your species throws bodies at their problems to solve them. No tact or strategy is ever used-"
She cut the Turian woman off in the middle of her speech to the group of trainees. "That isn't true."
Shepard had begun to say something of the last Turian squad she and her group had completely slaughtered, but thought better of it- seeing as she was surrounded by Turian's. It didn't seem like such a good idea, no matter how satisfying it might have been.
Vitani glared, "I'm the trainer here, and although I don't agree with Victus allowing you to tag along, you'll be learning from me."
Which was a long way of saying, shut up. Shepard rolled her eyes. "You're letting your hatred of humanity cloud your judgment. No wonder the Turian squads aren't standing up to humanity's squads."
"What did you say?"
Shepard growled, "You heard me loud and clear. Your overall military is far superior to my Alliance, but your squads are getting slaughtered- probably because they have Turian's like you training them. You underestimate the intelligence and adaptability of humanity."
Nihlus leaned against the door way with interest. Just as Vitani made a menacing move to attack Shepard, he spoke up, "She's right, Vitani. Humanity is smart, Shepard is the very example-"
"Just because a little human took you and Garrus down, isn't an example of anything except that you two are getting weak."
Shepard snorted. "Nihlus and Garrus are considered weak? They're the only resistance the Turian squads provided against humanity's tactical squads."
Vitani's forearm came up harshly against Shepard's face, her head was jerked to the side as she felt a welt forming. "You will speak when spoken to, prisoner."
"Vitani!" Hissed Nihlus.
Shepard got in the taller woman's face, snarling. "I am not your prisoner, and most of all I am not a prisoner."
They stood in each other's way, staring each other down. The Turian's in the training room held their breaths, waiting for the inevitable fight to explode between the two warring females. Vitani shoved Shepard back. "You better watch yourself little human. Garrus and Nihlus won't always be around to save you."
The smaller woman gave a rough shove in return. "You better watch yourself before I make an example of you in front of all your trainees."
Vitani began to circle Shepard slowly, like a predator would it's prey. She gave a harsh cackle, "Are you going to make good on that threat? I'd like to see you try."
The hair on the back of Shepard's neck bristled as her instincts screamed for her to fight. She went to turn before the Turian woman knocked her forward. Shepard retaliated violently. Her body twisted and she landed a harsh kick to Vitani's midsection.
Despite their size difference, the Turian woman was knocked back roughly against the wall. Silence ensued as she gasped for air, and the shock on her face was clear to all. Shepard stood, her breath even as she watched the woman like a hawk.
A second wouldn't go by that she was unaware of the Turian's movements. She gave a feral growl and launched towards Shepard. Vitani landed a strike into her abdomen and then an uppercut to her face. Shepard stumbled backwards as blood trickled down her cheek.
The satisfaction on Vitani's face was enough to make her blood boil. Fuck her. Shepard tackled her to the ground, only to be thrown forward face first. The Turian kicked her roughly in the ribcage causing her to yelp in pain. Pitiful. Get your fucking act together, Shepard.
Shepard rushed her again, dodging a jab at her side, and ducking another to her face. She landed a few good strikes to the Turian's stomach, and a knee to her thigh. Vitani's leg gave out from the kick. Shepard took the opening and dealt a face breaking blow to the woman's mandibles.
The Turian cried out. There wasn't any sweeter sound than her pain. Except maybe Garrus' voice. Fuck. Focus, Goddamn it.
Vitani landed a jab to Shepard's throat. She choked and coughed and the Turian woman took advantage of her momentary distraction. She held Shepard hunched over and landed her knee several times in the human's ribcage.
The satisfying cracking sound made her release Shepard's body, only to crumple to the floor. Vitani walked away, swaying her hips in victory. Garrus stood in the doorway, shaking his head. Shepard didn't know how long he had been standing there, but when Vitani laid a hand on his shoulder, her rage returned full force.
Shepard spluttered, "I'm not done with you yet, bitch."
Her ribcage screamed as she stood to her feet again. She repressed the whimper that threatened her lips, her movements were erratic and slow as the pain hindered her greatly. She threw Vitani to the floor roughly.
The Turian woman landed another kick to Shepard's ribcage. This time she couldn't hold it back, and a yelp of pain resounded across the room as she collapsed to her knees. Vitani stood over Shepard with a sneer, the Turian's knee connected with her nose. She felt the painful tug at her hair as she was thrown onto her back.
The world spun around her in a great blur. Her head throbbed, her ribcage throbbed. Get the fuck up. Shepard groaned in pain as she rolled over and struggled to her feet. Vitani turned and muttered,
"I'll give you one thing, you can take a fair many hits."
She balled her first and went to strike Shepard's already bloody face. Her process was stopped short as her fist struck the palm of Shepard's hand. In a flash, the smaller woman twisted the Turian's arm across her back. Vitani yelped in pain as Shepard dug her knee into her spine, forcing her to the ground.
"As a human, I have learned many things." As the Turian struggled, she jerked her arm up harshly causing her to growl in pain. Shepard continued, "While you were busy trying to inflict as much damage as you could, I was learning your gives and takes. You have a lower back problem. Possibly due to an old wound. Your left knee seems to cause you pain, which opened up your left side to attack. That is why you're in this position right now."
Vitani struggled some more and the woman only drew her arm further up her back causing another grunt of pain. "If this were a true fight, you'd be dead."
The Turian snarled, "You know nothing, human."
Shepard released her arm and backed away. She wiped the blood from her face. Vitani stood slowly, and then acted so quickly. Her fist landed viciously in Shepard's ribcage. She yelped in pain and then was silenced when the Turian's elbow came crashing into her temple.
Shepard faintly remembered hearing Garrus yell at Vitani. Nihlus' face appeared above hers, he was saying something, but she couldn't hear. She could barely see clearly. The world shook, it felt like she was just entering sunlight for the first time in years. Rage roared in her body at the Turian woman's cheap shot.
She struggled to her feet only to fall against the wall. Nihlus was at her side, attempting to help her. Shepard pushed him away. She didn't need his help.
The smaller woman turned on Vitani. She stumbled forward weakly, and grasped at the wall for support. Her vision was so blurry. "Y-you're-" Shepard collapsed to her knees. Why was everything so foggy? Her breath was coming quicker and ragged as the pain seized in her body violently.
Garrus helped her to her feet. She pushed him away. Shepard didn't need his help either. Vitani laughed, "Aw is the little human feeling defeated?"
"Fuck you." Shepard rallied her strength and landed a fantastically powerful punch to Vitani's jaw. The Turian landed on her ass in shock, staring at her.
The room began to spin again. The voices of the Turian's were loud, but incomprehensible. Vitani snarled at them. What was going on?
Shepard felt her body giving away again. The last thing she saw was Nihlus staring at her, holding her in his arms with the biggest Turian grin any of them could ever give.
Shepard opened her eyes. The light was blinding, but welcome. The pain in her body, however, was not. She groaned at the dull ache.
Medical bay, again.
She looked around the room, it was vacant. She sighed and let her head drop back on the pillow. She really needed to learn to stay out of trouble. Shepard heard the familiar whirring sound of the door.
Her eyes found the blazing green ones of Nihlus. She smiled and sat up slowly. He had a plate of food in his hand, "This is yours."
"Thanks."
Nihlus sat down in the chair beside her with his own food. "You're welcome."
Shepard stuffed the roll in her mouth hungrily, Nihlus chuckled. "I imagined you'd be pretty hungry. You've been out for a little more than a day."
The woman groaned. "God damn it."
"Problem?"
"Yeah that Turian chick is my problem. I just want to bash her face in." She replied angrily, stabbing at her food violently with her fork.
Nihlus laughed, "Well, you didn't know Vitani played dirty. And besides, that last punch you got in, fucking fantastic."
A bright grin crossed her tired face, "Yeah?"
"Oh, yeah. Even the trainees cheered. No one likes Vitani, except for maybe Garrus."
She felt the familiar pang of jealousy. "Why's that?"
The Turian looked confused, "Why no one likes her, or why Garrus is the only one?"
"I know why everyone doesn't like her." Shepard gestured to her bruised face. "It's kind of obvious."
Nihlus snorted. "They don't really like each other, they're just- uh, sexually attracted to each other."
If the expression of turning green with envy were true, Shepard would have been colored forest green in that instant. She repressed the frown from her face. "Oh. So fuck buddies?"
"Is that what humanity calls it?" Nihlus asked curiously.
Shepard gave some what of a chuckle, "Yeah, but not in polite company. It's a pretty vulgar term."
"Noted."
The woman smiled at her friend as they ate in silence. She spoke up, "What made you want to be a Spectre?"
"The ladies. They just can't get enough." He winked at her.
Shepard laughed again, but winced at the sharp pain in her rib cage, "Ah, ugh, don't make me laugh." The smile returned to her face as laughter threatened her again at the shit eating grin on the Turian's face.
Garrus watched through the window with a deep brooding, glower. He cringed at every smile Shepard had on her face to whatever it was Nihlus was saying. He was the one that should be making her smile. He should be the one in there with her.
He felt a growl rumbling from his chest in the form of an envious rage.
Shepard was his.
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