Elysium was supposed to be a relaxing shore leave to celebrate her promotion to 2nd Lieutenant. A few days with other biotics from her recruit class followed by two weeks alone with Zaeed in a hotel room. Thirteen hours after the class arrived, the slavers and pirates landed. Ella found herself in the position of directing not only the few marines they found on shore leave, but directing the civilians as well.

An emergency hail to Arcturus let her know the nearest fleet was nearly two days away. She sent a quick warning to both Hackett and Zaeed before turning her attention towards the battle raging outside. Within hours she had a rotation of marines, biotics, and civilians defending the colony's main entry points and shuttle docks. Others were tasked with finding ammunition and supplies that could be used as improvised weapons.

For thirteen hours she gave orders, rallied flagging moral, and took her turn on lookouts. As a vanguard she was used to close quarters combat and being pinned behind crates and blockades chafed. Her long distance biotics were passable, but caused more strain on her concentration and amp. Seventeen hours in she felt the familiar jolt and burn as the amp overheated.

She was nearly a day into the siege when a set of black and yellow armor and blue eyes settled in front of her. Ella spared him a passing glance before tossing a group of pirates back with her biotics. "Did you not get my message about the roving band of pirates?"

"Did you bloody think I was going to leave you here alone?" he retorted.

"I'm a big girl Zaeed. They gave me my own weapon and everything."

"I'm sure they figured you'd put on your armor before going after pirates."

She glanced at the once pristine white jeans and embroidered peasant top. "Shore leave remember? Not all of us wear armor like a fashion statement hotshot."

"Goddamn mouthy bitch. You need to take a break."

"Sure. Let me just ask the bad guys to hold off for a bit so we can get some sleep."

Zaeed grabbed Ella's shoulders and pulled her around to face him. "Someone else can watch the wall for thirty minutes while you eat something and catch your goddamn breath Shepard."

"I'm fine Massani."

"Call in a bloody replacement before I throw you over a shoulder and cuff you to a post until this is goddamn over. You're no fucking help to any of us worn out."

Ella knew he was right. The marines she had been covering for kept trying to get her to take a break and she brushed them off. She reluctantly radioed a replacement and stepped away from the barricade. Zaeed followed her to the hastily constructed operations base. He shoved a plate of food at her with a scowl and set to examining her armor and weapons. Ella hissed as his hand brushed her jack. He pushed her hair away. "Did you burn out another goddamn amp?"

"Long range biotics aren't my strength. I put it under too much strain, it happens." She batted his hands away from her neck. "How did you get here exactly?"

"Stole a shuttle and flew in low. Dropped your name and Hackett's and they let me land. The stash of ammunition helped sweeten the deal a bit."

"So the words 'stay away' actually mean fly in with a stolen shuttle and ammo? Good to know for future reference." She pushed away the empty plate and leaned her head back, taking a moment to close her eyes. "I'm not sure we can hold out one more day. With more marines, maybe, but I've got a handful of those and luckily some asari with basic biotic training."

"Fifth fleet will be here before nightfall sweetheart. Did you really think that Rear Admiral Hackett and Captain Anderson were going to leave you alone down here either?"

"I honestly didn't know. I barely got the messages off to you and Steven before they started jamming our signals." She pushed out of the chair with a groan. "I need to get back on the wall."

He sighed and fell in beside her. "Sweetheart, when are you going to learn you're not alone anymore?"

Her response was cut off by the wall beside her exploding. Ella managed to throw up a barrier that protected her from most of the debris. She flipped onto her back, ignoring the pain shooting through her head and tossed back the slavers attempting to enter the gaping hole. Zaeed had hauled himself back to his feet, deadly determination evident on his face. "Hey Massani!" She waited until his attention was on her. "Want some target practice?" Ella used her biotics to lift, and then throw a fuel canister. A single shot from his Avenger had the canister exploding in the faces of the oncoming forces.

The two worked in tandem for nearly two hours, Ella using her biotics to throw a canister, while Zaeed shot them. The tactic provided lethal ground coverage that had the enemy force falling back far enough the breach could be patched successfully. With a groan, she collapsed against the wall and let a field medic coat her wound with medigel. The asari had just finished treating the gash when a cheer sounded on the far side of the colony. A voice over Ella's radio announced that the Alliance had finally landed and the pirates and slavers were retreating off planet.

Her omnitool chimed as Zaeed sat next to her.

S.H.- What's your location Lieutenant?

E.S.- 100 yards or so away from the main landing pad, against the outer wall. Near the giant patched hole. You can't miss it.

S.H.- Giant patched hole?

E.S.- There might have been an explosion.

S.H.- Do you need a medic?

E.S.- Asari field doc patched me up. I'll be fine.

S.H.- Not good enough Shepard. Meet me at the landing pad. I have a medical shuttle en route.

"Don't try to bloody argue sweetheart. He's using his Admiral's voice. I can hear it through the damn message."

"But the wall is so comfortable. Do you think he'd come to me?"

Zaeed muttered something under his breath before hauling Ella to her feet. He traced the gash that ran from mid forehead to temple. "You're gonna have one hullva scar Ella."

"It's not my first and it probably won't be my last."

His lips pressed against her forehead and pulled her into a gentle embrace, oblivious to anyone around them. "C'mon sweetheart, you need to go let the brass know what a big goddamn hero you are."

"You're not going with?"

"The alliance and I have an agreement. I stay out of their way, they stay out of mine."

She nodded in understanding. Having Zaeed's name show up in official reports wouldn't look good for either him or the alliance. "I have a feeling my shore leave's been canceled. And I had such high hopes for the hotel room too."

Zaeed laughed at her grumblings. "There'll be other hotel rooms sweetheart. Next shore leave, there'll more rolling around in bed, less shooting and explosions."

"Holding you to that." She pushed away from him with a wince. "I shouldn't keep the admiral waiting." Ella gave his hand one last squeeze before stepping away. He disappeared into the crowds as she made her way towards Hackett and Anderson.

The admiral and captain were waiting outside the med shuttle when she finally limped her way to the landing bay. With the battle and adrenaline crashing, her various aches and bruises from the explosion were setting in. Ella managed a smart salute before Hackett waved her into the small shuttle.

He waited while the field doctor poked and prodded, eventually determining she had a mild concussion to go along with the shorted out amp. A line of stitches and medigel closed up the gash on her forehead. She handed Ella painkillers and a warning to take it easy until her port, and brain, healed. The shuttle doors closed behind the doctor, leaving them in private.

"I'll have my report to you within a few hours Admiral."

"No I won't Shepard. You're taking 18 hours to eat, sleep, and heal."

"Excuse me?"

"I've already received preliminary reports from multiple marines on site. I know you've barely eaten and haven't slept since this started. Which we will also discuss."

"By multiple marines do you mean Zaeed?"

"I did also receive communications from civilians on site."

"You two are the biggest damn gossips."

"Ella." He pulled her into an unexpected, but not unwelcome, hug. "You scared me kid."

Her good cheek rested against his shoulder. "I'm a marine Steven. I'm put in dangerous situations."

His laugh rumbled through them. "Usually you're equipped with more than an off duty pistol and biotics."

Steven rubbed her arms briskly. "Eighteen hours Ella. Go back to your hotel to eat and sleep. You, David, and I will meet tomorrow to review reports and you can fill in holes."

"Is that an order?"

"Do I need to make it one?"

She grinned at the familiar banter. "No sir, but I do have one question."

"How did the fleet managed to cut nearly thirteen hours off of their ETA?"

"Being a rear admiral does have its perks. I may have reminded certain people that as a human run, alien friendly colony, our reaction time would be judged by others. It may have . . . sped the process up."

"Well, the timing couldn't have been better."

Steven tracked down a ground transport to take her back to the hotel, citing her concussion. Ella made it into her room and managed to wipe most of the grime and dust off with a wash cloth. Her clothes went straight into the garbage and she didn't waste energy putting on clean ones. A few power bars quelled her hunger pains before she fell asleep in the dark room.