CHAPTER TWELVE
Renewal

"If the protheans built the Citadel, and the relays," Brynja said, as they walked the grounds of the Presidium, "they must have had astonishing technology."

"Well in advance of our own," Liara agreed, "but—"

"It's just supposition that they built the relays," Kara finished. She wasn't entirely sure how her armor-shopping venture had turned into a group outing, but she didn't suppose it mattered. She enjoyed Brynja's company, and after more than two weeks aboard a cramped frigate, they were all in need of shore leave.

"I thought it was established fact?"

"No," Liara continued. "In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, we simply assumed they were the first intelligent species in the galaxy. The existence of the reapers, as well as my own research, casts doubt on that belief."

"Oh," Brynja said, leaning over the long, segmented pool. The placid water stretched off into the distance, until it appeared to rise into the holographic sky. The upturned horizon, as much as anything, ruined the outside feel of the Presidium. "Then the Relay, and the Citadel, were both constructed by a prior race? The same one that constructed the Reapers?"

"We don't know," Kara said, half-sitting on the rail beside the young blond. Brynja looked gorgeous, her eyes closed and face upturned as she breathed in the flower-scented breeze. "There's just not enough information."

"I miss this," Brynja sighed. "Being outside, even if it is fake. Solitude. Wind and rain. On the warmer days, Lúcía and I used to swim naked in the streams that came down from the mountains. The water was frigid, but we didn't care. We were alone, and content with each other's company. We used to spend whole afternoons cooling ourselves in the water, then we'd lie down wherever we could and let then sun dry us—and when we got too warm, back in the water. I loved watching her lie there, just… so content."

Kara's brow rose in surprise, as she watched the blond. Brynja had described her relationship with Lúcía as one of familial love, but now it carried a romantic feel. "I though you weren't interested in her like that."

"I guess I was," the young woman said, shaking her head. She held some regrets, there, deeply buried. "But we never… I… the Conduit, though, that is prothean?"

"All I know about that is the name," Kara said, ignoring the change of subject. "We'll just have to find out more as we go along."

"If we land on a garden world, can we have a picnic?"

"A picnic?" Kara repeated. She hardly knew what to make of the suggestion.

Turning away from the pool, Brynja's expression grew closed. "You know, find a secluded spot and share a meal. I'm joking."

Half-joking seemed more likely, from the stories she had told, and the distant look in her eyes.

"The Serrice Council Cooperative's offices are this way," Liara announced, leading them the rest of the way across the bridge.

Kara followed, with Brynja falling in beside her. She could see why the asari might find the conversation uncomfortable, and they did have an appointment to keep. "Why did you ever choose a posting in space?"

"It seemed more proactive," Brynja shrugged, "and maybe a little romantic. Besides, they offered me an Ops posting on a classified prototype. How could an ambitious young woman resist?"

"Not easily. Where's Lúcía now?" she asked carefully. It wasn't difficult to guess, given the fate of the blond's parents.

Brynja sighed. "Dead. She was looking for me when they found her, I think. They violated her, before they killed her. She'd been so fearless…"

Kara took the younger woman's hand firmly, and they walked in silence. Ahead, Liara turned off into one of the many complexes that lined the lower Presidium.

"—to see you again," Liara was saying, as they followed her in. She had her arms wrapped around an asari with darker blue skin and grey eyes.

Kara's breath caught in surprise and recognition. "Ilya Tanral."

"Kara," the older asari said, releasing Liara. Kara took her offered arm. "It's an unexpected pleasure to see you again, though I had almost convinced myself that Liara sent the wrong photo with your measurements."

"I know I should have kept in touch," Kara replied, smiling. She felt genuinely pleased to see the asari scientist again, after more than a decade, but also uncomfortably exposed. "But I didn't want to be found. What are you doing on the Citadel?"

"The Citadel Institute for Science invited me to give a talk on comparative neurology," Ilya explained, thankfully taking the hint and moving on. "I've studied turian and vol neuroscience since we last met. The ways in which evolution has achieved similar ends through disparate paths is fascinating."

Kara nodded. What little she knew about how her own brain functioned had come from talks with the asari, but she did understand diversity and convergence from a sociological perspective. "It sounds as if you've found a new passion for your work, Ilya."

"I find it a fascinating subject, with less work done in it than you might expect," Ilya said. "I was even drawn into the design team for the latest generation VI. We were able to increase the speed of their processing matrix by five percent."

Two percent was the typical per-generation increase, at least from the Alliance-based manufacturers Kara was familiar with. Five percent suggested something more than the usual incremental improvements in technique. "I'm impressed," Kara said. "Is that what you have for us?"

"Yes. The finest personal armor in the galaxy," Ilya replied. "Let me check you in, and then we can take a look."

Kara rolled her shoulders, testing the joints of her new armor. They had excellent flexibility, and the overall weight of the suit was noticeably less than the Alliance-commissioned N7 model it replaced, both of which increased battlefield mobility. Considering her training and abilities, she considered that more important than total stopping power.

"How does it feel?" asked Elessa, the purple-skinned asari who had shown her how to put it together.

"Comfortable. Flexible. I could almost forget I'm wearing armor."

The asari nodded. "This is the commando line. A distributed kinetic barrier array for a tighter envelopment radius, reducing overall power consumption. A one hundred and forty-eight millisecond reset time. Built-in biotic amplification, and omnitool integration. Pressure seals rated for level two hazard environments. The armor plates are a composite-reinforced ceramic designed to absorb several thousand joules of kinetic energy before fracturing, though they should be replaced after taking a direct hit."

"Thank you, Elessa," Kara smiled. Considering the speed of modern small arms fire, a suit's VI needed to track and counter multiple projectiles near-instantly. They did this with remarkable efficiency, but still ran up against the size and weight limitations of the armor itself. The VI systems had to share space with high capacity power cells and fast discharge capacitors, barrier emitters and tracking sensors, all of which were equally essential to protecting the wearer. The effective limitation was the ability of the system to reset to the point where it could track and deflect another projectile. If, at any point, the systems were overwhelmed, panic mode would be engaged, switching from targeted to enveloping barriers, which rapidly drained the suit's capacitors. "I appreciate the help."

Their eyes met in the mirror-Elessa's were pale grey, flecked with green. "It's a pleasure, Kara," she whispered, her narrow lips curving into a thin smile as her gaze turned downward. Standing behind Kara as she was, it seemed a flirtatious, even intimate gesture. The purple asari was still a maiden, near the end of her second century, at a guess. Certainly young enough to pursue sex with a human she found attractive, with or without an extensive relationship.

And Kara? Until she found some lead, there was little else for her to do, and Elessa was not under her command. There was no danger of compromised judgement, and minimal questions of authority. The Alliance had quietly rescinded all orders concerning her and her crew. She could relax and enjoy herself, if only for a little while, and she intended to.

"There is something else," she said, turning her face toward the asari, "if you have the time."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I have some work I simply must finish today," Elessa replied. Kara wondered if she'd misjudge the asari's intentions. "If you're free tonight, though, I'm sure I could find time to help. I'm living in suite eight-twelve, section six. Meet me there at eighteen-hundred, Citadel time?"

"I will," Kara smiled. She'd been right. "I'm going to check on Liara. If you need to get back to work, I can pack things up on my own."

"I'll take you to her," Elessa said, approaching the door and pressing the control. Kara followed her through it, and the walked down the hall, in the same direction as the entrance. They paused, only one door down. "In here."

The purple asari continue down the hall, stopping after several paces. "Oh, Kara?" she said, smiling over her shoulder at Kara. "Don't be late."

There was little chance of that, Kara thought, as she watched Elessa leave.

After the asari had disappeared into the front office, Kara smiled to herself, and pressed the door control. She found Liara inside, standing with a nervous expression on her soft face as Brynja circled her slowly. She looked good, her new armor light grey and accented with a blue that complemented her skin tone, but otherwise the same as Kara's.

"I don't know, Doc," Brynja said, moving from a view to Liara's back to her side. Neither had noticed Kara's entrance. "I'm sure it's fine armor, and all, but it just seems to be missing something important."

"Oh? What?"

"Breasts," the blond grinned, rapping Liara's chestplate as she paused her circuit in front of the asari.

Kara knew precisely what Brynja meant. Humanity's corporate manufacturers created armor to a variety of specifications, but their female designs were all well-endowed and shapely. She had required significant padding to comfortably secure her small breasts in her Alliance-issued armor. It functioned well enough, but it looked ridiculous, like someone high up on the design committee worried about what might happen if women weren't easily identifiable on the battlefield. Chaos, perhaps, with their male comrades being uncertain what enemies they should hesitate to shoot, and what allies to gallantly throw themselves in front of, the nightmare vision of misogynistic boardroom patriarchs.

Her new armor still had some padding, but the exterior design, while aesthetically pleasing, was primarily functional, the curve smooth rather than explicit. Feminist, rather than feminine, though the asari had no need for either concept. It would still be difficult for anyone to mistake her for a man.

"… humans," Liara muttered, smiling faintly. "Brynja, I will not be looking for a mate on a battlefield."

"Come on. Don't tell me there aren't any asari vids of sexy commando heroines in revealing armor?"

"Well, no," Liara said, her voice uncertain, matching the confused line of her brow. "What would be the point of that?"

Kara laughed. Liara turned at the sound, her smile returning. An excellent question, with an unfortunate answer; to draw in male viewers, and perpetuate the sexually subservient role of women in human society.

"See," Brynja grinned, now behind Liara again, "don't you think she'd look a lot sexier if you could see more skin?"

"I'd rather know Kara is safe than see her breasts," Liara stated, her eyes fixed firmly on Kara's face. "Wouldn't you?"

"Yes," Kara said, favoring Liara with a nod. "She wins this round, Brynja."

Liara turned her head, but Brynja had already turned away, and whatever comment the asari intended faltered on her deep blue lips. Instead, she closed the gap between herself and Kara. "Ilya has gone to finalize the transfer," she said. "She'll arrange to transport everything to the Normandy."

"You're satisfied, then?" Kara asked, more out of politeness than necessity. She could see the answer in Liara's comfortable posture, though the asari confirmed it with a nod and a firm 'yes'. "Good. Let's get things packed up, and then I'll take you both to lunch."

The restaurant Kara chose occupied a portion of the Presidium Commons, above the asari sector, the terraced levels separated from one another by trellises, covered by climbing plants. Tiny lights, partially hidden by the full leaves, glittered through the shifting gaps created by the faint breeze, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere. She made her selection mainly for Liara's benefit, a taste of home after a week of Alliance rations, though she also looked forward to the change.

Brynja, who had settled opposite her at the round table, seemed more apprehensive, watching as their server filled her glass with an opaque, greenish liquid.

"This is cœri," the short asari explained, noticing the blond's uncertainty as she placed the decanter on the table, "a wine made from a fruit native to Thessia's northern continent. This vintage is a fine example of its complex flavor. Some humans say it has hints of chocolate."

"Right, thanks," Brynja nodded, and raised the glass, swirling its contents about, and finally taking a sip. Her expression did not change decisively either way. "It's… different."

Kara concealed a smile. The was the point of the experience, and not very descriptive, but she also had a difficult time articulating taste.

"Chocolate?" Liara asked, returning her own glass to the table. "Is that an Earth fruit?"

"It's one of their delicacies," the server replied. "Excuse me."

Brynja watched the asari leave, and sipped at her drink again. "Kara, I know you don't like to talk about your past, but… well, when did you meet Doctor Tanral?"

"What did she tell you?" Kara asked. The nature of their relationship made it private, according to asari custom, which left her free to say what she wished, or to stay silent.

"Just that it was your story, and she was pleased to have had a part in it."

In truth, it was difficult to overstate the importance of Ilya's role in her life, or how obligated she felt to keep it secret. She could not explain, even peripherally, without the risk of exposing the truth. Admitte"You know I don't like talking about myself."

"Well, I believe in letting friends keep secrets," Brynja said lightly, in a mostly successful attempt to conceal her disappointment. How else could she feel, though, after willingly exposing so much of herself, in her effort to reach out?

Warm, rough fingers were gently stroking her spine. If it were possible, Kara would have rewarded the responsible party with a purr, but she could only manage a low moan. Her warm pillow rose slowly beneath her, a low heartbeat thumping in her ear-too slow, and the rhythm subtly off, to be human. "'Morning," she whispered softly, in Thessié.

"'Morning," Elessa responded. The caress stopped, her hand lightly tracing the contours of Kara's face. "You're amazing."

Kara yawned and stretched, careful to rub against as much purple skin as she could. "So are you," she asserted, shifting herself more fully on top of Elessa's slender body. She tested a soft kiss, which she deepened after an inviting response. The asari's arms wrapped around her, holding her close.

She moaned happily, content in their small activity for a few minutes at least. It had been too long since she'd woken up in the arms of a lover, with no urgent business to pull them apart, and no agenda other than to enjoy the time they had. Her stomach was rumbling softly, but she ignored it. When her omnitool started beeping, she ignored that too.

Elessa, unfortunately, was not as determined. "You're not going to answer that?"

"No," she declared firmly, busying herself in a slow exploration of the asari's neck, now that their kiss was broken. The beeping stopped. "Nothing important. See?"

"So that's why they made you a Spectre. Your strong sense of duty," Elessa murmured, laughing softly. Ironic. Impertinent. Kara nipped her gently in approving protest. "And so very focused."

"I'm making a priority of the beautiful, naked asari whose bed I'm sharing," Kara insisted, working her way along Elessa's purple collar. The beeping started again; either it was more insistent, or her resolve had weakened. She rolled off the asari.

The beeping continued as she collected her shirt and omnitool from the pile of discarded clothes. She pulled on the shirt, and set the omnitool on the bedside table, switching it to translate to Thessié, for the benefit of her companion. "Yes?" she demanded, as she opened the channel.

Brynja's face resolved into focus on the holographic display. "Kara," the blond sighed, obviously relieved. "I almost called CSec. Why didn't you answer?"

"I was busy," Kara said softly.

"Well, Councillor Valern's office sent a message. You're wanted in the Tower Court."

Kara sighed. She could almost feel Elessa's warm body slipping from her grasp, even as the asari's arms wrapped around her waist, her narrow chin settling on Kara's shoulder.

"I guess you'd better go."

Kara closed her eyes, and leaned back against the asari. "Yeah," she whispered. After a moment she straightened, focusing on Brynja's projected image. "Tell the Council, I'll be there in fifteen minutes, GST. Have Keyx recall the Normandy crew, as well. I want the ship ready to depart in one hour."

"Yes, sir," Brynja said sharply, closing the channel.

That was wrong. Something had upset the young blond, something more than one incident of Kara ignoring her omnitool. It had to be Elessa, but Brynja had never shown any signs of anti-alien sentiment before. In fact, she had developed friendships with Tali and Garrus, as well as Liara.

Kara sighed, and gently removed Elessa's encircling arms from her waist. She had more important things to worry about at present. "Elessa," she said, smiling over her shoulder as she continued to dress. "Thanks for inviting me. I needed that."

"Yes. You need to relax more, Kara," the asari replied, laughing, as she rolled onto her back, making no move to cover up her lovely body. Her expression quickly became more serious. "You should find someone on that ship of yours, who you can be yourself with, or I don't think you're going to make it."

"I'll be fine," Kara snapped, as she strapped on her omnitool.

Elessa sat up, putting her arm around Kara's waist again. "Last night was great, Kara," she said, "but you wouldn't be here if that were true."

"Even if you're right, Elessa, I can't. They're under my command. It'd be a breach of trust."

"So choose someone you trust to say no, if you go too far," Elessa said.

Kara shook her head. "I'll think about it." Good relationship advice from someone she'd only met the day before? It seemed unlikely, but the memory of their intimacy was still too close for it to anger her. She turned, sliding her hand against the asari's soft skin, as they shared a final kiss.

Kara arrived at the Tower Court to find Councillor Tevos waiting, not on the high balcony overlooking the petitioners' bridge, but right at the top of the stairs.

"Kara, hello," the tall asari said, adding a respectful nod to her greeting.

"Councillor-"

"Adar."

"Adar," Kara nodded. "I thought Councillor Valern wanted to speak with me?"

"Yes," Adar said. "However, the matter is delicate, and we felt it best to speak to you in private." She gestured off to the side of the wide hall.

Kara nodded, and started walking. "I'm surprised you came to meet me in person."

"I learned something that caught my interest," the asari said. "What do you think of your new armor?"

That was a minor point of logistics, and not the sort of thing that might draw a councillor's attention. "Ask me that after twelve hours in the field," she suggested. That was long enough for even the most comfortable piece of equipment to become a burden. Presumably, Valern was about to give her that opportunity.

Adar smiled, as they approached a door. She pressed her palm against the lock, and it slid open for her. "Your record doesn't mention that you visited Thessia."

No, it didn't. She had visited Palaven once, while on leave from her military duties, as well as the two thousand year old asari colony on Reletha, but not Thessia. "It wouldn't," Kara frowned. She didn't like this dancing about, but she did not intend to deny the truth, or admit to it. "Records can say so little about a person."

"Yet the gaps tell their own story. Human biotic technology could benefit immensely from the chance to study a working asari implant."

Yes, and there were any number of scientists who would be excited by it. "And you're wondering why that hasn't happened?" Kara asked, pausing in the bare corridor.

Adar's eyes fixed on her with firm intensity. "I believe I know, but I would like to hear it in your own words."

"I couldn't betray my friends," Kara said, quietly. "There are personal reasons, too. Fears, and the excitement of keeping a secret."

"Last night, I asked a friend why she would have one of our implants adapted for a young human. Do you know what she said?" the asari asked. Kara tilted her head, curiously. "That she had the spirit of a justicar."

Justicars were the internal security service of the Asari Republic, and an unfortunate necessity. Mostly made up of matriarchs with commando backgrounds, they operated with a high degree of independence, following a strict code of conduct designed to protect the innocent from their scrutiny. In return for the power to perform their duties, the asari people demanded absolute integrity, and harshly punished any transgressions. "Oh."

"Come, Kara," Adar said, gesturing towards the nearby stairs. "Tellin is not the most patient of salarians, and we're keeping him waiting."

"Adar, have you studied Liara's theories?" Kara asked, as she followed the matriarch up to the second level.

The asari shook her head. "I'm familiar with them. I'm afraid I've been busy."

Dealing with the Alliance, perhaps? "We've theorized that the protheans were deliberately destroyed, by something older."

"The Reapers?" Adar inquired, pausing again. "That's a disturbing thought, Kara, but we can't act on it without proof."

"Then I'll have to find some," Kara stated firmly.

"Yes," the asari agreed, turning to open the door she had paused in front of.

Kara followed her into a small conference room, looking out over the Tower Court through tinted glass. Sparatus, seated on the far side of the oval table, straightened at their arrival. Valern, who had been staring out the window, turned with a frown on his wide mouth. "Captain Shepard. At last."

"Captain Shepard," Valern said, shifting impatiently, as Kara seated herself. "At last."

"The delay is my fault, Tellin," Adar said, seating herself next to Kara, across the table from the other delegates. "I apologize."

"Very well. Captain," the Salarian continued, his dark eyes fixed on her. His expression reflected his impatience. Salarians were generally observant and quick witted, intense, and did not like delays, though it was as much a result of culture as biology. "We recently received a transmission from an STG team in the Sentry Omega sector. They were following up on reports of suspicious activity in the Hoc system."

"I saw them," Kara nodded. "A smuggler claimed to have seen a geth ship there. When he investigated, your captain found some odd communications activity on the third planet. The last report came in three days ago."

"Impressive. Yes." He pressed a control on a tablet, and slid it across the table.

The pad showed a spectrographic analysis of a badly garbled transmission as it played. A text translation was included, thankfully, as she did not speak any salarian languages, and her translator didn't have enough to work with. Saren… secret… breeding… need assistance. "There's no other information?"

"No," Valern said. "That is why we're sending you to resolve the situation. That datapad contains orders for Captain Kirrahe to place himself under your command for the duration."

"How many soldiers does he command?" Kara asked.

"Forty. They're STG, not infantry. Infiltrators, scouts. They will need heavy support."

"I've got seven marines on the Normandy, plus Wrex and Garrus. I'd like to double that," Kara said, fixing Sparatus with a calm gaze. "Is there any way you can help?"

Sparatus nodded in approval. "I thought you'd ask that, Shepard. We don't have time to bring in a team from Palaven, but I spoke with Executor Palin. There's an elite fire team assigned to CSec. Their leader, Lieutenant Septalus, used to lead action against Eclipse mercenaries in the Terminus systems. It's only six officers, but they're better trained than your marines. They'll be at the Normandy's loading dock, with equipment, in less than an hour."

Kara leaned back in her chair. The turian councillor had been the one most opposed to her promotion to Spectre, and she found his easy cooperation to be a surprise. Her secret history, if Adar had told them of it, would surely not explain the change. "I didn't expect you to agree so easily."

"Councillor Tevos reminded us that if we were not willing to trust you, we should never have made you a Spectre," Sparatus growled. "You'll have my support, Shepard, but we're still watching you."

That was a reasonable argument, but she wondered why he needed reminding of it. His obvious distrust of humans, mixed with the still-recent revelation of Saren's betrayal? Both good reasons, as well. "Thank you, Councillor. If there's nothing else, I should see to my ship. I'd like to leave as soon as possible."

"Commander. Commander Shepard!"

Kara's jaw tightened in annoyance. She had only just stepped out of the lift from the Presidium Tower, and had no where to run. "Yes?" she inquired, turning to face the dark-complexioned woman with a calm expression.

"Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani, Westerlund News. It seems there are rumors about you everywhere, these days, and my viewers want answers!" The anchor was wearing a tight dress, which accentuated her ample cleavage, while her camera drone hovered over her shoulder.

Kara shrugged. Khalisah's name and face were unfamiliar, but she worked for a reactionary network, which rarely approved of the Alliance's association with the Council. "Your viewers should try a different news service."

Khalisah laughed. "Oh, Commander, that's quite a sense of humor. Is it true that you killed a thresher maw, on foot, with nothing but biotics?"

"If you want to continue this interview, Khalisah, you'll call me Kara. And no," she frowned. Even Sayuri's stories were not typically that absurd, when it came to her abilities. Who else, though, would have told it? "It would take a team of biotics to stop something the size of a thresher maw. We used the Normandy's main gun."

"By 'we' you mean the crew of aliens you hired to help you steal the Normandy?"

"My crew is human," Kara pointed out, "and they agreed with my right, as a Spectre, to military support from associate members of the Citadel Council."

"Riiight," Khalisah drawled, her drone shifting position to capture her exaggerated skeptical expression. "If that's true, then why has the Alliance ordered your arrest?"

"You'd have to ask them that," Kara suggested, turning away. There were segments of the population that no argument she made would win over, which made this a waste of time.

"Is it true that you're working on a secret deal with the batarians?" the woman asked, abruptly, and over-loud.

Kara ignored the comment as best she could. It sounded like something out of a conspiracy-spinning extranet site, constructed from dubious facts and facile reasoning. "Khalisah, I'm very busy," she said, quietly. "If you want to do this properly, ask some intelligent questions."

She walked off calmly, ignoring the reporter's repeated attempts to regain her attention.

"Has everyone reported in, Keyx?" Kara asked, joining her executive officer by the Normandy's tactical display. He was sorting through status reports, it appeared, work she was always happy to delegate. She did not recall her own tenure as XO with much fondness.

"Yes, ma'am. What did the Council have to say?"

"An STG team reported reported sighting Saren in the Sentry Omega sector. There aren't many details, so we'll figure things out as we go."

Keyx shook his head. "You seem to like it that way."

"Maybe. We're taking on a CSec team to supplement our marine complement. Have Garrus meet me the in the cargo bay."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, hesitating slightly. "There's one other thing."

Kara smiled encouragingly. "A supply problem?"

"A… guest. She's in the mess. Miss Ásdísdóttir let her in."

"Right," Kara sighed. She couldn't imagine why he seemed so uncomfortable, or who Brynja would have trusted enough to let on board. "Tell the crew, we leave as soon as the CSec team is on board."

He nodded again. "Yes, ma'am."

Kara made her way down to the crew deck. She spotted their guest as soon as stepped off the stairs, sitting at the table with her head down. Long black hair concealed her face, and her clothes were of modest european style and cheap synthetic cloth. "Hello?"

The woman didn't answer. At first, Kara assumed she had fallen asleep, but the smell of alcohol soon provided a better explanation. She had passed out.

Kara sighed. What exactly was she expected to do with a drunk civilian? They were almost ready to leave. She brushed dark hair aside, sighing as she recognized the woman's strong features. It was Ashley Williams, the noncom she'd rescued on Eden Prime. Something drastic must have happened in the eighteen days since the Normandy had first departed the Citadel.

She could piece together an explanation from the marine's current condition, but whatever the specific facts, she accepted that her own actions had played an important role in deciding Ashley's fate. She owned something to the nineteen people who had decided not to make a fight of it, if only they were awake and willing to ask.

That was the problem. What did she do with a drunk former marine? Put her off the ship, or take her along? She needed answers. "Brynja, join me in the mess."

As Kara continued to contemplate Ashley's circumstances, the door to sickbay slid open, and as she turned to investigate, the blond officer appeared from within.

"Kara… I, uh, hoped to catch you before—"

"I need an explanation, not an apology," she said, impatiently.

Brynja nodded, her eyes widening slightly as she noticed the marine's condition. "Damn. She was drunk when I brought her on board, but I didn't think that drunk. We met last night, in a bar. She asked if you were recruiting, and I said yes. I didn't ask for more."

Kara frowned, watching Ashley's shoulders shift with each slow breath. Drunk, unconscious, and briefly at peace was a condition that reminded her of herself, trying to forget the things she had done, and failed to do, on Elysium during the Blitz. Had she not found a reason to fight, she was not even sure that she would have survived.

In that light, Kara could hardly put the woman off the ship. She had made her life about salvaging the Williams name, and she needed to hold onto that dream until she made her peace with Eden Prime, and the end of her career.

"Fine," Kara sighed, turning her frown on Brynja. "Let's get her to sickbay."

With the blond's help, Kara lifted the marine carefully, and carried her into sickbay. Ehigha stood, as they entered, his eyes narrowing as he noticed their unconscious burden.

"What happened?" he asked, as he followed them across the room.

"She's been drinking," Brynja grunted, hefting Ashley's legs onto the bed.

Kara backed away, allowing the doctor access to the medical scanner. "Do what you can for her," she said, though it was hardly necessary, "then let her sleep. I'll come by later."

Leaving Ehigha to his work she took the lift down to the lower deck, following the corridor through the open hatch and into the cargo bay. While they were in port, the stacks of empty crates on the port side had been replaced with a new stock of rations, purchased from a corporate supplier, and a few other needed goods, including a pair of sizable crates marked from Serrice Council Cooperative. Since they were unable to recreate the atmospheric barriers used on the Citadel, everything in the bay had to be strapped down, sealed against pressure variation, and protected against common hostile atmospheres.

She found Garrus checking through a stack of crates stored in the scant meter of space in front of the Mako. They were stamped with blocky turian letters. "Garrus," she said, as she approached.

"Shepard," he said, nodding at her before resealing the crate and standing.

"About six weeks of rations for Tali and I," he noted, his mandibles flexing as he grinned. "I got my talons on the good stuff, too. You should try some—much better than your Alliance crap."

"I'm not leaving the ship to you when I die, Garrus," Kara replied dryly. The turians and quarians shared a dextro-chiralic protein structure that tended to trigger violent allergic reactions in other species. If Garrus had ever tried the Alliance rations he freely disparaged, he would have suffered the same fate.

"In that case, forget it," the turian grinned. "So what's up?"

"I got us some support," Kara replied, walking over to the cargo bay door. She hit the control to open the hatch. "Lieutenant Septalus, from CSec."

"Septalus? Orlanis Septalus? Shepard, are you planning a suicide mission you didn't tell me about?" the turian asked, shouting to be heard over the sound of the motors as the bay door lowered outward.

"You know her?"

"Mostly by reputation. We've talked, but never fought together. The stories they tell about her are almost as wild as the ones about you."

The ramp hit the loading bay floor with a loud clang. "Speaking of stories, I hope you're not the one spreading rumors about me and that thresher maw."

"Hell no, Shepard," the turian scowled, his mandibles tightening as if offended, as he followed her into the loading bay. "I'm not giving you credit for my heroics. I've been telling everyone how I saved your ass by sniping it from orbit."

His obvious exaggeration led Kara to suspect he was telling the truth. Turians in generally spoke of heroics as acts of comradeship, not individuality, though Garrus was a bit different in that respect.

They were met by an angry female turian, her shorter crests the only obvious sign of her gender, who came in through the main door to the Citadel just as they arrived, followed by a team of five. "Are you in command here?" she growled, looming at least thirty centimeters over Kara. Her voice had a more resonant quality to it than Garrus', though it was no less deep.

Kara kept her gaze level, just about at the level of the turian female's collar. "Yes. I'm Kara Shepard."

"A Spectre, and a pushy human at that. I bet Executor Pallin was fuming when he passed those orders on," Garrus grinned.

The eture turned to face him. "He said I'd find you here, Vakarian. You trust this?" she demanded, jerking a long finger in Kara's direction.

"She might not care much about that book the Executor likes so much, but there's no one I'd rather have at my back," Garrus declared. His expression had tightened, his mandible flaring defiantly. "Shepard, this is Orlanis Septalus. I'm not sure she's ever killed a Thresher Maw, but she gets the job done."

Orlanis nodded. "I'll follow my orders, Shepard," she growled, her golden eyes harsh.

"Then welcome to the Normandy, Orlanis," Kara smiled. Another six aliens on her ship would give the Alliance something new to complain about, but she just hoped they would get along with the rest of the crew.

Note: Apologies for the delay. Worked on a few other things, including the next chapter of Interludes. Not a great deal of change here. Thanks for reading, and leave a review.