Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect

Mass Fiction

Episode 10: Zero Cool

There were very few real pleasures for a person like Jack. And not something as mundane as a drug induced euphoria or a really good fuck. It was simpler for her, like the look on the face of some asshole right before you put a bullet through it or an ice cold beer after a successful hijacking. Or as the case was now, watching some poor boyfriend get bitched out by his girl because he got caught staring at her shit.

She almost would have cracked a smile if not for the Quarian walking next to her. She was her babysitter, her leash, even if Shepard denied it up and down. Couldn't let the convict roam free on the Citadel, that wouldn't be good at all.

Looking over at the Quarian only made Jack scowl worse, why couldn't Massani make sure she didn't cause any trouble? Hell, she probably would have settled for Grunt, not that Shepard would even think of letting them loose together. Instead she got the bitch that was poking around her space and having her little drone shocking her in the ass just a few weeks ago. Sure she was just clearing out Cerberus's garbage, but that still didn't make them friends.

"Where the hell are we going bucket head," Jack grumbled.

"Shepard wants me to look at some upgrades he saw at Saronis Applications," Tali answered ignoring the name. "He doesn't really have an eye for tech and he wants my opinion."

"That's great, so why the fuck am I here," Jack asked trudging along.

"Maybe Shepard thought you could use some fresh air," Tali said shrugging her shoulders, "he doesn't like to send people out by themselves. It was the same way the first time we were together; he always made Liara go with me wherever I went."

"The first time you were together," Jack said smirking, "you mean you and Shepard?"

"Yes…NO…no not like that, when we were hunting Saren," Tali quickly explained, "you know me, Shepard, Garrus, Liara, Ashley ."

"Sounds kinky," Jack said grinning before tilting her head in thought. "Ashley? Was that the bitch we met on Horizon?"

"Well I wasn't there," Tali said her voice taking a darker tone, "but from what I heard from Garrus, yeah that was her. I'd rather not talk about her."

The sudden change in Tali's voice caused Jack to raise an eyebrow. Even when she had a shotgun in her face she didn't sound that angry. It seemed out of place for the Quarian who didn't seem to have an angry bone in her body, despite Jack's skepticism that someone could be that nice all the time.

"At least I know she has a nerve to strike. This one might have gotten a bit interesting," Jack thought.

Jack's wandering mind nearly caused her to walk right into Tali who had stopped abruptly right before the entrance to Saronis Applications.

"What the hell bucket head," Jack snapped before her attention was drawn to the sprawling form of a Volus as he picked himself off the floor.

"Watch…*hiss*…where you're going…*hiss*…clan less," the Volus sneered checking his pockets.

"You bumped into me. Maybe you should be more careful," Tali said putting a hand on her hip.

"Bah," the Volus said waving her off, "your kind doesn't even belong here…*hiss*…the Citadel is for the respected races of the galaxy…*hiss*…not for thieves and beggars."

"Not all Quarians are thieves and beggars," Tali said pointing at the rotund alien, "just like not all Volus are ignorant, stupid bosh'tets."

The Volus was about to answer back when he paused and took a second look at the Quarian in front of him.

"Wait a minute…*hiss*…I remember you…*hiss*…you were the Quarian with that human a few days ago…*hiss*… the one who found my credit chit."

"I thought your voice sounded familiar," Tali said shaking her head, "it's just my luck to run into the same small minded idiot on a station this big."

"Where's the other human…*hiss*…or did he realize that it wasn't worth being seen with garbage like you."

Now had the Volus not been carrying on, he would have heard a very distinct grinding noise. That noise being the sound of Jack's teeth gritting together. Of all the things that Jack hated in the galaxy, bullies were right at the top. Cerberus were bullies. The people at Teltin had been bullies. The guards at Purgatory had been bullies. At one time, in a dark room, a scared little girl had made a promise not to let the bullies in this galaxy hurt her or anyone else. That little girl was gone, shattered on the rocks of life, leaving Jack to pick up the pieces.

"You're not even worth my…what…wait…stop," came the frightened cry as the Volus was lifted into the air, his body surrounded by biotic energy as Jack held him in front of her glowing fist.

"I don't like you asshole and I'm tired of listening you talk," Jack snarled pulling the Volus forward.

"Jack don't," Tali said stepping towards the two, "he isn't worth it."

"I wasn't asking for your fucking permission sweetness," Jack said not turning her gaze from the struggling alien in her grasp. "I could care less about you. I'm doing it because I don't like this guy's face."

"Please…*hiss*…don't let her do this…*hiss*…help me," the Volus managed to choke out.

"What happened to the big tough guy who was here a second ago," Jack asked with a sick smile, "do I have to crack you open to find him?"

"No…please…*hiss*…I'm sorry…*hiss*...I'm sorry."

"You will be," Jack said grinning before a hand clamped on her arm.

"Please Jack, don't do this," Tali said quietly, "this isn't you."

"What the fuck do you know about me," Jack snapped turning her attention to Tali.

"I was there with you on Pragia remember? You could have shot Aresh but you didn't," Tali said calmly.

"Shepard…Shepard told me not too," Jack said shaking her head.

"No, he gave you a choice. He told you that you didn't need your past to control you. That you didn't need to be the monster they created. You're better than this, you are Jack not Subject Zero," Tali said still holding onto Jack's arm.

For her part, Jack paused to think about that, for a moment, for a lifetime who could tell? Some demons had been laid to rest when she turned that facility to ashes. But there were others that clung to her, their claws were dug deep in her mind. Trust led to betrayal that was the way the galaxy worked. There were no superheroes, no white knights, and no friends who weren't looking to stab you in the back. In a galaxy full of lies, that was the one cold, hard and reliable truth.

But then Shepard comes along with his warm feelings and his good deeds. Doing so much just because he…he was your friend, seeing something in you that you couldn't. To think there was one person out there like that was laughable, but two, that kind of shit just didn't exist right?

Snapping from her trance, she glared at the shaking Volus, his wheezy breath coming out in ragged spurts now.

"What's your name creampuff," Jack hissed.

"Kor…Kor Tun," came the weak reply.

"Well Kor Tun this," Jack said motioning to her side, "is Tali. I want you to remember that name, because that is the name of the Quarian that just saved your life. Now leave."

With that Jack dropped Kor Tun, who tumbled and scrambled to his feet, quickly trying to disappear into the crowd.

"We should leave," Tali said tugging on Jack's arm.

"Why. Nobody saw anything…RIGHT," Jack shouted watching as those that had been bystanders quickly duck their heads and move about their business trying to avoid eye contact.

"No matter how shiny the toilet, the shit is still the same," Jack thought smirking.

"Well let's just hurry and look at those upgrades before anything else happens," Tali said as she nervously glanced around for C-sec to show up.

"Yeah whatever," Jack said heading into the shop before turning back to her Quarian companion. "Look Tali, about what you said and stopping me…shit…I'm not good with saying thanks, you know," Jack said as she went into Saronis Applications.

"But you didn't…say thank you," Tali said following behind.

*chime* I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on the Citadel.

I went to get a glass of water at one in the morning and this chapter just hit my mind like a freight train. I know C-sec is a little unresponsive to Jack nearly liquefying someone, but between various criminals running free, corrupt politicians, two possible assassinations if you help Garrus and don't help Thane, and the homeland security girl who can't tell Legion from 80's robot, C-sec kind of sucks. Thane/Jacob will be next and after that I'm not sure. I wanna thank everyone who has left a review so far because I do look forward to them. I also went back over the last nine chapters and made them more grammatically correct as I could. As always review and request your ideas and I will do what I can. Until next time read and review people.