A/N: A few people have viewed my story so it will continue for now. I've had one review which I greatly appreciate but please could I get some more? Criticism is welcome in the quest to make this story worthwhile. The rating is changed to M for obvious reasons, told you it wouldn't take long.

And yeah, I still don't own anything related to Mass Effect or Bioware.

LARVA

Illium, Shepard had been looking forward to a civilized planet as a nice break from the depressing milieu that seemed to constitute the rest of the Terminus System. The cleanliness and architecture lifted his spirits reminding him of the comparatively optimistic days he spent on the Citadel while hunting Saren a couple of months ago. Shepard's good mood vanished as he remembered that for everyone but him that had happened over two years ago. Slipping back into his customary malaise Shepard's spirits were once again raised when the asari greeter mentioned that Liara was on the planet and had paid their docking fees. Apparently Liara was happy to see him; and considering her new career as an information broker this was despite knowing about his links with Cerberus, unlike Ash.

It was all Shepard could do to not grab her shoulders and shake in a desperate attempt to snap Liara out of whatever state she had entered. The woman he had known had vanished, becoming a cold, efficient member of Illium's overactive underbelly. Between copying intimidation tactics from her mother Matriatch Benezia to nonchalantly remarking on the killing of her traitorous assistant, who appeared as close to being a friend as Liara now had, Shepard could see little of the innocent archaeologist he had once known. Rather she seemed on track to become a new version of Aria, and apparently his death was to blame for the transformation. It was too much; he needed to get away from the creature his failure had created.

Having gotten the necessary information from Liara regarding Thane and Samara Shepard quickly headed towards Eternity. His previous optimism shattered by the meeting Shepard needed to escape from the reminder of his failures that Liara had become; the new recruits could wait until tomorrow, he needed a drink. Apparently his body seemed to think he needed several. And, surprise, surprise his body also seemed to think that the half-krogan bartender was actually pretty attractive, at least if you squinted and looked at her from this angle, and ignored her nearly masculine voice.

"Sorry, no sex. I just cleaned the bar." croaked Aethyta in her rough, or sultry if drunk enough, voice.

"Well, that doesn't rule out anywhere else now then does it?" countered Shepard.

"Guess not, think you can wait for my shift to end in an hour, or will I have to carry you back to my apartment by then?" the asari asked upon seeing the size of the tab Shepard had accumulated so quickly.

"An hour you say, I don't know. Maybe if I had motivation I could wait, do you still have your commando leathers?"

Aethyta was intrigued but she knew this was a bad idea. She was a matriarch after all, not some wild maiden, but then again he was Shepard-nothing ventured, nothing gained. Though judging by Shepard's glazed stare having her way with him would not be too difficult a venture, and he probably couldn't wait an hour, leathers or no. "L'thera, cover for me please, I have a…customer in need of my service."

Arriving in Aethyta's apartment the pair chatted politely while she quickly downed several drinks to level the playing field a bit. "Excuse me Shepard but I must wash after a day's work, asari do not perspire much but I'm afraid krogans do. I will be back soon."

"If you wish, though a life aboard ships with marines has damaged my sense of smell enough that even Tuchanka did not bother me, despite the effect it seemed to have on several of my squad."

"In that case, perhaps you'd care to join me?" growled Aethyta as she reached out grabbing Shepard's hand and leading him to the bathroom.

Once inside Aethyta pulled Shepard into a quick kiss that tasted of the bar's signature drink while slipping out of her sandals. Pulling away she slowly unzipped the side of her dress letting it slide down coming to rest around her feet revealing an unsurprising lack of lingerie. Shepard meanwhile struggled out of his combat boots, not taking his eyes off Aethyta's newly uncovered skin. Standing Shepard peeled his fatigue shirt off before reaching for his belt buckle. Performing a slow twirl as she stepped towards Shepard Aethyta pressed herself against his chest. She trailed her nails down his sides as she reached to tug at his waistline. As their combined breathing grew heavier Aethyta suddenly jerked both Shepards pants and underwear down as she fell to her knees placing light nips across his stomach trailing downwards causing him to close his eyes.

Pulling back Aethyta stood to admire what she had uncovered. Scars crisscrossed his body, many of which glowed a disturbing red bespeaking some sort of cybernetic augmentation. Others were identifiable as bullet or blade wounds, they covered his whole body continuing onto his face where a crescent of crimson light shone from his jaw line to eye socket. The amount of pain that these scars represented staggered Aethyta as she looked at Shepard's in wonder that the man could still be standing.

Then his eyes snapped open the fiery gaze causing her to inhale sharply and shift uneasily as it roamed over her with an intensity that caused her to flush. Shepard's stare followed the subtle scale pattern that stretched from Aethyta's jaws down her neck before spreading out and framing the top of her breasts before sweeping down and petering out along her ribs. Drawing near her Shepard reached past Aethyta activating the showerhead's massage setting sending pulsing waves crashing over them as he urged her into the shower. Hands wrapped possessively around her hips Shepard guided her steps backwards into the water with unrelenting pressure until her back touched the cold tiles of the wall causing her to shiver and inhale a shaky breath.

The sight of Shepard's heavily muscled, scarred frame and his controlling actions stirred her krogan blood causing Aethyta to wrap her legs around him bucking her hips into him grinding the length of his erection against her rear. Her hands grasped the sides of his face tilting it back exposing his neck to her. She leaned forward biting just hard enough to draw blood which she let slowly trickle down his neck watching it mingle with the rivulets of water the shower sent over them before licking and sucking at the streams, tasting his coppery blood.

Shepard's hands left her waist letting her legs support her on him. One hand reaching for her head fringe stroking his nails along the length of the tendrils before sliding fingers between the folds of skin causing Aethyta to gasp and move one hand from his face to grasp the wrist of his wandering hand in a desperate effort to slow the waves of pleasure caused by Shepard's manipulation of her sensitive fringe. His other hand wandered over her body circling her ass before coming to rest on her chest kneading her breast before taking a nipple between his fingers and roughly rolling it to attention.

Moving her other hand from Shepard's face Aethyta scraped her nails down his back breaking the skin before moving it to his waist grabbing hold of his cock as she arced back aiming it upwards to her core before thrusting back down easily sheathing him within her. Quickly establishing a rhythm Shepard and Aethyta's moans rose in volume as they neared climax. Removing his hand from her head Shepard wrapped his arm around her waist, fingers gently flicking against her folds, spreading her wider as he urgently pushed deeper his insistent thrusts meeting her bucking hips as they sought release.

Without his hands among her head fringe Aethyta could focus enough through the haze of pleasure to grasp his head forcing his red eyes to lock on her own amber eyes which faded to black as she established the meld. The effects of the meld were instantaneous as their nervous systems intertwined allowing them to experience the pleasure of the other in addition to their own. The rush of sensations sent Aethyta plunging over the edge as her paced quickened adding her own liquid to the shower water that drenched Shepard's legs.

Aethyta meant for this meld to remain shallow, simply an enhancement of tactile pleasure; but as the sensations from their mating intensified she lost control of the meld allowing their minds to merge. Shepard achieved his peak as their minds combined allowing the asari to 'see' what his eyes saw at that moment. Aethyta watched in puzzlement as she 'saw' Shepard's arms holding a dark haired human who gasped as her tanned legs pulled him against her. Shuddering as he spent himself into Aethyta Shepard cried out his joy.

"Ashley!"

The effects of his climax and the meld wearing off Shepard looked down to see a blue body entangled with his. Realization came flooding into his mind as he saw the questioning expression of the asari. Wordlessly he let go of her and pushed her legs away before pulling his clothing on over his wet skin and stumbling out of the bathroom. Aethyta slowly composed herself wrapping a tower around her chest as the trailed after him. Shepard had reached the door and as he turned the knob Aethyta sent a biotic push against it slamming it shut in his surprised face. Shepard turned to her, his face contorted in a snarl which visibly widened the glowing scars as skin tore, his eyes blazing hatred at her.

"You are not her; do not attempt to manipulate my mind to think otherwise or I will kill you." he ground out through clenched teeth as he advanced towards her. "Open the door, now."

Taken aback by the accusation and his changed demeanor Aethyta edged towards the drawer where her pistol was hidden panicking at the though of being trapped with a violent, crazed Commander Shepard. But she was a matriarch, not an ordinary bartender and while her counsel was seldom needed, and even less frequently wanted, on Illium the man before her clearly was in need of such counsel. If only she could survive long enough to give it while keeping him here.

"Shepard, I did nothing to your mind. You have been with asari before, you know we cannot do what you accuse me of. If I did something else that offended I apologize, I meant no harm." Aethyta stalled with a forced calmness in her voice until she reached the drawer. An armed, biotically adept asari matriarch ought to be able to survive a drunk, unarmed human, no matter his skill. Now she could go on the offensive and try to exorcise the demons that had made him turn on her.

"Who is she, the one you though me to be?" she whispered. This froze Shepard in place long enough for Aethyta risk closing her eyes to frantically search the memories Shepard had accidently shared with her for something that could breakthrough to him. Before the memory could be found Shepard gathered biotic power to himself and shot across the room faster than the asari could react bowling her over and sending her flying into a table which shattered under her momentum leaving her unconscious. Aethyta's last conscious thought was that no wonder no one listened to her on Thessia, a matriarch incapable of helping an obviously distraught male, pathetic. Giving her still body a last spiteful glance Shepard staggered out the now open door.

Well I suppose I deserve this, it is after all probably considered striking a superior officer to strangle the Councilor's aid. But damn it if Udina didn't have it coming. After convincing Anderson not to tell her about Shepard having contacted the Alliance after his phoenix impression Udina was lucky she hadn't done worse to him, she still might. At least Anderson hadn't allowed Udina to press charges so she would only be in this cell for a few more hours, a few more boring hours with nothing to do but reflect on her mistakes.

Not strangling Udina, that wasn't a mistake, well perhaps stopping was but then tazers do tend to have that effect. No, Horizon was the mistake. Shepard had been telling the truth, the Alliance brass and the Council had both turned their backs on him driving him further away from them and into Cerberus' arms even after he sought out their aid following his resurrection. And her words, mistrustful, angry could have only sent him deeper into Cerberus' embrace, probably personified by the top-heavy slut that had been following Shepard on Horizon. No, I won't cry over him, I've done enough of that already; it's past the time for tears.

What hurt was knowing that Shepard had still wanted her, he had asked Anderson to contact her but the bastard had refused, at Udina's insistence, for security reasons. As if that civilian asshole knew the first thing about operational security, he just wanted to hurt Shepard for nominating Anderson as councilor. And he had hurt Shepard; or rather she had hurt Shepard for him. Enough self pity, think of something happy so Udina can't claim victory over you too. A happy thought, hmm…

Ashley grabbed his face tilting it back placing kisses along his neck as she wrapped her legs around him. Somehow he managed to not slip on the shower's slick floor when her weight was suddenly thrust upon him as he moved her back up against the cool glass that made up the shower's enclosure. Releasing Shepard's head Ashley ground against him as he stroked her hair with one hand while simultaneously exploring her body with his other one. Their coupling grew in intensity until Shepard released into her calling her name.

"Ashley!" his voice full of desire ran through her body as she too climaxed.

Damn it, not that memory.

The brig's door opened as Udina approached Ashley's cell a gloating expression plastered on his face. "Well, you're free to go. Anderson has ordered your unit to Aethrax IV to investigate a potential geth incursion. Do try to avoid getting your unit destroyed in an ambush. After all he certainly won't be there to save you this time. The guards will escort you to your ship, have a pleasant trip."