The Captive

Disclaimer: Bioware owns all.

Chapter 9: Mates

Nihlus took a seat beside Shepard. She gave him a small smile of greeting, he went to speak when Victus began.

"The Batarian Pirate's have been decimated with the destruction of their ship. There are more out there, but none as large as this group. The disturbing experiments that were found on board of the ship involve several species, not just ours. I have a few friends in c-sec and in Palaven law enforcement, I may be able to pull a few strings and see if we can't find any leads."

Victus paused. "The information that I have given you is confidential. It doesn't leave this room. We can't risk our enemies getting a heads up. When we do locate the operating facility, the four of you will be our assault. Get in, destroy, get out."

Vitani snorted. "Easy enough. I don't see why we need to bring Shepard."

Shepard shook her head, "You don't have any idea what Trey, Jantor, and I found on that ship. You'll need me."

"A bunch of unarmed people attacked you. I think I have any idea." The Turian replied snidely.

Garrus growled, "Enough, Vitani. She's coming with us. An extra gun won't hurt."

Vitani crossed her arms, glaring. "Fine."

Shepard took a deep breath to calm herself. It took more out of her to fight against punching Vitani, than it did to fight a psychotic Krogan. Stupid bitch.

Victus cleared his throat. "In light of your actions Commander, I am releasing you from confinement. You are no longer a prisoner on this ship, but a guest. Thank you again for saving my life, and the ship and ensuring the safety of Treynnus and Jantor. We are in your debt."

A bright smile crossed Shepard's face, "Thank you, General."

Vitani cried out, "But General! You can't trust her on this ship, for all we know, she's the reason-"

Victus reprimanded her, "Shepard risked her life to save the ship and our lives. You need to work out this aggression you have towards the Commander. It can't distract us from the mission."

"I- Yes, sir."

He gave a nod of his head. "Dismissed."

Shepard turned to Nihlus, he was smiling. "Well, look at you. From prisoner to guest, that means you can go anywhere now." He paused as a sly grin crossed his face, "Including my quarters." She laughed as he gave her a wink.

"You wish."

Garrus glowered as he followed them from behind. His gut turning and twisting angrily. As Shepard left to return to her cell, he turned on Nihlus, "What the hell was that?"

His friend's face contorted into confusion, "What?"

"You and her?"

Realization dawned in Nihlus' eyes. He laughed suddenly making Garrus feel ridiculous but even angrier all the same. "Just some playful flirting, Garrus. What's the problem?"

The Turian spluttered, "I- well, she's-"

Nihlus cut him off, his mood darkening. "If you want her, you better go after her, because I'm not going to wait forever."

Garrus stared at him, stunned. "She's human."

"You need to stop caring what other's think. Better yet, you need to stop trying to please your father, he'll never be happy."

Garrus wanted to punch him. Not because he was goading him, or making him angry, but because he was right. For too long he wallowed in his father's disapproving glare, trying to please him. Nihlus walked away, calling back,

"Don't wait too long. You and I are not the only one's with eyes for the Commander."

Shepard walked up the staircase. She turned down the hall and ran straight into Garrus. She felt his hands on her shoulders steadying her, "I was just looking for you."

Surprise flitted across her face, "Oh, what do you need?"

He fidgeted nervously. "Well, uh, we're docked at the Citadel for repairs for the time being. I got approval from, uh, Victus." Her eyebrows raised at his distress. His eyes met hers and he spoke quickly before he lost his nerve. "Doyouwannavistthecitadelwith me?"

She looked confused, "Uh, what?"

The Turian sighed, he looked down and spoke slower and softer. "Do you, uh, want to visit the Citadel with me?"

Her eyes and face brightened, "I would love to!"

Garrus released a breath of relief. His mandibles quirked in a smile. "Let's go then. The Citadel is huge-"

Her excitement exuded as she trembled, "Garrus! This is so exciting!"

He laughed as she tugged at his arm, "Try not to scare the other species, most of them have never seen a human before."

As they entered, Garrus had been right. Just in the docking bay there were Hanar, Asari, and Salarian's. They stared. Shepard felt as if she was being burned from all around by the looks.

He noticed her apprehensiveness. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just, uh, not used to all the attention."

The Turian grinned, "Scared?"

Shepard puffed her cheeks in a pout, "No."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you." He spoke mockingly. She slapped his arm. "As if I'd need your help." The smile betrayed her.

Wonder and awe spread across her face as they entered the presidium. "Wow. Garrus- wow."

He grinned at her bewilderment, "Amazing, isn't it?"

"Yes. It is." She pointed to a Krogan statue, "Is that for...?"

"-The Rachni Wars, yes."

She nodded her head as she walked along the walkway. Leaning over the railing to look into the crystal clear water. Shepard looked up to see a couple of Krogans. Her body froze as the memories washed over her. Garrus noticed, "Don't worry, Shepard. Krogan are crazy, but the ones on the Citadel are relatively docile."

She swallowed and nodded her head, a sheepish look crossing her face. "It was terrifying. I thought I was going to die."

Her eyes peered up at his. The Turian nodded his head slowly, "I, uh, I was worried, when I had heard- I didn't know of the Krogan, but leave it to you to find some way to survive."

Shepard's mouth turned up in a small smile. As they neared the two Krogans, one of them spoke,

"Vakarian?"

Garrus turned, his face flickering in recognition. "Wrex. Garm. What are you two up to?"

Wrex shrugged, "Just got out of a job. Escaped, more like it."

Shepard turned, "Escaped? You're a merc?"

Garm's eyes narrowed. "I didn't know Turians had pets now."

"I'm not a pet." Shepard growled.

The Krogan continued looking her up and down. "I wasn't talking to you, Human."

"What are Krogan like?"

Garrus chuckled, "Well, uh, they're aggressive. To earn respect in their culture, one needs to show their dominance."

"How do they do that?"

He shrugged, "I one time saw a Turian head butt a Krogan, when I asked him about it later he said that was how they gained respect- was to show some sort of back bone. Never do it unless you can handle an angry Krogan though. I wouldn't recommend doing it at all actually, those Krogan can be some mean bastards."

Shepard wasn't going to allow the first impression of a Human go unnoticed. They would respect her goddamn it. She wouldn't set the precedent that Humans were to be pushed around.

She reared her head back and slammed it into Garm's face. He stumbled backwards, grunting in surprise. Wrex laughed boisterously. Garrus' mandibles went slack in shock as Garm straightened up, rubbing his head. He looked wildly between them, almost disbelieving what he had just witnessed.

Shepard stood back, watching him closely. She resisted the urge to rub her forehead. Wrex was still laughing, "Looks like this Human has a quad!"

Garm got in her face. He snarled, "You're lucky you're on the Citadel, Human, or I'd gut you."

Shepard crossed her arms. "I've fought a Krogan before. He was a bit bigger than you, and slightly easier to look at. I'm not too worried."

Wrex laughed again and shoved Garm back. "What's your name, Human?"

"I'm Commander Shepard."

"Commander Shepard? Isn't she the one that's been ripping you Turians to pieces?" Wrex turned to Garrus.

The Turian rubbed the back of his neck. "Ripping to pieces isn't really that accurate. She gave us quite the challenge maybe."

"Sure. Just like the genophage wasn't to sterilize us." He mocked Garrus. "What can I help you with, Shepard?"

"You said you escaped from a mission?"

"Yeah. Some guy was hiring tons of mercs and paying real well. Garm and his blood pack and I all signed up for it. Mercs started disappearing, so he and I got the hell out of there."

"What were you being paid to do?"

"Raid ships mostly, he wanted everyone alive, just restrained. I didn't get that far though. Guy gave me a bad feeling."

Shepard shared a look with Garrus. He spoke quickly, "This sounds like our guy. Do you know who he is?"

"No. I know he worked with some Batarian Pirates though."

Garrus sighed. "That doesn't help much. Good you got out of there, most of those mercs I imagine ended up being his test subjects."

Wrex grunted. "I know where he wanted us to leave the ships. I can transmit those coordinates to you."

Shepard's eyes widened, "That could be it."

Garm muttered, "You planning on hitting that place?"

Garrus growled, "Real hard."

Wrex shook his head. "I'd say good luck, but I don't really care. If Garm and I wouldn't mess with him, that should be clear enough."

The Turian shrugged. "We're bringing Commander Shepard."

Wrex laughed, "If you survive, I'd like to hear the story."

Shepard grinned, "Only if you're buying."

The Krogan shook his head, "Sure, I'll bet a round of drinks on your life."

Garrus sighed, "See you around, Wrex."

"Most likely not."

As they walked away, the Turian stared at Shepard. She feigned innocence. "What?"

"Don't what me. When I told you that story, It wasn't advice."

Shepard chuckled wryly. "I didn't want the first impression of humanity to be weak."

He shook his head. "A heads up would be nice next time."

When he didn't hear a response, he turned to see her smelling a flower. The child-like smile on her face as she stroked the petals made his heart fall deeper into the mess he was already in.

He adored this Human. She was everything to ever be desired in a woman, a partner, and a mate.

New chapter! :) Thank you SO much for all your reviews and support! I appreciate it a whole lot! Hope you enjoy the chapter :)