Chapter Six

"Hey!"

Ashlyn was swept over with relief at the sound of a familiar voice. Commander Shepard came up from the lower level, walking onto the scene like a superhero. The burning in her hand quickly faded as did her fear. He glanced at Ashlyn with a strange expression, then met eyes with the turian as he turned to Shepard.

"What the hell do you want?" The turian growled.

Shepard moved closer, his voice low with reasoning and a hint of threat. "I think you're a little drunk. You don't need to be doing something you're going to regret tomorrow."

"What's it to you, human?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Well, that girl there is a friend of mine and a crewmate aboard the Normandy, my ship."

The turian straightened his spine. "Wait, the Normandy is your ship? You're Commander Shepard?"

Shepard nodded slightly, with a gleam in his eyes daring the turian to try something.

The turian seemed to hold his breath and blurted out his words. "Shit, ah, yeah… I'll be going."

Ashlyn smiled as she watched the rude turian scamper away with his tail between his legs. She wanted to tell Shepard thank you as she turned back to him, but the look on his face was a disappointed scowl with a rock hard glare bearing down on her.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Ashlyn gulped. "I was supposed to go back to the Normandy, but I saw this place and wanted to see what it was like."

"Aren't you afraid of being alone in the Citadel?" He asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well everyone's been so nice, well… nearly everyone, and until now I've not had a reason to be afraid." She looked down and felt shame press down on her shoulders like weights.

"So you decided to come to a bar, get drunk and dance like a stripper with a strange turian?" He sounded very angry.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was wounded. "I guess I just got caught up in it all. Garrus was with me at first, so it wasn't all bad."

"Garrus brought you here?" He suddenly seemed even angrier.

Ashlyn threw her hands up defensively. "He brought me here to get some clothes, since I only have what's on my back. I didn't have any money or anything."

Shepard's anger faded just slightly and his stare softened. "You could've asked me for that."

"I, uh, didn't want to burden you."

Shepard laughed. "You didn't want to burden me so you come and get yourself nearly killed." He ran his hand over his face. "I care about my crew. If you needed something, I would've made sure you had it." He sighed as he gestured with a nod of his head for her to follow him. "Let's head back. You know, you're lucky I like you."

Ashlyn wasn't sure if it was still the 'booze' wearing off or if it was just the fact that Shepard called her his crew and admitted to liking her, but she was happy. That was until she saw Garrus standing at the doorway to the Normandy's dock. His arms were crossed, his brow plates were furrowed and his mandibles fluttered in irritation.

"Where the hell did you go?!" He asked as sharp as a blade as she approached the door.

"I, um, got lost."

His eyes flared like a blue fire. "Lost?! Is that why you stink of alcohol?"

She didn't have time to reply. Luckily Shepard came up from behind, stopping Garrus's scolding in its tracks. "Garrus, I heard you left Ashlyn alone."

His tone changed. "Shepard, I told her to come straight back to the Normandy. There was a problem in the Palaven refugee camp. I had to take care of it."

Ashlyn gathered her bravery and spoke up. "It is my fault. Garrus did tell me to come back here, but I didn't listen. I was curious and stupid. It won't happen again, sirs."

"See that it doesn't." Shepard stated. He directed the command at her, but he was still staring at Garrus with a look Ashlyn couldn't comprehend. Perhaps it was disappointment or implement of authority? Ashlyn could've sworn it looked more like a primal, possessive glare, as if Shepard was jealous, but that couldn't be right.

The three of them boarded the Normandy in silence and separated once they stepped in.

Ashlyn sometimes wondered if there was a heaven, or a lost utopia waiting to be found, but she was pretty sure she found it in the Normandy's showers. The hot water and steam enveloped her and if she wasn't standing, she probably would've just fallen asleep. Her muscles all became loose and relaxed and her mind just went blank as she let the water wash her worries away.

Eventually, she had to step out of the wonderful blanket of water and steam. Her skin was pruned and her fingertips looked like fleshy little raisins. She couldn't even imagine how long she'd been in there for. Luckily, no one seemed to mind. When she climbed out of the shower, she made her way to the sink where she kept her new hygiene amenities. She brushed her teeth vigorously, then looked up into the fog coated mirror at herself. As she dragged her brush through her thick hair, she stared at herself. It pained her to realize that she didn't even remember what she really looked like. Her dark brown, almost black hair made her green eyes stand out like cat eyes in the night. Her skin was pale and she was thin, but it was her.

She'd picked up a hair band that she purchased with the brush and gathered her hair in a ponytail that dangled between her shoulder blades. Her breath hitched as she brushed the puffed skin on her back, reminding her that she bore a scar. She didn't want to dwell on it, so she put on her brand new undergarments and clothes. She wore a navy blue V-neck shirt that hugged her body and black cargo pants that added a comfortable feel to her new look. She took a moment to admire her new style in the mirror before gathering her things and heading back to her quarters.

When the doors opened, she was surprised to see Shepard standing there. He was in her room, looking out the window, but turned when he heard her enter. He faced her as she put her things away in a storage compartment that was positioned at the end of her bed.

"Can I help you, Shepard?" She asked politely, afraid he was still angry with her.

"I was thinking about the incident on the Citadel." He stated.

Ashlyn felt dread come over her. She feared he would kick her off the ship, but she did disobey him and was prepared for punishment.

He continued. "I want you to learn to defend yourself." Ashlyn was surprised at his statement, but stayed silent. "Most crewmates are required to have gun and hand to hand training, so I will require the same of you. I can oversee your hand to hand training, but I don't think my schedule will allow gun training as well, so I would ask our best gunman on the ship to oversee it."

"And that is?" She inquired.

Shepard cleared his throat softly. "Garrus." The way he spoke the turian's name seemed like he'd regretted it the moment it came from his mouth.

Ashlyn nearly smiled, but then remembered that Garrus was probably still angry with her, which might not make the best of the gun training.

Shepard continued. "I also ask that EDI continue toning your computer skills, but on dummy systems, so you've got a busy schedule ahead of you."

She smiled at him. "I can't thank you enough, Shepard."

He shrugged. "I just want the best out of my team that's all."

She suddenly stepped closer and placed her hand on his bicep. "It's more than that. I… I feel like you've given me a home when I had nowhere else to go. I was so afraid when I first woke in that tomb, but after meeting you and seeing your kindness, well, I'm not so afraid anymore." She paused as she glanced at the floor for a fleeting moment, then back at him. "And sir, if I may?"

She moved even closer and outstretched her arms. Before Shepard could even think, her body was pressed against his and her arms wrapped around his neck. His breath hitched and his heart stopped. He could ever so slightly feel the soft skin of her cheek against his. He also felt her breath against his neck and her hair brushing over his face. He had the sudden urge to wrap himself tight around her, but instead, he kept it as professional as possible. He returned the hug, giving her a soft pat on the back.

"You're welcome," he murmured as he regretfully separated the embrace.

He left Ashlyn's quarters feeling as if a rope was tied to him pulling him back. He didn't though. He was the commander. He had to keep his feelings on a short leash. Plus, during a war, there wasn't much time for courting, no matter how much he wanted to run back and relive that embrace.

The next day, Ashlyn was ordered to meet EDI in the AI Core once more. She wasn't entirely prepared for it since Shepard decided to ping her omni-tool at seven in the morning advising her to meet EDI in half an hour. So thirty minutes later, she found herself half asleep in the AI Core.

"Why does Shepard have to get up so early?" Ashlyn groaned as EDI's robotic fingers moved like a blur over the terminal.

"He's military," she stated, "getting up so early is normal. He was probably up well before he messaged you too."

Ashlyn let out a yawn and said, "So, what is my job today?"

"Well," EDI began, "since Shepard doesn't want you working on actual systems just yet, I've set up a set of dummy systems and databases. They're not connected to anything, so you can do whatever you like with this terminal."

"Alright."

"Today, I'd like to create a scenario and I want you to access this terminal to find what you need."

Ashlyn nodded. "Sounds good."

"Shall I make the scenario more interesting by adding a story?"

Ashlyn chuckled, "Sure."

EDI smiled and continued. "Let's say you are a famous mercenary."

"Oh, can my name be… uh… Lightning Fingers?"

EDI raised a brow. "Lightning… Fingers? Is that a joke?"

Ashlyn looked shocked. "No! I really like it! It means I'm a quick draw type of mercenary!"

EDI shrugged. "Well, at least it wouldn't be taken already. Anyway, you're the famous mercenary… Lightning Fingers… and you're on a mission to clear your old partner's name."

"Can I name my partner?"

"Sure, what will it be, Thunder Feet?"

Ashlyn sneered playfully. "No, but that is a good one. I was thinking… Blue Angel. Oh, and she can be an asari… or a turian with blue markings… he or she just has to have blue or the name doesn't work."

"Have an affinity for turians with blue markings?" EDI asked with a sly smirk.

Ashlyn looked at her with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing… alright, you are on a mission to clear Blue Angel's name who was imprisoned for a crime that you know he or she, since you didn't specify, didn't commit. It's up to you to find the real criminal so you can set Blue Angel free."

"And I can find all that on this terminal?" Ashlyn asked, feeling a bit inadequate.

"If you're good. The only information you have is that the crime was a murder that was committed on Omega near a dextro-friendly restaurant in the Tuhi District."

EDI also gave Ashlyn the date and time of the murder and let her access the terminal. She wasn't sure where to begin. She linked her omni-tool to the terminal and her mind seemed to shudder. She closed her eyes and thought about Omega. Though she'd never seen it before, she saw it in her mind. It was a dirty, crime-ridden place, but she located the three dextro-friendly restaurants in the Tuhi District. She thought about the exact time and date, realizing the restaurants probably had surveillance cameras, she found her way to the footage. Each video was uneventful, except one. One video, showing the back alley of one of the establishments, showed a human killing an asari in cold blood. Ashlyn caught a glimpse of each of their faces, then let her mind branch out, searching for those faces. The asari was the daughter of a notable leader of the Eclipse mercenary pack, the human was an aspiring member of Eclipse. Ashlyn stopped her search and opened her eyes.

"Why would a member of a mercenary group kill one of their own kind? And why would they frame Blue Angel?"

EDI smiled as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Well, there's no need to play detective, you found the incriminating evidence. You just freed your partner, Lightning Fingers."

Ashlyn didn't seem pleased, her brow was still furrowed. "I saw that the asari was the daughter of one of the leaders, perhaps she was being groomed to take over, so the human had to wipe her out to claim his own position in the group and getting a rival mercenary to take the fall would seem like a good alibi."

"That's pretty good." EDI admitted, with a bit of surprise in her voice. "That's exactly what happened."

Ashlyn cocked her head. "This was a real story?"

"Well, I wouldn't have been able to make up all that surveillance footage. This case was solved by Shepard about a year ago, except he wasn't the innocent party's partner and he didn't solve it as quick."

"How long did it take him to figure it out?"

EDI let out a wispy laugh. "Nearly a day."

Ashlyn was a little nervous when she entered the training room. She wasn't sure if it was because of she was around a plethora of guns or because she had to face Garrus again for the first time since he yelled at her. What made it worse was when she realized what EDI's 'affinity for turians with blue markings' comment finally hit her, a mere ten minutes before she was ordered to meet him. She was surprised she didn't spontaneously combust when she flushed hot with embarrassment right outside the room.

When she stepped inside, he was there. His back was turned to her and he was fiddling with a weapon on the table. Beyond the table was a half wall and beyond that was a large holographic screen. The room was fairly long, but not at all wide. There was probably enough space for about three gunmen to practice at a time.

Ashlyn approached Garrus and stopped beside him. He didn't look up from his gun. A pregnant silence came between them. Ashlyn wasn't even sure if he was still angry or not and she didn't want to take the chance to further his anger.

"Look," he began suddenly, still keeping his eyes on the table, "I'm sorry for leaving you on the Citadel. I, uh, found out what happened and I just feel horrible. I shouldn't have left you."

Her eyes traveled to him. His mandibles were tight against his face and his eyes were focused intently on his gun. "I should apologize." She told him as she sighed deeply. "It was my fault for wandering off and I'm the one that angered Shepard. I'm sorry you got in trouble."

He finally met her emerald gaze with a bit of a grin. "Trouble? That's my middle name." Ashlyn giggled at him and continued her apology, feeling a lot happier. "I guess I just felt a little braver than usual. I used to be so scared of the place, but after meeting you and Shepard and everyone else on the Normandy, I thought maybe everyone was that kind and I didn't have a reason to be afraid. I guess I was wrong."

"Hey, the galaxy can be a pretty horrible place sometimes, but there is still good in it and that's what I, what we, fight for. So you can feel safe, just don't go trusting everyone out there."

Ashlyn nodded and smiled gratefully.

Garrus smiled back and froze when he realized that during his speech, he'd placed his hand on hers. She must've had it on the weapons table and he was trying to comfort her, so his hand found its way there. She didn't seem to mind it, but he didn't want to make it any more awkward, so he slowly moved his hand away.

Ashlyn finally breathed again when Garrus's hand slid off hers and back onto the weapon on the table. She almost didn't realize that she was holding her breath the second she felt the warmth of his gloved hand on hers. She tried to stay calm, though her heart was pounding in her chest and told herself that he was just comforting her. A simple friendly gesture. That's all.

"Alright, this here is an M-5 Phalanx." Garrus interrupted her thoughts by lifted the gun he was working on and showed it to her. "It's a heavy pistol, lightweight, compact and can still pack a punch. I've put a modification on it so that it shoots blanks. We don't want to shoot out the Normandy's walls. When you're ready, the holograph before you will show you targets. You try and shoot the targets, I'll tell you how good you did and help you where you need it the most. You want to give it a try?"

"You show me first."

His mandibles flared in a turian grin. "Alright, prepare to be amazed."

Garrus took a few steps and stood before the half wall. He took his stance and aimed. As the targets came to life, Garrus began to fire and Ashlyn began to focus on him, her mind going numb as she watched him.

Spine straight, arms locked, breath calm… steady, poised, focused… precise, unafraid… deadly…

Ashlyn shook her head as Garrus pulled back the pistol. "All headshots." He said smugly. He handed her the gun. "Now, just aim and pull the trigger. This pistol doesn't have a lot of kick back, so just hold it firmly and don't hurt yourself."

She took the pistol in her hands. She took her stance and aimed. The targets appeared. Her reflexes kicked in faster than she could think. She held her breath as her finger squeezed the trigger once, twice, three, then four times. Each shot fired was like a bolt of electricity shooting through her. It was exciting and familiar. She finally breathed again when she lowered the pistol. She turned to Garrus.

His mandibles were slack and his mouth gaped. "Spirits..." He murmured as he looked at her, then back at targets. Each one was a headshot, almost exactly on top of his own bullet holes.

"Guess I'm pretty good." She said with a cocky grin.

"Alright, do it again."

Ashlyn ended up doing it four more times. Each time was a bullet in the holographic head of the targets. Garrus was beside himself with shock.

"Okay… how do you know how to shoot like that?" He asked in exasperation.

Ashlyn shrugged. "I don't know. I just watched how you did it and I did it."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Shepard's going to want to hear about this, but just in case do it one more time."

To be continued...