End Game – Chapter five

Thane hurried to the bedroom throwing open the door as he moved swiftly to Tabitha's side. Tabitha was on her side curled into a fetal position clutching the sheet so tightly; her hands as white as the bed sheet. He wrapped himself around her gently rubbing her back and stroking her hair, his voice calm and soothing, "Siha, I am here. Listen to my voice. You are not alone. It is a dream, nothing more. Relax." Thane continued to massage and stroke her hair with one hand while rubbing her back with the other. He kept his chest against her back as much as possible so she could feel his presence and his voice rumbling from his chest as he sang to her a Drell song the Hanar sang to him when he first had been taken from his parents to relax and calm him.

Usually his voice and touch calmed her, but not this time. Thane could tell her mind was trapped in a nightmare. He knew he needed to do something to calm her and calm her quickly. Tabitha's biotics were flaring causing Thane's biotics to activate. Tabitha was such a strong biotic, she needed to keep her biotics under control, at all times. If she lost control, she would overload. Thane had only seen her overload a couple times and the results were devastating.

Thane kept himself calm as he purposefully allowed his fangs to drop from the recess in the roof of his mouth. He bit in the same location as before by her collarbone, but this time, he released a full dose of Drell neural toxin through his fangs into Tabitha's body. Within one minute, Tabitha's body relaxed in Thane's arms, her biotics ceased flaring, breathing slowed, and heart rate returned to normal.

Tabitha snuggled up against Thane nuzzling his neck, "Thane, I had a bad dream," her voice slurred from the neural toxins. She pulled back looking at him with fully dilated eyes. "You did the cobra thing on me, again, huh."

Thane smiled, "Yes, Siha." He chuckled softly.

Tabitha dropped her head nuzzling his neck fringes, "Thank you."

"You are welcome, my love."

"I love you," she breathed against his neck.

"I love you," he responded into her hair.

Tabitha asked, "Please keep me safe," closing her eyes listening to Thane's soothing vibrations coming from his throat.

Thane wrapped his arms around her, "Till my dying breath," he responded closing his eyes also.

Tabitha woke up less than an hour from having the nightmare. The neural toxins had not fully left her system as everything had a glow and aura of colors around them. Very carefully, she extracted herself from Thane's embrace placing a pillow in his arms before rolling to the side of the bed. She did not want to awaken him, "Get your sleep now, my warrior assassin, because later, you will not," she thought to herself, smiling. Looking down at her husband, her breathing quickened with images she wanted to do to him and have him do to her. "Bad…bad..Commander," she thought to herself, "Remember, Kepral's Syndrome. Reduced lung capacity-tires easy. You do not want him to die while…" She smiled devilishly, " But what a way to go…No…No…Tabitha you are flying so high on Drell toxins," she thought to herself, "You are not thinking straight." It had been so long since she felt the full effects of Thane's saliva and other bodily fluids.

Reluctantly, she stood to her feet, only weaving slightly. Silently, she dressed in tennis shoes, sweat pants, N-7 t-shirt, and N-7 hoodie. Carefully, she covered Thane up with a blanket. She knew he was tired because he did not wake up. She checked his breathing finding it even with no sign of wheezing. She left him a handwritten note on the bed before leaving the apartment.

She plugged in an ear piece as she activated her omni-tool to play old Earth techno music from the late 20th century-early 21st century. Tabitha allowed the beat of the music to flow through her limbs as she started a quick pace jog along the corridors to C-SEC. Heading toward the elevator, she passed a familiar Batarian. The Batarian did not recognize her as he continued down the corridor. She stopped, "What is Anto doing on the Citadel?" She thought to herself as she turned around calling, "Anto," turning off her music.

The Batarian turned at his name being spoken, placing himself in a defensive combative position, "Who is asking?" He asked aggressively.

Tabitha pulled her hood down exposing her facial features, smiling, "It is good to see you, but what are you doing on the Citadel? Did the Reapers attack Omega? Is Aria T'Loak okay?" As she came closer she put her right hand out.

Anto smiled as he recognized Tabitha, taking her right forearm in a firm grasp, "Shepherd, it is good to see you and to know that Aria's intel was correct again. Aria sent me to find you."

Tabitha fell in step beside Anto as they headed toward the elevators, "Why does Aria want to see me?"

Anto glanced over, "I do not know. She gives me orders and I follow."

Tabitha replied, "Understandable. Can you tell me why Aria is on the Citadel?"

Anto answered, "No."

Tabitha responded sarcastically, "You are such the conversationist. I am having such a hard time keeping up with all your incessant patter."

As they reached the elevator, Anto hit the button to the Wards. Glancing over at Tabitha with two of his four eyes, he replied, "Earth humor-what a novelty and a nuisance."

Once they were in the elevator, Anto sniffed the air, "It did not take you long to find your Drell assassin, Sere Krios. The rumors of his deteriorating health were wrong considering the mating musk I smell."

Tabitha smiled broadly pulling down her t-shirt exposing the bite mark that Thane had left, "You are correct."

The elevator stopped and Anto and Tabitha exited. Tabitha let Anto take the lead in the direction they needed to go. "I respect you, Shepherd. You do not look at other races as inferior and you prefer the company of aliens over your own kind. You do not consider humans superior. You judge the individual on his or her merits and do not generalize by the race."

"Thank you," stated Tabitha. "Your respect means a lot to me. We have not always seen eye to eyes, but I respect you also. You compliment Aria T'Loak well in her organization." Tabitha placed a hand on Anto's arm causing him to stop, "I want you to know I tried to warn your people before I destroyed the mass relay. The mass relay had to be destroyed with the immanent Reaper threat."

Anto stated soberly, "You are a Marine-an Alliance officer-a soldier, but you have a conscience. You did what had to be done. I would have done the same. I do not envy you the task you have been given by your Alliance without the help of the Counsel."

Tabitha's look of surprise caused Anto to smile showing sharp teeth, "I listen and Aria's intel is as good as your Shadow Broker friend."

As Anto and Tabitha approached the club, Purgatory, she could hear and feel the heavy bass beat through her entire body. Tabitha followed Anto into the club and upstairs seeing Aria sitting on a lounge couch. Anto inclined his head toward Aria then left.

The music was not deafening upstairs so Tabitha did not have to raise her voice as she approached Aria, "Aria, you wanted to see me."

Aria turned her head toward the couch so Tabitha sat down, "I have a proposition for you."

Tabitha sat forward, placing her elbows on her knees, steepling her fingers together, placing her chin on top of her hands, "I see. I would like to know why you are on the Citadel. What happened to Omega? Did the Reapers attack? Is there anything I can do to assist you?"

Aria shook her head slowly from side to side, smiling, "Only you, Shepherd. Your own planet is burning - you barely escaping from the Reapers and you ask me if I need assistance. I am the one offering assistance to your cause. To answer your question, the Reapers did not attack Omega, Cerberus did. I was betrayed from within." Tabitha saw the look of determination on Aria's face as she continued, "As your own general MacArthur stated when he was forced to leave the Philippines, 'I will return.' Before I can deal with Cerberus, the Reapers need taken care of. They are the larger threat. I am offering the services of the Eclipse, Blood Pack, and Blue Suns, to your cause. You help me get the merc groups to concede to my orders and rule, and they will be yours for the duration of this fight."

Tabitha sat back contemplating for a few minutes before offering her hand to Aria, "You have a deal."

Aria took the proffered hand, "I know you did not mind getting your hands dirty, at times." She smiled wickedly as she continued, "By your new musk I smell, you do not mind a lot of things. It is good to see your assassin is still able to perform."

Tabitha blushed causing Aria to laugh, "And the Commander blushes."

As Tabitha got up to leave, she spoke over her shoulder, "I will get back with you as soon as I have contacted the different merc leaders."

Tabitha turned her music back on, pulling her hoodie back over her head, as she left the club heading back toward C-SEC. She jogged at a fast pace taking the long way over to C-SEC, allowing her mind to contemplate the conversation with Aria T'Loak. As she was passing through the commons area of the Presidium, she spotted Kolyat.

She turned her music off sliding into the shadows. As Kolyat passed her position, she stepped out behind him, inquiring, "Can you help me, sir?"

Kolyat turned, smiling broadly, recognizing the voice, "Tabitha…"

Tabitha gestured with her hand for Kolyat to step into the shadows away from prying eyes. Once Kolyat followed her, she wrapped her arms around him giving him a bear hug, "It is so good to see you. How have you been, Kiddos?"

Kolyat returned the hug, his voice emotion filled, "I have been so worried…the news from Earth."

Tabitha gently rubbed his back in circular motions, nuzzling his neck, purring softly, "I understand and I am so sorry. I could not get any messages to you or your dad. I am here now and we are a family again." Tabitha could feel wetness from Kolyat's tears. She pulled back to look up at him, "Kolyat, my son, look at me."

Kolyat looked down at Tabitha as she placed her hands on each side of his face gently wiping away his tears, "I do not know how much time I will have before I have to leave again so we need to make every moment count together as a family. You know I am here for you. Have I told you recently how proud I am of you? What a privilege and honor it is that you consider me a second mom to you."

Kolyat could see such love in Tabitha's eyes, along with unshed tears. He pulled her in close to him purring contentedly while Tabitha continued to relax him by rubbing his back. After a few minutes, Kolyat released his grip on Tabitha. As she stepped back, she inquired, "I was heading to see Bailey in the Citadel Embassy area. Would you like to come along? I could use the company. I'll make sure you do not get into trouble."

Kolyat smiled broadly as he walked bedside Tabitha as they continued toward Bailey's office. The smile faded, his voice serious as he spoke, "You asked how I have been. It has been a rough few months with you incarcerated on Earth. Dad's health deteriorated again with your absence. It would have been far worse if dad would not have been able to communicate with you at all. I am glad you made the suggestion of my moving into your and dad's apartment. Dad had some really severe attacks a few times. I am so glad there was portable oxygen in the apartment. His lips turned blue-black a few times, he was not getting any oxygen into his system."

Concern and worry crossed her features as she replied, "Kolyat, I did not know that Thane's Kepral's Syndrome had gotten that bad."

Kolyat glanced over at Tabitha, "Dad would be so mad if he knew I was telling you, so please do not tell him. He loves you so much, mom. I love you too. When dad asked me to drop something off for him today, I thought he was losing it. When dad could not get a hold of you after the Reaper invasion a couple of days ago, he gave up. I had to beg him to get his daily treatments at Huerta Memorial Hospital. He would not eat. He just sat blank-faced all day lost in memories. I do not think he was reliving only good memories of you and mom. His spirit and soul had become disconnected from his mind and body and he was in complete despair. Honestly, I was not much better. Haida tried and she could not get me to smile."

Tabitha asked, "Who is Haida?"

Kolyat's side fringes reddened slightly, "Well, Haida is a young Drell I have been seeing?"

Tabitha glanced over at Kolyat nudging him in the side with her elbow, "And…"

Kolyat turned to face Tabitha placing his hands on Tabitha's shoulders, his voice excited, "Oh, mom, Haida is…She is sweet and smart and oh, she is so good looking not that looks are everything, but, mom, she has the cutest smile and her fringes, and crest ridges…I like her a lot. I think I love her. She is my Siha."

Tabitha watched Kolyat's face fall, "I see so what is the problem?"

Kolyat growled slightly, "Her parents. Haida's father is the Adjutant for the Hanar Ambassador and her mother comes from a wealthy family. Her parents knew my mother and my grandparent's family. My grandparents on my mother's side always believed that my mother married beneath herself when she married dad. It did not help matters when dad was away all the time and they blamed dad for her death. Haida's parents believe I am just like my father. They do not want their daughter to marry beneath her status. They have arranged a mate for her. My Siha, my love."

Tabitha could see the sadness in Kolyat's eyes, "Is there anything I can do?" Smiling, she continued, "I am Commander Shepherd-savior of the Citadel. I could talk to them."

A look of horror crossed Kolyat's features, "Please don't," as his hands dropped away from Tabitha's shoulders, turning, walking again toward C-SEC.

The smile left Tabitha's face as she walked beside him, "What did I say wrong? I am not suppose to help my son? Have you spoken to you father about this?"

Kolyat responded, "Thank you for wanting to help, but trying to talk to Haida's parents would not help, but hinder."

"Why?" Tabitha asked.

Kolyat slowly shook his head, "They do not hold a high opinion of humans. They do not believe in inter-species relationships. I have not spoken to my father about my relationship issues. I did not want to upset him causing him to have an attack and end up in the hospital."

"I see."

Kolyat playfully punched Tabitha in the upper arm lightening the mood, "Haida's parents may not like you or dad, but I think I have the best parents in the galaxy. Who else can say their parents went on a suicide mission through the Omega 4 Relay, destroyed a Collector Base, and came back with no casualties."

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