Okay, so anyone who read the last chapter has my thanks. I intended to have this chapter up two weeks ago, but alas I have things to do that don't involve writing. Tis very sad, I know.
"Patch us through to the Citadel, Carlisle, then I want you focused on getting this hunk of scrap through this cloud to the docking bay." Captain Renault ordered, storming up onto the bridge. "Aye sir." Nebula replied. She switched over to the Citadel's traffic control channel and allowed her captain to take over. "Citadel Traffic Control, this is Captain Joseph Renault of the SSV Cairo. Requesting permission to dock for emergency repairs." Nebula had never heard Renault so shaken. She couldn't say she blamed him. The Cairo was entering port pouring smoke and fluid from one of the starboard engines. But wonder of wonders, the ship had survived the relay. Things were looking up.
"Understood Captain. Proceed to docking bay 217. A survey and repair team will meet you there."
As the channel went dead, Renault turned to Nebula. "How's the ship holding up, Carlisle?" he asked. Nebula nodded. "All things considered, I'd say she's doing well. The primary starboard thrusters are completely fried and our hull is sporting a swiss cheese make-over, but I think she'll make it. Primary and secondary port thrusters are still fully functional, as are the secondary starboard, all critical systems are still online, and all areas where the hull has been breached have been sealed off." she said. "You think you can get us into port?" Renault asked, stealing a glance out a window at the stream of smoke the ship was leaving in its wake. "Yeah. We took a pretty bad hit, but we survived the jump from the Exodus Cluster. I think we'll be fine until we dock." she said confidently. Renault nodded, satisfied.
As Nebula brought the ship to port, Renault activated the ship's comm system. "Listen up crew. We're bringing to ship to port now. Everyone is on an extended shore leave until repairs are completed." he announced. Cheers could be heard echoing throughout the ship, and the captain chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Yuck it up while you can. You certainly deserve it. This ship has a good crew. It was a tough battle, but we pulled through thanks to all of you." He paused as the ship settled into the docking cradle and the doors opened. "I expect everyone to report back to this cradle in seventy-two hours for a debriefing. We should know about how long these repairs will take by then. Until then, you are dismissed."
Speech concluded, Nebula stood and faced the captain. "With all due respect sir, I'd like your permission to stay and help with the repairs." she said. "Request denied, Carlisle. This last run was a tough one. You deserve a break." Renault said. He smirked. "Besides, I'm sure once this is all done, you'll be making midnight excursions down to the engine rooms like you always do." he said. Nebula's mouth fell open. "How did you know about that?" she asked. "The mechanical engineers tipped me off. Kept complaining that someone was tweaking the propulsion systems. I monitored it for a while, and you always seem to conveniently go missing from the bridge the night before each new complaint comes in." he explained with a laugh. "Not that I'm complaining. Your adjustments appear to help the engines operate more efficiently. Why didn't you go into engineering instead of flight school?" Nebula grinned. "The Alliance wouldn't let me do both, sir." Renault laughed and shook his head. "Dismissed, Carlisle."
Nebula saluted and exited the bridge. As she made her way down to the dock, she heard a familiar voice calling for her. She smiled has her friend Elissa draped her arm around her shoulders. "Impressive flying, Neb." she said. Nebula smiled. "Thanks Ellie. How did everything go down in engineering?" she asked. Ellie scowled. "We almost lost the drive core completely when Wesley decided it was better to panic than work. He lost it. Started tearing the place apart in a panic. We had to restrain him to keep him calm." she said, rolling her eyes. "When this shore leave is done, Wesley is a dead man." Her tone improved considerably as she began her next sentence. "So, to celebrate our escape from the jaws of death, the rest of the engineers and I have decided that a night on the town is in order. You should come." she said. "Does a night on the town mean we're planning to get falling down drunk?" Nebula asked. Ellie grinned mischievously. "When doesn't it involve getting falling down drunk?" she returned. Nebula smiled and nodded. "I'm game." she said. "Awesome! We're all meeting at Dark Star Lounge in two hours. I'll see you then."
"Once again, Nihlus, your work has far exceeded our expectations." Councilor Valern said. His asari and salarian counterparts nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Your reports from Eletania were most impressive. You managed to track and destroy the pirates' base of operations with only a small team to help you." Tevos added. The salarian spoke next. "And for that, we are grateful. The batarians have been attacking shipments for months. We're glad you were able to put a stop to it. It will make trade routes safer for everyone. You are quickly proving yourself to be a valued agent. Saren taught you well."
"Thank you Councilors." Nihlus replied, nodding gratefully.
It was high praise indeed, and he reveled in it. It hadn't been more than a year ago that he was still struggling though a failing military career. Reckless and insubordinate was what his superiors had called him. Forget the fact that he had saved their asses on more than one occasion, they still berated him for disobeying orders. The Spectres gave him freedom to get the job done without having to worry about what stupid orders his commanding officers would dish out next. As far as he was concerned, Saren had rescued him rather than recruited him.
"This meeting is finished. We'll send for you when another mission comes available. In the mean time, you may do as you please." the asari councilor said. Nihlus nodded and thanked them again before exiting the Council chambers.
His newly acquired free-time had come as a bit of a shock. His last three missions had all come in rapid succession. Finish one, head out the next day for another. It was a nice change of pace. He surveyed his surroundings as he made his way from the Presidium down to Zakera Ward, heading toward a place he had stumbled upon just before he met Saren when his unit had been allowed shore leave. The Dark Star Lounge was small, but it was a great place to blow off steam after a mission. He nodded to himself, satisfied with the decision. Drinks at Dark Star it was.
Two hours later, Nebula found Ellie and the rest of the engineers waiting outside the club. As their eyes met, Ellie squealed delightedly and waved her over. She locked her arm around Nebula's waist. "Gang's all here!" she proclaimed, giggling slightly. Happy as a drunken clam. Trust Ellie to have a few pre-party drinks. Nebula smiled and rolled her eyes, throwing her arm over her friend's shoulder and entering the club, where Ellie promptly pulled her up to the bar. "Come on bitch! We're drinkin'!" she said. She leaned against the bar, waving to the turian behind it.
"What'll it be ladies?" he asked, mandibles spreading. "A round of tequila shots for me and my friends." Ellie said, sliding her credit chit across the counter.
Her crewmates cheered as the bartender poured the drinks. "Here's to surviving the near destruction of our ship." she said. They raised their glasses and drank. Ellie and Nebula turned back to the bar as the rest of the crew scattered between the bar and dance floor.
"Anything else for you?" the bartender asked. They nodded. "Cosmic Ray for me." Ellie said. Nebula followed. "Eclipse for me please."
The bartender nodded. "So what's this I hear about the near destruction of your ship?" he asked as he mixed their drinks. Nebula scowled. "We got hit by a band of batarian pirates on our way through the Exodus Cluster. Took us completely by surprise. Fried one of our engines and reduced our hull to honeycomb. We got lucky though. The critical systems stayed online long enough to make it to port." she explained. Ellie wrapped an arm around her neck and hugged her. "Neb might not be good for much, but she can make a ship dance. Got us out of there before anything worse happened." she said, standing up as the bartender passed them their drinks. She tugged Nebula's shirt sleeve. "Come dance with me." she said. Nebula laughed and shook her head. "Maybe after I've had a few more drinks." she replied. Ellie shrugged. "Suit yourself." she said, skipping off to the dance floor.
The bartender chuckled as he watched Ellie go. "She always so peppy?" he asked. Nebula laughed. "Depends on when you managed to catch up with her. If you were to talk to her down on the engineering deck, she's strictly business. On shore leave, it's like her personality flips completely. I never met a woman who can party like Ellie." she said, glancing at her friend who was currently grinding against one of the other engineers. She smiled and shook her head, then turned her attention to the rest of the club. Everyone was here tonight. Asari, turian, human, and even a few salarians all hustled around the small space. Nebula loved clubs for that reason. Didn't matter how different people were or how much they hated each other. Bars and clubs were neutral ground, a place to come and work off stress when life on the outside was busy kicking your ass.
The familiar swish of a door opening caught her attention. The turian entering the bar was imposing indeed, a tower of hard plates and muscle. The first thing that caught her interest was his gun, a modified version of the Armax Brawler. She was reminded of her own gun, a Kassa Razer, tucked into a shoulder holster and safely hidden underneath her jacket. Definitely not a civilian. The second thing she noticed was the way he moved. Quickly, carefully, almost predatory. He passed easily though the crowd as if it didn't even exist. She looked over at the bartender. "You know who he is?" she asked, pointing to her subject of interest. The bartender shook his head. "Not really. Doesn't come here that often. He's a Spectre. Doesn't spend too much time in one place. He must be between missions of he's here." he said.
Nebula watched the turian from the corner of her eye as he made his way up to the bar. "I'll take the strongest dextro-DNA drink you've got." he said. The bartender nodded and Nebula chuckled. "You are a brave soul. Not sure I could let someone have that much freedom over my drinks." she said. He laughed. "Comes with the territory I guess." he replied. Nebula nodded. "I suppose being a Spectre comes with a necessary element of fearlessness."
That got his attention. Confusion showed vivid in those bright green eyes. "Do I know you?" he asked. Nebula shook her head and turned to face him. "Don't think so. Unless you spend your free time sneaking around the Alliance's female barracks." she teased. His mandibles twitched. "And if I do?" he asked. She laughed fully then. "Then it would take this conversation to a level of awkward I don't even want to touch." she said.
The bartender slid the drink across the counter. The turian moved to pull out his credit chit, but Nebula beat him to it. She handed her chit to the bartender, grinning at her acquaintance. "To reward your show of bravery." she said. His mandibles twitched again, and he laughed quietly. "You make a habit of buying strange men drinks?" he asked. "Only if they make an impression." she replied, flashing a grin not unlike a Cheshire cat's.
"Are you impressed enough to tell me your name?"
"Nebula Carlisle."
He smirked. "Interesting." he said. Nebula raised an eyebrow. "What about you?" she asked. "What about me?" he retorted. She laughed. "You have a name, or should I make one up for you?" she asked. His mandibles spread in that distinctly turian smile. "Nihlus Kryik." he replied. He took a long drink from his glass, then turned back to Nebula. "You never did tell me how you knew I was a Spectre. Not that it's classified, but it's hardly common knowledge." he said. Nebula smiled mischievously. "The bartenders know everything." she said matter-of-factly. That earned her another smile. "An excellent point." he said.
Nebula was surprised at how easily conversation seemed to flow between them. Almost as easily as the drinks they managed to drain as they talked, leaving them both slurring words and snorting in laughter. Nebula had all but forgotten about the rest of her crew until Ellie stumbled up to them and draped her arm around Nebula's shoulder. "You've been talking for over an hour! You're supposed to be dancing with me!" she said. Nebula giggled and allowed Ellie to pull her out of her seat. She looked at Nihlus. "Want to dance?" she asked. Nihlus almost choked on the sip he'd taken from his glass as he laughed suddenly. "You've never seen a turian dance have you? It's not pretty." he said, shaking his head. Nebula raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "If you say so. But if you happen to change your mind, I'll be dancing over there." she said, following Ellie out onto the dance floor.
Nihlus watched her as she went, not noticing the bartender come up beside him. "She's cute for a human." he said, looking pointedly at Nihlus. Nihlus rolled his eyes. "You go dance with her then." The bartender laughed. "Wasn't me she invited. Can't say I'd pass up the opportunity if it came." he said, and with that he walked away. Nihlus shook his head, but couldn't stop his gaze from slowly shifting to the small human on the dance floor. She moved like an asari. All grace and swaying hips. Even the unruly mass of brown curls atop her head was a source of intrigue. She caught his gaze and gave him a lopsided smile. She waved for him to join her. He smiled, rising from his seat and pushing through the crowd. 'Persistent woman.' he thought.
Nebula grinned when she saw him approach. "I thought turians didn't dance." she teased when he was within earshot. "We don't." he said with a laugh. "Why the change of mind?" she asked. He smirked. "You made an impression." Her smile widened, and she curled her fingers around his hand, careful to avoid the talons, pulling him deeper into the crowd.
She didn't know how long they danced. Quite frankly, she didn't care. The alcohol buzzed in her system, and she lost herself to pulsing base, their movement as they danced, the roughness of his hand in hers. As the crowd in the club began to thin, she found herself declining to accompany Ellie and her crewmates back to the hotel that had been secured for them, instead allowing her new friend to lead her by the hand towards the elevator and an unknown destination. The night was shaping up to be very interesting indeed.
And that concludes the second chapter. Reviews are always appreciated, and constructive criticism is always welcome. Hopefully, I'll have the next chapter up a lot sooner than I did this one. No promises though