"I raise you five."
The table was a reserve piece of armour from the Mako resting atop four crates of supplies in the middle of the cargo hold, the four chairs around them were smaller crates that were surprisingly comfortable once you knew how to sit on them.
Well, for us normal-sized. Ashley eyed Wrex, who looked comically large atop the small crate as he with a near zen-like look stared at his cards. Looks like a meditating turtle...
Unfortunately it was easy not to snicker at the idea.
Ever since their latest mission and the death of admiral Kahoku the crew had been...quieter.
It's more real now. Ashley grumbled, eyeing her five cards with what had turned to glum disinterest. She could in part understand those not part of the ground team, for them the journey was a big adventure, a journey away from the constricting rules and regulations of the alliance, a chance to go out into what could almost count as unmapped territory, an area you weren't allowed to be in. Forbidden fruit and all that...but now they realised that there indeed was danger, even death, out there.
And on the subject of forbidden fruit...Shepard's little revelation had made some of those on the ground team as muted. Tali hadn't been seen more then on occasions, though when Ashley had bumped into the alien she had seemed perky, if...distant. Wrex wasn't talkative usually...but he too seemed a bit...more at ease actually, comfortable with the quiet air of unexpressed fear and sombreness permeating the ship, heck, he even seemed friendlier towards Shepard, if quiet about it.
Garrus had actually been more talkative, if by talkative one meant grumbling to himself while he worked on the Mako... Ashley had only caught the odd word, and apparently it had more to do with whether it was right to loot the dead or not, apparently it was a difficult issue for him.
Which it shouldn't be. Ashley sighed, shoulders slumping as her mind drifted back to the sight of Michael crouching over the dead Cerberus soldier, the fact that she was supposed to distract herself with the game slipping her mind. She had of course seen Michael rifle the pockets of various dead while out on missions, but she had always assumed it had been for information about Saren or...something! Just for money was...a bit disgusting, what made them different from the pirates and slavers they had been fighting then? Him being a Spectre? Politicians splitting hairs again... dammit couldn't they just pay us instead? Doesn't matter if it's a security risk...it would still be better then this...bullshit!
Another sigh escaped her, as she tilted her head to the side, pretending to eye her cards. It's not really the looting though... She could understand the need for money, she could understand that using evil people's ill-gotten gains for good was something commendable...what she couldn't understand was the casual way Michael had simply delegated the duty to tend to the dead Kahoku to Kaidan. And then not even to actually tend to the body, just to rifle the pockets...
Disrespectful. Ashley squirmed where she sat, it felt wrong to disagree with her hero, especially on a thing so close to heart. She had believed...well...hoped...that the man proclaiming himself properly religious would...act that way...but apparently there was no room for caring on missions, not even for respect for your own dead... Would I too be dumped in a ditch after they had taken my guns if I died? It was a horrifying thought, one Ashley quickly pushed aside.
"Ashley, it's your turn." Blinking she looked to her right, finding Kaidan looking at her with eyebrows raised high and a small tug at his lips. Ashley...by now most had learnt to call her Ash...but Kaidan insisted on calling her Ashley...and she actually liked it.
It wasn't like Michael, where apparently her last name was the only thing usable during missions, or the nickname spoken with such friendliness in the Normandy... The entire thing with him was...complicated.
Kaidan, not so much.
Sighing a final third time Ashley slapped her cards onto the table. "I fold." The corner of Kaidan's lip twitched, clearly relieved that his chivalry wouldn't come in question over trying to beat her in cards.
With an effort of will Ashley forced herself not to make fun of him.
It really was too easy. She'd gotten to know the man slowly, shamefully aware that she had nearly ignored the other human on the ground team in favour of their oh so glorious Commander... And she liked what she'd found, someone else to talk to, to joke with, without having to resort to the confusing and way too attractive Commander, or an alien! Joke about perhaps. Ashley smirked, Kaidan was the intelligent type, a thinking man...and had a hard time dealing with blunt statements ignoring every factor...while Ashley was good at blunt statements. Heh...
It was turning into a good friendship Ashley hoped, she wasn't good at that kind of stuff...
Shame neither of us is good at cards. Ashley watched with some amusement as Garrus to her left shoved a large pile of the bottle-caps they used as stakes – the actual transferring of credits would be later when they had their omni-tools – into the centre of the table. Instantly Kaidan's shoulders dipped, the man already resigned to folding, unable to take a risk as he was, not to mention being easy to read. Ashley on the other hand was far too eager to take risks even with relatively bad cards, and knew it...yet found herself unable to resign to a loss all that easily.
As such Garrus and Wrex were being the big players, with Wrex slightly in the lead. The Krogan was currently eyeing the Turian with narrowed eyes, it was clear the mercenary simply played for the sake of money...and he had so far played cleverly and carefully at times, especially when Garrus was smirking.
To Ashley's surprise the mercenary matched Garrus' bet, his deep voice a growl: "I'm in."
Garrus arched a scaly brow, a look of hesitation crossing his face, then amusement. He knows he'll lose...and he's enjoying it. The revelation struck Ashley. Perhaps it's the Turian way, they're all predators... Even now the creature sat leaning forward, champing, as if ready to lunge at the bets on the table. The game's as important as the outcome I guess...aliens...will never get them...
Kaidan shook his head and dropped his cards to the table, no one looking the least surprised at it.. "I'm out."
Garrus was now smiling, almost wickedly, eyeing Wrex as if the much larger alien was his next meal. The Krogan on the other hand looked back evenly, calming assessing the Turian as he rumbled: "Well officer? Are you in?"
Silence.
Then Garrus laughing as he slapped his cards to the table, shaking his head. "You're wily Wrex, I give you that." Another laugh."Outsmarted by a Krogan, the shame..."
Silence.
All hands stopping as worried eyes moved to Wrex, Garrus' mandibles twitching as he realised the insult he'd so casually thrown out.
Wrex didn't seem to notice, or rather, chose not to notice, his large mouth turning into a smirk as he gathered up his winnings: "Krogan know how to win, I thought you Turians would be intimately familiar with that by now?" He shot Garrus a small punch, which the Turian took with surprising grace and a smile, despite being nearly knocked over by the powerful Krogan.
A small laugh escaped Kaidan as the man deftly moved to pick up the cards and the deck. "Oh well, another hand? I haven't yet lost another two hundred credits..." He winced playfully at that, all of them well aware that none currently had any use for their credits, but that it would certainly sting later.
As one the other three nodded their heads, knowing there was nothing else to do aboard the ship unless you wanted to dig through the ship like Tali or read until your eyes bled like Michael.
As Kaidan started to mix the cards Garrus suddenly spoke up with a somewhat amused tone: "You know, this isn't how Turian crews relieve tension."
Three people groaned, even Wrex joining in with a roll of his large eyes as Ashley bumped her head into the table as Kaidan muttered, obviously struggling to keep his tone polite: "We're trying not to think about that Garrus...I...great..." He huffed – the polite behaviour he'd kept up towards the Turian clearly struggling – and dropped the cards onto the table, hands coming up to interlock behind the back of his head as he asked to no one in particular: "...what now?"
Garrus shot the man a glare, apparently not understanding what he'd done wrong, or perhaps, simply annoyed with the human pointing it out. Those two...
Ashley opened her mouth to intervene when Wrex suddenly spoke up, the Krogan catching onto the tension as well as he turned to Garrus. "How do Turians relieve tension?"
A final withering look at Kaidan...and Garrus turned to regard the Krogan, shrugging as he replied: "Violence mostly, Turian ships have lots of discipline, people need to vent."
"I didn't know that." Wrex tilted his massive head to the side, a small smile on his lips. "Perhaps you guys do have a quad?" Ashley arched an eyebrow. Quad? Given Kaidan's grimace it was probably something disgusting... "What kind of things do you do?"
"Duelling with blunted ancient weapons, at times using guns using power-inhibitors to stop the shots from being lethal..." Ouch. Ashley remembered having being struck by one of those during training, it had left a bruise of months. Garrus however only shrugged at that. "Most prefer full contact sparring however, once you've punched whoever been rubbing you wrong..." He threw Kaidan a quickl look. "...for a while...things ease down."
"This happens across ranks?" Ashley ventured, baffled. If one had a chance to strike an officer...she had a hard time imagining things staying in order after such things.
"Yes." Garrus nodded, then tilted his head to the side as he drawled. "Well...when it comes to those of far higher rank there is a strict social etiquette against it, and most high ranked officers wouldn't want to ruin discipline by being drawn into such things..."
A small chuckle rumbled out of Wrex: "Heh, that's interesting, so Kaidan, think you could take on the Commander?"
The man flinched as if struck, eyes widening. "What? I could never...he's a superior officer...I mean...I'd do my best of course but..." He shrugged, looking awkward, much to Ashley's and Garrus' amusement.
"That's what the one who'll lose says." Wrex pointed out with a smirk, jabbing a clawed finger in Kaidan's direction.
To his credit Kaidan didn't look the least offended – good, at least he's secure with his masculinity, too many aren't... – as he shrugged with a small smile on his lips.
"And you Ash?"
To her surprise Ashley flinched, even though she knew the question would come. The big hero...Kahoku...but...yummy...ugh... The thoughts flickered through her mind as she watched Wrex's amused look, the Krogan obviously daring her to be bolder then the Lieutenant.
You're a Williams girl, act like it.
Straightening Ashley smirked and looked the monstrous alien in the eyes as she shrugged and with a casual tone replied: "Hey, I'm a damn goddess in close combat, I'd rip him apart." Thank God he's not around to-
"Oh is that so?" The familiar voice was just behind her...and Ashley stiffened, a jolt of fear shooting through her even as she saw Wrex grin.
You damn lizard-faced...God...
"I asked you a question, marine." Michael's voice was amused rather then strict, yet his hand was heavy as it dropped on Ashley's shoulder. "You think you can take me on?"
God-God-God...Ashley swallowed, eyes darting from the grinning Wrex to a smirking Garrus and then to a sympathetically looking Kaidan...none of them any help at the moment. It's just a question girl, you haven't actually struck him...no regulations broken...nothing wrong...nope...just talking about beating up your Commanding officer... She almost winced. Kill me now...
"Well?"
Come now, deep breath, grow some backbone. "Yes sir!" Ashley was painfully aware that she couldn't bring herself to turn and look at the man.
"Oh?" The Commander was clearly amused at the thought, making Ashley grit her teeth even as Garrus begun to mirror Wrex's grin. "Is that so?"
Yep, just dig that hole deeper...go on...you know you have to. "Yes, I would beat you to a pulp! Sir!"
"Hmmm..." Michael's hand pressed down on her shoulder, then disappeared, the sound of his walking making her turn her head to see him saunter towards the elevator, his voice still carrying that damn amusement in it as he said: "Very well...we'll see...in an hour then Chief."
"Yes sir!" Ashley barked automatically, her pride urging the reply out. "Looking forward to it sir!"
When the door to the elevator closed she blinked however.
Wait...what did I just agree to?
8
8
8
Well this is a fine mess I've gotten yourself into.
The central area of the cargo hold had been rearranged so that virtually every crate of supplies had been moved to form a circle around a large part of the floor., giving much space for the coming battle.
Yet annoyingly, still enough space for more then half the crew to crowd around them, furthermore Michael had for some reason allowed surprisingly many of them to watch instead of doing their usual work...even Joker was with them!
Ashley shot a glare the pilot's way as the man, hobbling along on his crutch, held up a large wad of papers with numbers scribbled on them. "Come now people! Place your bets! The pride of the blitz versus the Amazon of marines! Two to one in favour of the Pride, but the Amazon looks hungry!"
"Oh take your bets and shove them!" Ashley shook her head with a growl of irritation, right knee bending low as she stretched her left one to the limit, holding her right wrist and bending the arm behind her head. He's my idol...and I'm going to fight him...I'm an idiot...
"Ha! I think maybe you should make yourself scarce afterwards, Joker!" Michael quipped from the other end of the 'ring'.
Already finished with his stretching the man was now grinning as he posed around in his tank-top and shorts, drawing hoots from the crews, not to mention a few whistles from the female ones.
Not that Ashley could blame them, if she wasn't so busy begrudging her own stupidity she too would have eyed up the slab of alpha meat so brazenly on display before her...as it was she instead focused on limbering up, ignoring the way Joker looked up and down her shorts and tank-top dressed self. Damn lecher... "Nah, a few broken bones is worth the price to have that puma over me, you're one lucky man Commander."
A near animalistic growl escaped Ashley at that, but she kept quiet, trying to calm herself before the sparring...and finding herself far from it. This is annoying...I'm not a damn circus performer!
"Then perhaps you want to switch places?" Michael grinned the pilot's way as his arms stretched back behind him, making the massive barrel that was his chest press against his tank-top, drawing another set of whistles.
Joker shot Ashley a final look – she glared back – and then quickly replied: "I'm good."
A few laughs greeted the cowardly comment.
As Ashley continued her stretching she couldn't help but notice the atmosphere. It was happy, caught up in the 'entertainment'...cheerful. The recent sombreness forgotten.
I swear it's like Michael – She blinked – planned this... At the other end the man was grinning at her, making her grit her teeth as she realised what he was doing. Oh I'm going to beat you to an inch within your life for this...
"Kaidan! Any bets!"
The Lieutenant spluttered at the question. Standing a bit to the side of the others, far in the back of the crowd, as if he really didn't want to be there but couldn't help himself, he looked a bit helpless as his eyes darted between the two fighters: "Bet...I couldn't possible..."
Ashley felt a growl escape her throat: "Bet on me or I'll fight you next."
The laughs greeting the comment eased away some of her irritation with being a pawn about to be beaten up for the sake of morale...a bit. "I...fine...a hundred on Ashley."
"Ha! Two hundred on the Commander!" An engineer with pale complexion countered, the man grinning widely.
"Two hundred on Ashley." The marine flinched, looking over to where Garrus stood, arms cross and leaning back against a wall, looking awfully smug as he looked at her. "The spirited one always wins." Huh? Well I'll be...
"Wrong, the biggest Varren is the alpha for a reason." Wrex countered, the giant alien towering over Joker as he grinned down at the pilot. "Two on Shepard."
Ashley's eased mood frazzled as Wrex's bet was followed by a shower of other crewmen's bets, all in favour of the Commander.
Great... She couldn't help but call out: "Hey Tali!" The Quarian, nearly hidden behind Michael's bulk, flinched guiltily as she looked up at the marine. "Some solidarity here, girl!"
"I...erm..." The Quarian shook her head before replying properly: "Yes, fifty credits on Ashley..."
"Fifty!" Ashley repeated, scowling, then found a smile sneak up on her lips as her exclamation brought a laugh from the crowd. Heh, okay, so this might be fun... "Are you trying to insult me!"
"I..." The Quarian girl fiddled with her fingers before her, looking awfully small among the others, her head tilting to look over the massive bulk of Shepard...then back to her. With a small sigh the girl's shoulders dropped. "...fine...a hundred on Ashley." Oh she did not just wave those credits goodbye...now I have to beat up that jackass!'
Okay, so focus then... She looked over at Michael as she finished her stretching, with her now standing straight he still had an entire head of height on her. He has the reach. Her gaze moved to his arms, the pale limbs were thick and bulging with muscles, nearly monstrous in thickness she wouldn't put it beyond them to bend an iron bar.Definitively the strength... She licked her lips. But I have – the man feigned a lunge, lighting fast, as he continued to pose for the hooting crowd – not the speed and agility apparently...
And as for skill...he's an N7...
So... – she licked her lips again, eyeing Michael as he took a step towards her, grinning with confidence, all full of barely contained power – ...I'm screwed.
"You're supposed to fight him, not eat him!" Joker's comment cut through Ashley's thoughts, making her face flush as laughter broke out among the onlookers. You son of a...
"Right, after I've trashed mister giant here you're next Joker." Ashley replied with a heated growl as she widened her stance and took on a defensive posture at her end of the ring.
There were a few laughs at that, but they quickly quieted down as all eyes turned to Shepard, the Commander striding towards Ashley as if nothing was amiss his hands hanging to his sides as he began to cross the space between the two.
Ashley wavered. Dammit...I don't want to fight him, he's my Commander, hell, my idol, I shouldn't... The man's grin widened. Oh you cocky bastard...Williams' don't go down without a fight!
She found herself moving, instinct drilled into her making her right foot move up to her left, then push her forth as her left flew up in a kick.
It was high, fast...and missed.
Michael, actually looking startled, jumped back, head tilting back to avoid the darting foot, hands coming up to protect-
Still moving on instinct Ashley slammed her left foot down onto the floor and spun with what momentum her attack had drawn, sending her right leg sweeping round...with a thump the heel of her foot struck Michael in the chest.
It was like kicking a wall.
Holding back the wince of surprise as much as pain Ashley dropped back into a defensive posture while watching Michael stumble three steps back, much to the surprised cheers of the onlookers.
I just struck a superior officer... Ashley maintained her stance, but hesitated, watching Michael straighten as he rubbed his chest with the flat of his palm, a grin stealing its way to his face as he looked back at her. His voice was low, amused, and dangerous. "Oh now it's on..."
Huh?
There was no time for further hesitation, for worries, for thought.
The space Ashley had won back was suddenly her only escape as Michael came at her, a methodical machine towering over her as he advanced step by step, his fists thrusting rams coming at her from every direction.
Keeping her arms close to her chest Ashley ducked, swayed, twisted, always leading the force of his blows away from her rather then daring to block it head on. He can't keep this pace up, he can't!She retreated step by step, her forearms tingling as they blocked blow after blow, even with her leading the force away it felt as if she would soon loose all feeling in them from the darting jabs holding such a punch...
But he didn't tire, and with widening eyes Ashley felt the heels of her feet hit the barrels behind her as she came to the edge of the ring. Shit!
With a growl of defiance she ducked under the next jab, let the second smash into her left shoulder...and pushed both hands forth, shoving at the Commander for space.
She managed to gain a single step.
Then Michael recovered and moved to attack...
Only for Ashley to fall forward with her right shoulder first, tucking herself into a ball as she rolled with the impact against the floor.
She rolled between Michael's legs...and then came up like a spring.
He whirled about, blinking in surprise.
And she grinned back as her left foot shot out.
The man grunted and staggered to retain his balance as the inside of his right knee took the blow, still surprised by Ashley's manoeuvre and off balance by the kick he didn't have time to raise his hands in defence as Ashley followed the small kick with a wide right hook, her entire body twisting with the swing.
A crack, her knuckles stinging...and Michael staggered to the right, his jaw glowing red where she'd struck.
Ha! Not so cocky now are you! Ashley stepped closer, her left fist swinging widely at Michael's dazed head-
A thump and she found her body twisting further then planned as there was no impact, her swing being led past Michael's head by his left forearm as he twisted back round to face her...
Pain!
Ashley doubled over, Michael's right fist having smashed into her stomach, under her own wild swing.
It was a battering ram! Ashley found herself gasping for breath, her abdominal muscles twitching even as she struggled to rise and fight as Michael's both hands came to rest on her back and press her fo-
Pain!
A wheeze escaped her as she felt Michael's left knee dig into her stomach, the hands on her back, pressing her further against the powerful strike.
Act...!
A defiant growl, more like a whimper, escaped her as her arms came down to grip at the leg smashed into her, holding it tight as she with a small cry of pain forced her stricken form to twist to the left.
A surprised grunt...and Michael fell forward...only to roll with the impact and come up in readiness a few steps away from her.
And grinning.
Playing around are you? Ashley managed to straighten, pride forcing her to forget the pain, to glare at the man. I'll show you how stupid that is.
A raised eyebrow was added to the grin, a question.
Ashley jumped forth, left foot coming up in a sweeping high kick...only to pull it back as Michael moved to block. Instead she dropped into a crouch, using the momentum of the swinging feint to have her right leg sweep low and strike Michael's right foot.
He stumbled for but a moment...then nearly fell as Ashley shot up from the floor, both hands coming palms first against his chest with the force of her entire leaping body behind them.
As it was he simply stumbled backwards, hands coming up in readiness for more of those lethal jabs...
And Ashley lunged forth, coming in low with her own fists snapping away quick punches, drumming away at the hard abdomen of her foe before she jumped away from the hands coming down in an attempt to catch her.
He was breathing heavily now, slightly bent forward, but not clutching the stomach she'd slammed away at, trying to conceal how much pain she'd really inflicted.
He wasn't grinning any more.
And Ashley shot him a coy smile, circling him carefully.
A moment of circling...and Michael growled as he came at her like a raging bull.
Ashley moved to the right, hands coming to reach for his outstretched left arm, to teach him the penalty for such foolish attacks...only to find the man coming to a sudden stop as the arm swung around, the back of it hitting her across the face in a dazing slap even as his right hand found her left hand's wrist.
She gasped, her chest suddenly smashing into Michael's back as he twisted, her wrist feeling as if it was being wrenched clean off...then cried out as she was sent flying.
With a crash she struck the floor...rolled with the impact...and came up on all fours, every limb flexed, ready to pounce, as she looked up at Michael from a bang of freed black hair.
The man met her gaze, blue eyes nearly glowing with ferocity...and something else...and advanced.
She leapt forth, at him, at those eyes...
The hands closing around her wrists were vices, keeping her reaching fingers inches away from their targets, pressing her arms upwards as he growled into her face, his head pulling back for a head-butt...
With a twist of her hip Ashley slammed her right thigh against his crotch, awkwardly as she stood it wasn't as hard as she'd wanted it, but it still made his grip slacken as he grunted and wavered.
Thankful for the modern armoured gloves allowing for the luxury of long fingernails Ashley used those in her right hand to rake Michael's face, drawing red marks across his face even as she pulled her left hand free from his grip...before slamming the palm of her hand into his side with a wicked grin.
A growl...and the hand still holding Ashley's right hand resumed its vice-like grip as it twisted and pulled down, forcing her body to twist with the awkward movement or have the limb be wrenched out of its socket. His other hand moving upwards...
With a growl of her own Ashley's left hand shot up, grabbing Michael's collar and pulling him closer as her own head drew back...and then shot forward, her forehead hitting bone and making the man grunt in pain.
The grip on her right wrist didn't slacken though, forcing her to twist where she stood as the pain shot through her limb, making her wince...and then gasp as Michael's other hand gripped her throat.
He spun, twisting to the left and dropping low, making Ashley gasp once again as a sense of vertigo shot through her...before her shoulder blades were slammed into his leg, putting her fall to an abrupt stop as she found herself pinned by a kneeling Michael.
She still had her left arm free though, the hand shooting up, trying to wrench Michael's hand off her throat, then digging into the flesh until her nails drew blood...and the man only grunted as he tightened his grip.
Her vision flickered...
No!
With a wheezing grunt she brought her left leg up, kicking it high, the toe of her boot hitting Michael in the back of his head-
A gasp and she fell onto her back, her lungs burning as fresh air flowed into them, her free hands coming up to rub the soreness, the left dabbing hot blood upon it...
Get up...
She rolled onto her stomach, pushing herself up on all four as she swung her head around like a searching animal.
Michael wasn't far away, he too on all four, though one hand was up behind his head, rubbing the blow her foot had given him. His eyes were on her though...predatory eyes...
A jolt of...something...shot through Ashley as she returned the look in kind, the left hand coming up to feel her sore throat, the blood dabbed upon it...
His chest was heaving with exertion...but she knew he had more to give...as did she...
"Maybe we should call it before they kill one another?" Ashley blinked, as did Michael, both looking up at the source of the voice, finding Garrus eyeing them with some concern.
Ohhh... – Ashley swallowed – I forgot about the audience...
Wrex had his head tilted to one side, the large alien smirking as he added: "Or mate."
God... Ashley let her head drop to try and conceal the crimson blush on her cheeks even as a some of the crew dared a few tittering laughs. Kill me now...
And further ahead Joker groaned: "Dammit...this means the bets are off doesn't it?"
She managed a smirk at that, still struggling with her blush. Well...at least something positive came out of this...
"Right..." Michael's voice sounded a bit...uncertain...looking up she found the man rising to his feet, distinctly avoiding looking at her...his face having a slight reddish tint to it all of a sudden. "...back to work you lazy bums! No more gaping!" It was called out in a friendly tone, yet sounded a bit too eager...drawing a few laughs from the crew as they reluctantly moved to disperse.
Ashley's smirk twitched and she looked down again, drawing a deep breath as she failed to gather her wits.
Okay...don't draw any far-fetched conclusions from that...don't be all girly and silly and...
She looked up again, watching Michael looking down at her with a flustered look, looking as if he wanted to help her up, but worried about doing so.
She found her heart skip a beat.
...dammit...
8
8
8
Thanks to Abydos Jackson for her eager support.