Disclaimer: BioWare owns Mass Effect. 20th Century Fox owns the Alien franchise. LucusArts owns all Star Wars related material.
Attican Beta Cluster, February 21, 2177
Feros, 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard thought to herself, is a shithole.
The planet, a giant ruin of an ancient Prothean city that spread over about two-thirds of the planet's landmass, went extinct along with its race over 50,000 years ago. It was barely habitable by human standards, with high wind velocities, choking dust, about five times the air pressure, and a little bit on the chilly side. The CDF Spirit of Vengenace, being a Turian Frigate, was able to land in planet's only colony, taking residence in its docks as Shepard led her team of Marines and Specters out from the ship and onto the dilapidated docks of Zhu's Hope, the name of the colony. It had been in existance for a decade, the ExoGeni Corporation trying to settle a self-sustaining colony while researchers and diggers went through the ruins on the hopes of finding something useful. Shepard clucked her tongue on the roof of her mouth, finding the thought of such blatant scavenging distasteful. A University wanted to do it with trained and educated personnel? That was one thing. Some poor rube human who probably couldn't tell the difference between a trinket or a toy? All they were hoping for was a quick credit, or to stab someone else in the back to steal their claim. She had heard of enough stories in the past from her Pop to know she didn't like such behavior.
Shepard could feel the bond within her pulse softly, helping calm her.
"Geez, I know we asked for more people…" A human man wearing what looked to be a pair of worker's dungarees and a breathing tube that connected to his nose and looped behind his ears spoke as Shepard led her team from the Turian Frigate. The man's eyes went wide when all twenty-one of them exited the Frigate, looking at the amount of people exiting the ship, as well as their races. She could tell that he noted that they were armed and armored, and she imagined that they probably looked like an invasion force. Shepard almost had to smirk as the man's jaw dropped open, and she decided to save him from embarrassing himself further by approaching him. Poor guy looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
"Good day, sir." Shepard spoke as she approached the man, sticking out a hand for him to shake. She kept her tone friendly and polite, and the man took her hand and shook it, obviously at a loss on what else to do as a platoon-sized element of heavily-armed beings just dropped onto his lap from a Turian warship. "I'm Jane Shepard, Lieutenant in the Alliance Marines, and a Counsel Agent of Special Tactics." The man looked at her, his face going through a myriad of responses to that; shock, confusion, and the blood ran out of his face as he gaped at her like a fish out of water. She was probably going to have to get use to that kind of response for a bit, Shepard thought to herself. "We're here to locate a researcher with the Serrice University Expedition. Can you point us in the direction of someone who can help us find them?"
"I… ah, yes. Yes I can." The man finally answered, stumbling over his words. "I'm Mark, by the way… Specter." His tone squeaked at that.
"Shepard will do, Mark." She told him, getting the man to nod. He turned and began walking down a stone corridor that had seen better millenia, the chips and cracks in the infrastructure making it look as if the structure they were in would topple at any moment. It took Shepard a second to realize that she was walking in an actual Prothean building, the angles and remaining decor of the structure never having been shaped by human hands. A few Corporate propaganda posters had been slapped on the dirty walls as Mark walked through the corridor, turning down to a stairwell, in which Shepard and her team followed, a glance back showing that most of them were looking about like tourists, looking at an actual Prothean ruin; something that most had obviously never have seen before. The bond inside Shepard's mind glowed happily, and she realized that she could feel Tela Vasir's mood, which was one of enjoyment. Shepard recalled how the Specter said that if she had to do it all over again, she would wish to be an explorer. Well, I guess this is something like exploring. Shepard mused to herself, the feeling coming from the Thessian pleasant. She had had all of a day to get use to the feeling of the bond within her, that small glow that seemed to playfully share Tela's emotions and sometimes even whispered thoughts to her. It was comforting, actually, and she found that she rather enjoyed having something like the bond being a part of her.
Mark led the team of twenty-one Marines and Specters into the proper of Zhu's Hope.
What a fucking shithole… Shepard looked about as she began walking through the 'colony', what looked to be a converted freighter turned into domiciles for the workers and residents for the colony. It was perhaps mid-day for the colony, and Shepard saw the bustle of activity for the colonists at their work; some seemed to be agriculturalists, carrying tools meant for farming and crops, while others looked more like dock workers. The compartments of the ship were opened, and it was easy for her to tell that keeping them clean from the ever-present dust of Feros was an on-going chore. Blankets and curtains draped the entrances, and Shepard was a little shocked to see that the containers were really communal living, ship bunks opened for whomever wanted to live in them. ExoGeni just dropped a ship on the planet and had the colonists live in it instead of transporting some pre-fab buildings? That was ruthless, even for a Corporation.
"Fai Dan is right over there, he's the colony's mayor." Mark pointed out an Asian-looking man, who was working in an open container office with a datapad in hand, engrossed in what appeared to be administrative duties. Shepard turned back to her team, nodding her head once to let them know to standby; they were there to 'convince' anyone that listening and complying would be the wiser choice. A small brush with her bond had Shepard smile as she gave it a thought of holding hands. Tela Vasir came towards her, nodding that she was ready, giving her a small smile as they both walked towards the impromptu office. Shepard saw that Fai Dan was a middle-aged Asian man, dressed in a Corporate-styled work suit, a one-piece that was both rugged and utilitarian. She walked into the office, seeing that there was little else save a desk and a chair for furnishings, Fai Dan still working through his datapad, completely ignoring the two people that stood in front of him. Shepard decided that she didn't like rudeness, and gently took the datapad from the man's hands, plucking it away from him. Fai Dan squawked at the action, his face ugly as he turned his attention on her while Shepard powered down the datapad and set it on the desk.
"Generally, it's considered polite for a gentleman to stand for a lady who approaches him." Shepard informed the man as he looked at her with a squint, obviously not pleased with seeing a newcomer invading his space. "Can you believe it, Tela? No civility left in the galaxy what-so-ever." The Thessian merely hmmm'ed at the comment as Shepard folded her arms across her chest, standing in a way that would appear that she was looking down at the man still sitting at his seat. "We're here for the Serrice University Expedition. We'll need location and transportation to their dig site."
"Unfortunately, we're a little too busy to be accepting requests from mercs and crooks at the moment." Fai Dan spat out, folding his hands as he leaned his forearms on the table in front of him. "You're just going to have to find them yourself, and go there yourself."
"Plan B, then." Shepard put her foot on the edge of the table, and pushed into it, hard. The table slid across the floor as she pinched Fai Dan in between a bulkhead wall and the table, the man crying out in pain as Shepard leaned into the table, getting its edge to squeeze into the Asian man's belly. He coughed and gagged slightly, his face turning red. "Location. Transportation. It wasn't a request." Shepard spelled it out to the man, and she felt amusement trickle through her bond. Tela was enjoying herself. "Have I made my point, sir?"
"Y-yes…" The man gasped, clenching his teeth as his face was controted in pain, trying to push the desk away from his belly and rib cage without success. "There's a GRZLY out back, and a map to the dig sight for the supply runs in its navigation system."
"Good. Now show me your Omnitool." Shepard demanded, making the man look at her with bewilderment, yet he did as she asked, holding out his left arm warily. Shepard turned on her Omnitool, Fai Dan's eyes going wide at the sight of the red Omnitool as she touched her's to his. "Good. I just placed a tracking program on your Omnitool." She informed the man, looking into his dark eyes. "Turn it on, send a message, make a call, or look something up on the VIOS? I can see it all on my, and shut it off as I please." Shepard smiled at the man, using one of her new Specter toys and explaining it to him. "If you think about double-crossing me? I can cause the power source in your Omnitool to explode… along with about half of your wrist and hand. Dohn ma?"
"I understand!" The Asian man replied, terror in his voice, looking at her in fear. Good; the conditions of the colony sickened her, and Shepard knew a Corporate goon when she saw one, some executive administrator who probably verbally abused the colonists to pull out a better profit.
What a shithole. Shepard thought to herself as she lifted her foot from the table, turn around, and left the office.
"Next stop; food court, intergalactic shopping, and Prothean ruins! Thank you for selecting Valentino tours!" The voice of Master Chief Stacy Valentino rang out from the colony's GRZLY intercom, a civilian version that sported more seating and no weapons what-so-ever. 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard stood near the door, gripping a ceiling rung as she looked at the occupants of the GRZLY, half of her team inside the APC while the other half remained back at Zhu's Hope. She had left Specter Instructor Cavius Reminion behind to see what things he could do for the colony, figuring a little goodwill couldn't hurt, along with half of her Marines and the Specter recruits. The conditions of Zhu's Hope were rather appalling, and there was obvious need of some technical skills to fix some of the equipment that the colonists didn't have the supplies or the know-how to do. To that, she left Captain Royce Mason, Corporal-Technician Bill Hudson, and Sergeant Rita Vrataski from her team of Marines, as well as the Turian Vona Shatari, the Drell Kya Drang, the Elcor Bull Naor, the Volus Cur Dileed, and the Salarians Porol Lamal and Daeporm Norban back at the colony to do what they could to improve the situation. The rest of them had come with her; Master Chief Stacy Valentino, Sergeant Dwayne Hicks, and Corporal Jeanette Vasquez for her Marines, and Tela Vasir, the Quarian Rahe'Tarram nar Sofis, Turians Garrus Vakarian and Elias Krovan, Asari Asha T'vara and Ulla D'veora, and Salarian Jondum Bau for her Specters. Thankfully, the GRZLY was big enough to fit the ten of them in the back why Valentino drove the APC over skyways and crumbling ruins of Feros, heading towards a destination some fifty klicks away. It had taken them almost two hours to reach the location, and Shepard was glad when they had reached the area, opening up the crew door and finding herself looking at yet another dilapidated Prothean building with some rugged hard tents that were marked with the Serrice University logo upon them.
"Stacy, Garrus, Elias, Hicks, and Asha? Stick my the APC and see if we can find some sort of Project Lead or Expedition manager." Shepard called out, looking at the building that the hard shell tents were placed in. "The rest of us? We're walking into the crumbling building to see if we can get directions for Dr. T'soni." Shepard was a little surprised to see that Hicks and Vakarian practically fist-bumped one another immediately right inside the APC; were they friends? Not that she was complaining, as Shepard had been trying to mix everyone up so that they could learn to work together as a team, but if friendships were forming, so much the better. The former Blackwatch member Garrus Vakarian was rated as an expert sniper, and Hicks was no slouch himself. If she wasn't careful, those two would probably be setting up a shooting gallery somewhere. If that happened, she was joining in.
Shepard led her team out, heading towards the building while Stacy Valentino went for the tent area. She gave Stacy a quick nod as they moved out, seeing Tela right behind her, a feeling of awe coming through her bond as Shepard looked up at the building itself. To call it a skyscraper was an understatement; the thing seemed to be over a thousand stories tall! She couldn't even begin to guess its purpose, but if so much of the planet was covered with buildings like this… just how powerful were the Protheans? And what happened to them? Perhaps she could ask this Dr. T'soni.
"Goddess! How are we suppose to find them in there?" Ulla D'veora asked, looking up at the building. "I hope the elevators work!"
"Seriously! Prothean stairs were not made for Quarian legs." Rahe'Tarram agreed, and that almost had Shepard ask how the Quarian knew that; had she been in another Prothean ruin, or was she basing it off the few stairs they had taken?
"Least the El-Tee ain't trying to blow this one up." Corporal Jeanette Vasquez pointed out, making Shepard grunt. "Ever foot-raced out of a meltdown? I don't recommend it, man."
"Visor? Activate and sweep for signs of tracks and movements." Shepard told her Kuwashii visor, the VI-driven device turning on, and immediately complying. She stepped into the building, and saw the glow of identified tracks appearing on the floor, almost all of them heading towards the the left-hand corridor she found themselves in, heading towards a darkened portion of the building. "Visor, low light vision." She was now able to see the corridor's depth as well as the identified foot tracks heading deeper into the building. "Okay, looks like most everyone goes this way. Let's see if we can find us some treasure hunters." Shepard led her team deep into the building, finding the corridor dumping into a large room dominated by debris and pillars. She walked in and looked up as the incoming daylight, and was shocked to see that the building was hollow! About half of the building had its middle missing, built to have an opened roof at something like a thousand stories tall! The architect could only marvel at the design ingenuity to have a building from swaying and cracking its support beams. How had the Protheans done it?
It is amazing, Tela thought to her, obviously feeling Shepard's wonderment.
"I see that this place amazes you as much as I."
The sound of an Asari's voice pulled Shepard's attention to two women who stood a respectful distance away, both of their hands clasped in front of them. She looked at the Asari woman, with little in the way of facial markings on her, denoting her youth, and the human woman with some Asian features who stood with her, looking to be a college student herself. Both were dressed in Serrice University work clothing, much like what Mark had been dressed in, utilitarian clothes that were dependable and durable. The human woman sported a small clear cup breather over her mouth and nose, and carried a small canister on her side, obviously to keep the dust from harming her from prolonged exposure.
"I'm thinking… hotel, apartments, or business." Shepard guessed, craning her head back up again, looking at the interior of the building, looking at the many levels with their partition to keep someone from falling down the buildings' well. "You see megablocks like this on Earth and some of our major colonies. I just can't believe how they can get the structural support to withstand the pressure of sway and tectonic movement without a center beam to tie it in. The corner supports must be massive!"
"Are you an engineer?" The human woman asked, curious.
"I went to Annapolis, and graduated with a degree in Architectural Engineering and Design." Shepard replied. "But what I am is a Counsel Agent. My name is Jane Shepard." That had the human woman gaping, while the Asari bowed deeply.
"It is always a pleasure to meet a Specter." The Asari stood back up. "I had heard from our Project Manager that there would be a human woman looking for me. I am Doctor Liara T'soni. This," she turned to indicate the human woman standing next to her, "is my research assistant, Bastila Shan. How may I help the Office of Special Tactics?"
"Thank the Gods, civility!" Shepard exclaimed, making Vasquez grunt. "I was sent here in the hopes of convincing you to come with me, Doctor. I know that this is a funded project with Serrice University, and that you are actively in a dig, but… we found something, and you came recommended by the Executor of Special Tactics." That had the Asari look shocked, and Shepard watched as both she and Bastila shared a glance.
"When you say that you found something, what is it that you may have found?"
"We don't know yet." Shepard explained. "A ship out in the Attican Traverse was planet-fracking and came across an object of alien origin. We humans might be new to the galactic scene, but we do tend to know if something is of Turian or Asari origin. We assume it to be a Prothean device, but we do not have the knowledge, equipment, or know-how to deal with such situations. Thus, I am here for you. Interested?"
"I am… intrigued." The Doctor replied, and again, both her and Bastila shared a glance. That seemed odd. "I will have to notify both the Project Manager and the University of this development before I can excuse us from our research."
"'Us?'" Shepard noted the pluralization. The two women in front of her looked a little bashful. "Ms. Shan? Are you a Protheanologist as well?"
"I am ten credits shy from my degree." Bastila replied, looking a little nervous, her eyes darting back to Dr. T'soni, panic evident. "Liara and I have been working together to catalog Prothean art and architecture!" Shepard couldn't help but notice that the woman almost sounded frantic. "I know Third and Fourth Era transcriptions, and I…"
They are je'dai. The thought came to her from Tela as Bastila continued giving out credentials and accomplishments, and Shepard looked to the Specter, her mouth almost dropping open. I am sure of it. They're afraid you'll tear them apart. If it is early in the bonding process, it can be… traumatic to physically pull them apart. Take them both so we can get some use out of them.
"Okay, Ms. Shan!" Shepard held out her hands in a stopping motion, the woman halting in mid-sentence. "I got the resume. You want to come. We're not exactly hurting for space."
"Thank you!" Bastila practically squeaked, and Dr. T'soni looked relieved as well. It was as if their whole attitude had changed together, and at the same time. Was it the same for her and Tela? Would she panic at the thought of being pulled apart? It would be something she would have to ask later. "I'll go pack!" Bastila turned to leave, her voice giddy as she hurried off to wherever they had been working.
"Doctor, a moment of your time." Shepard motioned the Asari Protheanologist to take a short walk with her, the Doctor nodding as they stepped away from the group, standing near the center of the building's well. "How long have you two been bonded? Je'dai?" The question obviously took Dr. T'soni back considering the shocked look on her face; obviously, the Asari wouldn't think that a human would know the term, or how to recognize it. "I saw the panic in both of your faces. Your assistant was practically ready to cry on the spot at the thought of you leaving. Which is why I'm bringing you both."
"Thank you, Agent Shepard…" The Thessian began, but Shepard cut her off.
"I'm doing it for two reasons. One, I don't need you to have a breakdown, too." She pointed out, making the Asari stand mollified. "Two… I'd like to know more as well. You represent the only other bonded couple I know of between Asari and humans."
"The only other? Oh!" Dr. T'soni looked over Shepard's shoulder, looking at the group behind her. "The Matriarch? The Matron doesn't seem to be interested in our conversation."
"Yes. So… I understand." Shepard replied, nodding her head. "If you don't mind me saying, you lack a lot of facial markings for a Maiden. How old are you?"
"I am but a hundred galactic years of age." The Protheanologist replied shyly, and Shepard felt alarm tremble through her own bond, Tela Vasir obviously catching the conversation.
Is that bad? A hundred? Shepard knew that Asari could live for an incredible length of time.
Technically, she would be… approximately your age, though perhaps she is more mature, being a Doctor and researcher as oppose to some Maiden sleazing it up in some club. Tela responded, her voice but a whisper. Bonding at that age… is practically unheard of. The pureblood is either foolish or foolishly in love. Either way, we need to keep an eye on both of them. I'll explain later.
"You… are talking to her." The Thessian realized, bringing Shepard's attention back to the Protheanologist. "I cannot do that because I am a Maiden. I must admit, I am envious."
"All you can do is feel each other?" Shepard asked, curious. The thought of only 'feeling' Tela seemed… a little depressing. The pulse inside of her agreed and approved of her line of thinking, making Shepard smile; she found the bond comforting, and it was slowly growing as a part of her. "We'll talk later. I should let you go and gather your things, Doctor. Don't forget your fedora or your bullwhip."
"Why? Am I expecting to outrun a boulder?" The Asari asked, completely straight-laced, and Shepard had to keep herself from laughing out loud; evidently, Bastila Shan had gotten her to watch the movies.
"I think I'm gonna like you, Doc."
It was near the middle of the night as the GRZLY returned to the CDF Spirit of Vengeance, carrying two more additions, as well as a personal case filled with research datapads and literature. 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard was glad that Archeologists didn't need much in the way of equipment; evidently, both Doctor Liara T'soni and Assistant Bastila Shan had specialized Omnitools that possessed several functions for their line of research. When she had looked into the case, all she had seen were datapads, OCD's, and spare clothing. She guessed that the researchers were use to traveling light, or that was all they owned.
"So, she's seriously seen 'Indiana Jones'?" Corporal Jeanette Vasquez asked Shepard, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear her inside the APC. "I'm calling her Indy! It's too hard not to pass that up! She's a Professor and an Archeologist! We just get her a jacket, a hat, and a whip, and she's perfect!"
"Are the humans still going on about some movie?" Elias Korvan asked Garrus Vakarian, who merely grunted. "I made the mistake of asking Royce about some guy called 'Crocodile', and he went on for two… hours… straight."
"What's a crocodile?" Garrus asked.
"I have no idea, except it seems to eat humans." The Turian Commando replied, shaking his head. "Humans are strange."
"I heard that!" Shepard called out, though there was no admonishment in her voice. "And Crocodile Dundee's amazing! Royce hears you, he'll pull out his big-ass Bowie knife!"
"I know what we can watch!" Rahe'Tarram nar Sofis announced, her voice giddy.
"NO!" Both Garrus and Elias shouted at the same time, making Jondum Bau snicker. Shepard merely looked to Tela Vasir, who was hiding a smile.
Fleet and Flotilla. The Asari told her through the bond. No Turian in his right mind will watch it. It has a Turian/Quarian romance to it. It is a cute movie.
"Well, in the spirit of cultural unity and learning, everyone gets to pick a movie, and we'll have movie night." Shepard announced, and everyone was looking at her. "What? I swear I won't pick Shanxi Strikes or Heaven's Burning." Those were quite popular with humans, one being about the human victory on the ground on Shanxi, the other being about the war in the sky of Shanxi, in which some ditz of an actress actually played her mother. Shepard wondered if MGM even had rights to use her mother's name in a movie. No one certainly asked her permission or her approval.
"As long as it isn't Blasto or Blasto Returns." Tela replied, her voice disgusted. "I want to fry that jellyfish." That got a choir of cheers and approvals throughout the APC. "I liked the Star Wars movies. Except for that one stupid fish creature from the first one. The one that talked like an idiot."
"What? Me'sa speaks!" Shepard cued in her best impression of Jar-Jar Binks, making all the humans groan; no one liked Jar-Jar. "Why can't I get a Salarian to make me a lightsaber. That would be so… fucking… awesome. I want to be a Jedi."
"Janey, do I need to tell everyone how I caught you trying to make your own lightsaber out of an Eezo crystal and a Omnitool?" Master Chief Stacy Valentino piped up from the driver's seat, making all the humans laugh, as well as Tela Vasir. Shepard just blushed.
"Okay, now I want to know what it is they are talking about." Rahe piped up. "What's a Jedi?"
"An Order of galactic peacekeepers, guardians of peace and justice who used the Force instead of biotics." Bastila Shan replied. "Like Specters, except they had energy swords that could deflect blaster fire and cut through anything. Did the Eezo crystal and Omnitool idea work, Agent Shepard? I've already got one-half covered." Much to everyone's surprise save Dr. T'soni, the human woman glowed blue.
"Holy shit! A human biotic!" Sergeant Dwayne Hicks announced, surprised. "I thought that the Corporations controlled all of you?" Shepard was surprised as well; human biotics were very rare, and as Hicks said, she was under the impression that the Corporations had them all.
"Most." Bastila replied sadly, looking uncomfortable. "Why do you think I was in an Asari University on Thessia? I did not want to join 'the Dark Side'." The subject was obviously not a pleasant one for the human researcher. "I was… spirited away by my mother to an Asari Matriarch who was sympathetic to my plight when I was younger."
"Shit… you must be from Singapore." Shepard realized, remembering of an incident where a transport ship's Eezo core had gone critical, dusting a good chunk of the Singapore slums. That had happened a few years before she was born, around '51; the researcher looked to be about the right age? She didn't remember much except that a good many people died, and a lot of children had been born with bad mutations. Yet about 5% of pregnant women at the time had given birth to children who were biotically capable, and the Alliance Government had snatched them up when their powers manifested, an answer to the Asari and other threats to humanity. Obviously, Bastila Shan had avoided that dragnet, her mother obviously not giving away her daughter to the Corporations. If that were the case, then she was one of the lucky few. "I don't think I've ever seen a human biotic." She smiled, looking at the researcher. "I can't wait to tell Royce we have a fucking Jedi!"
As soon as everyone was boarded the CDF Spirit of Vengeance, 1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard instituted 'movie night' in the common room where the crew normally took its meals. There was a fifteen hour trip to the Hades Nexus Cluster, and she grabbed her Alliance Blue beret and had everyone write down a movie on a piece of scrap and put it into her beret. After she had gotten twenty-three pieces of scrap paper with a single movie title, she went in front of the Marines and Specters, and made an act of hunting for the movie selection.
"The odds are eschewed, of course." Daeporm Norban pointed out, the Salarian Specter sitting on the bench at the table. "With nine humans out of a possible twenty-three choices, the statistics of a human movie being selected is 39.13% chance."
"What a blimin' mood-killer." Captain Royce Mason pointed out, shaking his head. "This is tradition! The rules go that you have to watch the movie, no matter what it is. If I'm goin' to get stuck watchin' an Elcor drama, you can suffer a human flick that might last two hours."
"It's a good thing I didn't pick a Hanar movie, then." The Drell Specter Kya Drang pointed out, her rocky voice amused. "Even I can't stand them."
"Thank you." Tela Vasir replied sincerely. "I sat through a Hanar movie, once. It should be made illegal under the Articles of Cruelty and Illegal Punishment!"
"Okay! I'm picking!" Shepard pulled out a slip of scrap paper, and made a show of pulling it open, as if she were reading the Academy Award winner. "And this night's entertainment is going to be…" She actually read it, and then she busted out laughing. "Oh, this is rich! Daeporm, despite your 39% odds? We got a solo vote here that I'm sure the Turians are going to cry about!"
"Spirits, no!" Garrus Vakarian immediately pouted. "Don't tell me…"
"Fleet and Flotilla!" Shepard waved the piece of paper like a banner, to the excitable laughter of Rahe'Tarrem nar Sofis and the groans of the duel-toned Turians. "And you got to watch it! You promised!"
"I'm so posting this to my Captain on the Sofis!" Rahe announced, cuing up her red Omnitool. "Forcing Turians to watch romance? Priceless!" Almost everyone in the common room chuckled at that, while Garrus Vakarian, Elias Korvan, and Cavius Raminion all exchanged looks akin to prisoners about to walk on Death Row. Shepard was too busy laughing to give them some words of encouragement. Even if the movie sucked, forcing three Turians to squirm and wince through it would be worth it. Pop would get a kick out of that.
"I've already downloaded it!" Master Chief Stacy Valentino called out, getting most of the humans to whoop, obviously enjoying the displeasure of the Turians. "You were right, Janey; we needed a movie night."
"Concern; I believe the Turians may commit suicide out of shame." Naor pointed out, making Shepard laugh even harder, the monotone voice of the Elcor Bull Specter making it even funnier. "Humor; Garrus will no longer have to share chocolate with Rahe, as she will inherit it all after his self-inflicted demise." Even the Salarians couldn't help sniggering at it, while Cur Dileen was hacking away like an asthmatic, the Volus version of a laugh.
"Spirits, why did I agree to this mission?" Cavius called up to the ship's ceiling, beseeching the Turian Gods. "I could have been at home with my mate, eating korvne and watching brekbaz. No, I just wanted to go out in the black just so I could be forced to watch bad movies and be laughed at!"
"Aww! Someone hand the Turian a dextro-hankie!" Corporal Jeanette Vasquez called out, and this time, everyone was laughing.
"Now I'm curious about the other choices." Shepard admitted, with Corporal-Technician Bill Hudson calling out cheating! "Hey! It's all in good fun! I want to see people squirm." She pulled out another piece of paper, and read it. "To Light A Candle? What the hell?" Shepard looked up, and saw a five-finger hand raised. "Kya? How are we even suppose to know what it is about?"
"You'll just have to watch and find out." Kya Drang answered cryptically. Shepard just shook her head, and pulled out another one.
"Crocodile Dundee." Royce! Every human exclaimed, the Australian-born man holding his hands out in acceptance. "Sha… sha'mesh…" Shepard tried reading the next one without much luck. "Is this even in Galactic?"
"It's Sha'meshi'sora." Asha T'vara answered. "It's an action flick. It's about a Huntress gunning Eclipse Sisters."
"I can live with that." Shepard shrugged, pulling another. "Oh! Here's a Turian one… Blood In The Sand?" That had Elias grunt. "I think I've heard of this one, about the Krogan Rebellion, right?" She pulled out another. "Ah, a science title, obviously Salarian… A Race For The Cure?"
"It's about the men who planted the Genophage on Tuchanka." Jondum Bau called out. "STG Infiltrators. Neither confirm nor deny it happened."
"Of course." Shepard snorted, shaking her head. "Let's see… Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark! A classic… To Prey Upon The Night Winds… what?" Shepard looked over to see Tela Vasir smiling, obviously her choice. "Sounds like a horror flick to me… ah! My choice… Hey!" Stacy had snuck up on her and stole the paper from her hands. "Auntie! Give that back!"
"I want to see what badass movie Humanity's First Specter has picked out!" The Master Chief laughed as she ran up onto the table as Shepard tried to get her, bounding over and going around Naor. "Okay, Janey! Since you've been embarrassing everyone else, now it's your turn, brat." The older human woman laughed as she handed the paper to Cavius Raminion, the Specter Instructor taking the paper with relish.
"I'm liking this traditions already." The Turian Specter grinned with his mandibles, opening up the paper. "I… don't get it." The Turian looked at the paper, confused. "It's a series of directions. North by Northwest?"
"Oh! That is a good movie!" Sergeant Rita Vrataski agreed immediately. "Hitchcock was a genius! Nice drama movie, good suspense, great McGuffin."
"I wouldn't have pick you for a spy thriller." Royce admitted. "But that is a good movie. That scene on Mount Rushmore is a classic."
"Are we going to watch my movie or what?" Rahe'Tarram squirmed in her seat, obviously excited. "Otherwise I'm changing it to Blasto!"
"Auntie! Play! Now!"
"With sincerity; that is three hours of my life that shall never be returned to me again."
"I agree, who the hell wrote that movie? The dialog was terrible! 'I'm as free as the dust on a solar wind?'"
"I'm never listening to a Quarian singing again. EVER!"
"You are all haters."
"I'm agreein' with the Turians on this one; never again."
"Finally, (breath) I can turn on my optics again. (Breath) Is it finally over?"
"Considering how bad Turian breath can be, am surprised Shalei did not die of infection immediately. Scientific wonder."
"Must… fall… on… own… sword…"
"It wasn't that bad…"
"That's because you're half-Turian already, Asha."
"I so hate you all!"
"Kalahira, Goddess of the Oceans and the Afterlife, please save me from what I have seen."
"I've taken off my mask… now you can touch meeeee!"
"Hudson! Your accent is giving me a migraine! And your singing's even worse than the Quarian's! If possible!"
"I'm goin' to suck start my shotgun in the loo."
"Movie night… not my best idea."
1st Lieutenant Jane Shepard sat in a chair in her quarters, smoking a clove cigarette as Tela Vasir sat in another chair, the both of them looking at Dr. Liara T'soni and Bastila Shan. Their recent acquisitions sat on her bed, both nervous as Shepard and Tela looked at them both. Shepard took another drag of her clove cigarette, dumping the ashes into a make-shift ashtray that was once a water bottle, ashes floating in the inch or so of water left at its bottom.
"Doctor," Shepard began, her tone conversational, "first, I would like to thank you for agreeing to come with us. I can only imagine that a fleet of strangers coming up to you with a mission and next to no information must be rather alarming. I'm honestly surprised that you agreed to it as fast as your did, considering that you were already in a dig. Or… expedition."
"It is more common that you expect, thought something like this has never directly happened to me." Dr. T'soni explained. "Sometimes caches and data stores are found, and Archeologists such as myself may be called away to make sure that a site is secured. Fourth Era Protheans were… quite paranoid, and left many traps and security systems. I am familiar with a goo many of them, and a bulk of the research we've brought detail the possibilities of such issues. Both myself and Bastila have been trained for such things, and we know what to recognize."
"I hadn't any idea that Protheanology could be dangerous." Shepard admitted, and the thought of Indiana Jones came back up. "Makes me double-glad we brought the both of you, then." She felt the pulse of her bond flash a little, a comforting thought that Tela shared with her, agreeing. "Now, I don't know how you work, but this is a military operation; we go in first. Each and every one of us is trained and experienced, but we are going to be walking into a possible derelict ship that may be catastrophically damaged, with the possibility of a very harmful biocontaminate species present. When we've cleared the ship and located the device, that is when we will call upon your expertise. It is not my habit to put civilians into harms' way, especially since you both are specialists that we cannot afford to replace due to oversight or stupidity."
"We understand." The Doctor replied with a nod of her head, Bastila doing the same. "It is similar with many digs and expeditions; the threat of smugglers, slavers, and treasure-seekers is always a real threat. I am trained to defend myself biotically, but I will be realistic; I have had only a little training for normal situations. This does not sound like either."
"Good, I'm glad we see eye-to-eye on this." Shepard was relieved at the Asari Protheanologists' acceptance; she had been afraid that the good Doctor might get it in her head that she was some wannabe-Commando out on a hunt for fame and glory… huh, that was a weird thought for me to have. Shepard mused, Tela obviously rubbing off on her. Was that even possible? "We will give you armor and some side-arms; we will protect you, but I like having back-up plans for those eventualities that we can't always expect. I'd rather you have a pistol you'll never need than cowering in a corner."
"Yes, I am familiar with the human concept of the Right to Self-Defense." The Protheanologist replied, nodding to Bastila. "We shall have no issues following your orders, Agent Shepard. But the reverse must be true as well; if you encounter something Prothean, it would be wise for you to listen to us. There are a good many dangers in Archeology, especially in the field of Prothean Studies. In military matters, I will defer to your judgment. In Prothean, you need to defer to mine."
"Easily acceptable." Shepard nodded with a smile, glad that the issue had been handled. "This is why Specters have specialists; it's impossible for us to know everything. You're an expert in your field, and I will treat you as such. If you tell me not to touch something, I will comply." She looked over to Tela, who nodded as well, the bond between then calm; nothing more to add. "I… do want to talk about something personal with the both of you, and… it's not easy for me."
"That you are je'dai?" Dr. T'soni asked, getting both Shepard and Tela nodding. Shepard felt nervous talking about it with strangers, yet it was as she said to Dr. T'soni on Feros; they were the only other couple she had ever met that she knew about when it came to Asari-human bonding. "Dhan'rana, are you comfortable with talking about this?" The question had been directed at Bastila, and Shepard remembered how the bonded couple couldn't 'speak' to one another like Tela and she could through their own bond. Was it really because a matter of age?
"It is like Agent Shepard stated, it isn't very easy for us." Bastila replied a little shyly, looking embarrassed. "Our race, humans, have long dealt with bigotry and racism, and it is sadly a very real thing for us. Considered that when I was born, we weren't even aware of other intelligent species in the galaxy, we have barely scratched the surface in the terms of either understanding non-humans, or even trying to relate. It was… hard for me, as I'm sure it was hard for you, Specter."
"Please, call me Jane." Shepard told the human researcher. "And I struggle with it everyday, sadly. Yet somehow, Tela has managed to see pass that, offering her patience as well as her compassion." She smiled to the Thessian beside her, giving her body a thought of affection towards it, making it glow warmly. "It's just nice to know… to know that not everyone might see what we have in the same light." That had been directed at Bastila Shan, who nodded. "You are the first people we've told. I… I haven't even let my friends know yet. I'm afraid of what they might think or say. I shouldn't be, but…"
"You had it differently from me, I think." The researcher spoke after Shepard's hesitation. "I was practically raised on Thessia, among the Asari. Sometimes I feel that I understand them better than my own people. Yet I also worried about telling another human that I lived among Asari and fell in love with one. Considering I have lived among them longer than I did humans, you would think that wouldn't be the case." The woman from Singapore smiled, though there was no real joy behind it, something in between a grimace and a tightening of the facial muscles. "If it's hard for me, I can only imagine how much harder it is for you, Jane, raised among humans with their thoughts and their beliefs. Were you raised Alliance?"
"Born on a military ship, raised on a military ship, lived on military ships, and the only time I lived on a planet was when I went to OCS in Annapolis on Earth." Shepard explained. "I hated living on a planet. The air was dirty, there was trash and filth everywhere, and people seemed to have nothing else better to do that cause problems and get into trouble. No order or structure what-so-ever." That had Tela laughing, her bond glowing with humor and understanding. "All the amazing things that I ever heard about Earth were a bit of a joke, sadly; tourist traps, dilapidated, or completely forgotten about. The worst was watching them tear apart Lady Liberty for its copper, claiming that it was no longer relevant and that it was too old to keep maintaining. At least I got to see it."
"I would have like to have seen the Statue of Liberty." Bastila replied quietly. "I heard that so many monuments are gone now, the Corporations making their own edifices towards capitalism and commerce. Who wants to see a statue of a Captain of Industry when we use to have temples dedicated to the Gods of Old?" Shepard grimaced, knowing exactly what the human researcher was referring to; the great statue of Aldrich Killian that stood in the center of Central Park of Old New York City, spanning some 100 meters tall. Seriously, who needed a statue of a man who invented modern genemods? There certainly wasn't a statue of Walter Reed anywhere, was there? "So, how long have you been in je'dai? Liara and I have been bonded for well over a year."
"Um, a full day." Shepard replied, sheepishly, to the amazement of Bastila and the amused look of Dr. T'soni.
"She hasn't experiences siari yet." The Protheanologist told the researcher, who merely blushed and smiled. Siari? Shepard knew there was a religious belief behind it, meaning 'unity' or some such thing. Tela hadn't subscribed to it, so neither had she.
"Someone's in for a treat. Best… thing… ever." Bastila replied in a sing-song voice, trying to hide her smile.
"What are they talking about?" Shepard asked Tela Vasir, who was smiling herself, much in a manner of a cat who had caught the canary.
"No! Don't ruin it!" The researcher exclaimed, blushing furiously. "Let her find out the proper way, Agent Vasir. Trust me on this."
Hmm, I'm having a very seducing idea, Jane. Tela thought to her, and the pulse of the bond inside of her began to burn brightly, and it took Shepard a moment to recognize that the emotion that was pulsing from it was hormone-driven desire. Way too many occupants in this room if you are truly curious, Dhan'rana. By the growing pulse of desire that was coming from Tela, Shepard felt a blush working its way to her cheeks, hard.
"I think we need to take our leave, Bastila." Dr. Liara T'soni said, amused, the human researcher giggling. Did Asari possess no shame? Shepard had a hard time controlling the blush that was burning her cheeks, as well as her own growing curiosity and bodily reaction to the bond's pulsing emotions, inciting her own desires. She barely noticed the Protheanologists leaving the room as Tela Vasir stood from her chair, gently pulling Shepard up from her own, having her slowly pant.
"It's a good thing that's an Asari bed." Tela said seductively as she pushed Shepard towards it, causing her to fall back on it as the Thessian crawled on top of her. "A human-made one wouldn't survive."
"Oh, Gods. You're diabolical." Shepard panted, losing control not to terror, but to passion. "What are you going to do to me?" She couldn't help but have her voice shiver with the question, the excitement and uncertainty mixing with one another, the bond within her soothing her fears while inciting her curiosity and lust.
"I think your exact word were 'make me yours'." The Asari Agent smile as blue lips went onto her own, the bond intensifying as Shepard felt herself shiver and gasp, her body reacting quite pleasantly to the Thessian who was now pressing into her, physically and mentally. "Still want that?"
"Y-yes-s." Shepard replied with a shiver, her emotions merging with Tela's, matching with the Thessian's.
A/N: According to the Codex, Zhu's Hope and ExoGeni established itself on Feros in 2178, a full year into the future. I smudged that, and made it 2168.
Making a non-war torn Zhu's Hope proved an interesting challenge, so the only change I made was that it wasn't painted in Colonist Blood red.
Bastila Shan as a biotic is obvious. Honestly, she was a last-minute addition that has some potential. Especially if that Eezo crystal idea works… And yes, I will probably call her a 'Jedi' throughout the entire story, if only because it's funny. If anyone else understands what the hell 'Battle meditation' is suppose to be, I'm make a biotic equivalent!
Singapore Incident; barely mentioned in ME 1, downwind communities were exposed to dust-free Eezo from faulty containers in Singapore, unlike the 'accidental' explosions of ships in other locations. This is where Kaidan Alenko supposedly was exposed in utero. 30% of children were born deformed, but about 70% were born fine. Some 10% showed biotic potential. Though the game doesn't mention it, I was always under the impression that human biotics must be extremely rare, as only a 10% yield of exposure would lead to proper biotic children after an accident or incident, of which I believe there were only four mentioned. For the purpose of this story, the Singapore incident was a ship's drive core being exposed, dousing a majority of the 'poor' slums of Singapore, exposing over 250,000 people to Eezo radiation and dust.
Fleet and Flotilla actually comes out eight years later, in 2185. But I like making Garrus squirm.
I think this is the first chapter that was more or less pure fluff; I wanted to work on relationships and making the team like one another. 'Movie night' was something we did on deployments, where everyone did pick a movie, and we watched them all before we recycled them. North by Northwest was indeed one of my choices, and is a great movie.
Aldrich Killian is the CEO of Advanced Idea Mechanics, the antagonist of the Extremis Story Arc of Iron Man, and the villain of Iron Man 3. In my 'verse, Extremis was the progenitor of genemods.
Walter Reed is credited for inventing the vaccine for malaria. There's a reason the Walter Reed Army Medical Center is in DC; Washington DC use to be a malarial swamp, and I believe at least one president was sickened by it.
Siari - The Asari belief of unity, I've made it where it has two implied meanings; philosophical, and coital.