Title: Mass Effect Two Chapter Four
Author: DinkyMew and JagesPages
Game: Mass Effect (Two)
Disclaimer: Bioware own all content and characters related to the Mass Effect franchise. Abigail Shepard is my own creation inspired by the character of Jane Shepard created by Bioware. Any original characters contained herein are my own creations (with the exception of Vindex Foster who is the sole property of Julie Jones and the Swagger Vasa Chronicles) and are not necessarily affiliated with Bioware. **You may not copy, edit or distribute this fanfiction as it stands without my expressed permission – thank you**
"Out of Time"
Shepard stepped out of the shuttle onto the ground of Freedom's Progress and immediately felt wrong. The colony was not remarkable in itself, situated in the turbulent Terminus Systems it was at risk of piracy and raids and so had reasonable defences mainly in the form of LOKI and YMIR mechs, but as Shepard took first tentative steps into the compound she could see immediately there was no sign of fighting.
The buildings were all intact, some still with meals set at tables the whole scene as though the colonists had simply ceased to be. She shivered, like they had just disappeared and was reminded instantly of the raid on Mindoir and the chaos and carnage of such violence. This was something different. This was something far more sinister.
"Has every abduction been like this?" She asked, removing her helmet and tucking it in the crook of her arm.
Miranda came to her side "Every one." She said firmly "No one is left behind, no indication of why or how they were taken – just empty colonies. Hundreds of them."
"Thorough." Shepard commented frowning "You assume they are being taken alive?"
Miranda smiled "More like hope Commander."
Shepard sighed "I wouldn't hold your breath." She said tiredly securing her helmet back on her head "Stay sharp."
Hobbs was so focused he didn't even see Taylor until she was sitting right next to him watching him plough through sit-ups easily. He frowned at her as he came up.
"Shouldn't you be working out Taylor?" He asked and she moved her shoulder, letting her blonde hair slide down over her back as she smiled sweetly.
"I thought we could do some sparring with each other." She suggested and he laughed, glancing to where Crow was working out.
"Hear that Crow?!" He called "Taylor wants to spar with me again!"
"Of course she does." JJ muttered from where she worked shaking her head in exasperation at Hobbs' ignorance to the situation.
Crow looked down from the salmon ladder and quirked a brow at JJ who was watching as she did her weight curls. "Now, that's the kind of partner I need," he remarked. "One who wants to spar with me all the time."
She shrugged. "It gets boring beating you after a while."
Crow frowned as if he was wondering if he should gloss over the insult or return it in spades. "Think you could beat Taylor? Come to think of it, you girls never spar."
"We don't mud wrestle either." She put down the weights and glared at him. "You don't think I can beat her?"
He jumped down from the salmon ladder and wiped the sweat from his chest and shoulders with a towel. "Let's find out," he said, giving her a snarky grin. "Hey, Hobbs! Your partner up for some competition?"
Hobbs got to his feet, pulling his vest away from his wet skin as he wiped under his nose with a finger. "Don't know about competition." He said bleakly "But she could sure use some practice." He moved away from her, grabbing his red journal and swinging onto a bench, working the pencil from the spine as he started scribbling.
"You guys are disgusting. You just want us to fight so you can pant over us." Taylor said archly.
From where he sat Hobbs laughed, glancing up at her over his journal "Alright." He said with a frown "Where did you get
that impression?" He then looked to Crow who was nodding eagerly with a wide grin and his face dropped "Oh."
Taylor got to her feet, tying her hair back "You know you think about it Hobbs." She teased with a smile and then added a little quieter "I know I would, in your position."
He wasn't listening though as he slapped the journal closed, wiggling the pencil back into the spine. He got to his feet "Alright." He said with a wide smile "Let's see who has the biggest balls then ladies." He pointed to the mats "first blood wins."
JJ threw Crow a look that should have incinerated him on the spot. Her hands turned into fists and she struck him as hard as she could in his bicep. "Jerk!"
He flicked his arm. "What was that? A mosquito?"
JJ didn't let on that hitting his rock-hard bicep made her knuckles throb abominably. She approached Taylor who was looking at her, taking her measure, and, of course, finding her lacking. JJ grabbed some of the chalk in a bucket at the side of the ring and dusted her hands. She slipped through the ropes, congratulating herself upon not catching a heel or foot like she sometimes did. Taylor leaped over the top rope and landed like a cat in the centre.
The two girls walked within range and JJ eyed her warily. She wasn't underestimating Taylor. She was good.
"I know what you're up to," she said through bared teeth, ignoring Crow's admonishment she needed to put on the sparring gloves. Why? Because she was a woman?
Taylor watched JJ as they circled each other and smirked, she might be taller than her - but Taylor knew she could fight, she had trained enough with Hobbs to know how to protect herself.
Taylor raised an elegant eyebrow "What are you talking about?" She asked "I'm not up to anything JJ."
Hobbs yawned, moving to sit on a bench nearer the ring and he leaned back against the wall, folding his hands behind his head.
"I know you're trying to drive a wedge between Abs and Hobbs." JJ looked for an opening. She had watched Hobbs spar with Taylor many times and she knew she tended to go for middle mass. Probably because she couldn't reach his head. "I want you to stop it right now." JJ swung a lazy fist and when Taylor ducked as expected, she slammed into her side with a roundhouse kick and danced out of the way.
Crow whistled. "That's my girl!"
Taylor took the hit, rolling with it like Hobbs had taught her to, smiling at the accusation.
"Hobbs is a big boy." She muttered, meeting the other woman's heavy gaze "He'll make his own mind up in the end. Abigail is cute - but he needs more than that JJ. He needs someone who understands men. What makes them tick." She grinned "What makes them boil."
She danced inside her defences, her moves almost perfect shadows of her partners as she managed to land a hit to the kidney and as JJ curled instinctively she struck her face, dipping back out before she could respond with an attack of her own.
"Bring your arms up JJ when you compensate!" Hobbs shouted and he got to his feet moving to stand beside Crow.
Crow groaned when he saw JJ wipe blood from the corner of her mouth. "Damn! Over before it even started! I am so going to have more sessions with her."
JJ threw all caution to the wind, forgetting every move she knew and tackled Taylor bringing her to the mat, fingers curling into her hair. "For…your own good, stay away from Hobbs! He's taken!"
Crow started to climb into the ring, but Taylor struck a cruel blow to JJ's ribs, rolled to her feet and gave him a push. Caught off balance, leg half thrown over the ropes, he flailed and went down.
Hobbs started to laugh, wrapping arms around his waist as he doubled over watching Crow land back first on the ground.
"Man down." He grinned stepping on to his stomach as he moved over him to the ring.
"You fucking bitch!" Taylor screamed launching for JJ, she wrapped hands into her hair dragging her down to the ring floor easily.
"Whoah!" Hobbs shouted "Unsportman-like! Batarian's don't have hair!" But when neither woman appeared to be listening he glanced down at Crow worriedly before moving to climb in and separate them.
JJ clawed at her, raking her nails across one cheek. The two women, in one accord, turned on Hobbs and shrieked, "Stay out of this!"
Crow groaned as he got to his feet. He watched, frozen in shock as the women rolled across the mat, scratching, biting and cursing, both kicking at Hobbs when he tried again to approach them. Crow turned away, searched the room. Something caught his eye and he grabbed the bucket of iced drinks, yanked the bottles out of the cooler, stepped into the room and tossed its contents over the girls and Hobbs.
With a shriek Taylor released JJ in a rush, barrelling backwards as she landed hard on the mat sweeping hair from her face as she shook freezing water and ice chips from her hands frantically.
Hobbs blinked, turning to face Crow, his hands pressed on his hips as he nodded slowly "I appreciate your input Crow." He said sarcastically "Thanks for that." And then he turned back to the ring "One of you want to tell us what the hell is going on here ladies? You either settle it in there or you let it go."
Crow gazed at the ice chips melting their way down Hobbs' muscular shoulders and traps and he shrugged at his buddy. "Hey, it worked." He crossed his arms over his chest. "What the hell was that?" The question was mostly aimed at JJ.
JJ bit her injured lip, causing more blood to drip. "Guess it's our time of the month," she said and frowned as she noticed one of her nails had broken off into the quick.
Crow was squeamish when it came to a woman's monthly cycle. He looked to Hobbs pleadingly as if asking him to take the reins.
Hobbs grimaced "That is your kettle of crazy." He muttered "Seriously though, I have any more fighting like girls and I will end both of you. We're supposed to be profe…" His voice trailed off as the door to the gym opened and closed catching his attention. He half turned, his face lighting up instantly like a kid at Christmas. "Tempy!" He cried, pushing Crow backwards as he barrelled down the hall toward her.
Grabbing her into his arms he worked her legs around him as he kissed her. From where she stood Taylor frowned, pressing her hands into her hips and shaking her head.
"Storage room is off limits!" Hobbs shouted as he walked Shepard backwards into the side room and slammed the door shut behind them.
"Seriously?" Taylor gawked "I can't believe he just did that."
"I can." JJ shook her head hard and the ice in it flew into Taylor's face.
"You bitch! You did that on purpose!" Taylor spat and she lunged for her again – JJ moved lightning quick slapping the other girl hard with an open palm just as Crow managed to muscle through the ropes and stalk to her.
Crow seized JJ about the waist, tossing her to one end of the ring and pushed Taylor to the other end. He planted his feet wide and spread his arms at shoulder height, fingers wide, in a stopping motion.
"Both of you," he said in a dangerous growl. "Cut. It. Out."
"You can't stop both of us, Crow."
"Can't I?" He lowered his arms and cracked his knuckles. "We're a team!" He smacked a fist into the palm of his hand. "We train together; we fight together." His blue eyes flamed. "We don't fight each other!"
"We're not a team," Taylor snorted "JJ can't fight to save herself, you're so focused on working out – you don't get the concept of working together and Hobbs –" She threw her hands up "Hobbs disappears the moment Abigail snaps her fingers."
Crow tried hard to frown, he tried very hard, but his mouth betrayed him as he cleared his throat "I think that was her G-string." He mumbled and both women groaned disgustedly "And this!" He protested "Is exactly why they shouldn't have girls in spec ops."
"You want to go there?" JJ asked hotly and he smiled at her, his blue eyes taking her in from head to toe. Without another word he strode to JJ, picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
"Crow, put me down!" She beat on his bare traps and the hand on her butt tightened as he stalked out of the gym, down the hall to the rest room, tossed her on the bed and towered over her.
"I don't know what just happened and I don't care. Like Hobbs said, or started to say, 'We're professionals.' Both of you need to work this out. We have a mission next week, dammit, JJ!"
She put her hand up to wipe away the blood that was spilling from her cut lip. His eyes went liquid. He turned, went to the medigel dispenser on the wall and came back to her. He sat on the bed and gently applied it to the cut.
"Better?" he asked softly.
"M-mm-h-mm."
"Still mad at Taylor?"
She nodded.
"Stay here." He said quietly "Calm down. When you are ready to do some actual training, come and find me."
JJ had spent the whole night telling Shepard about Crow's muscles, about the way he had manhandled her into the room making her knees weak – now it made her smile as she remembered old friends, wondering idly where they were in the galaxy now.
Shepard moved into one of the empty houses, stepping carefully over abandoned toys and children's books – it looked like a crèche of some sort and she swallowed painfully. There was no use in thinking about the children here or what happened to them, what was important was finding out what had happened so she could stop it happening again.
"Commander." She heard Jacob's voice and turned, raising eyebrows through her helmet visor at him "The scanners are picking signs of movement to the East of the compound." He looked at her worriedly "There's never been people left behind before."
"Alright." She said "Move it. Fast."
They spread out in motion and Shepard activated the tracker in her suit to see what Jacob was talking about. He was right, there were blips on the East side of the compound, together – a group – and she felt hope swell in her chest. Maybe finding answers was going to be easier than she thought.
"Mechs!" Miranda shouted and Shepard saw the flash of blue as she unleashed some biotic attacks, immediately Abigail moved to cover the troupe of mechs making their way from the East of the compound.
"That's where the movement is!" Shepard called.
"These mechs are for defence," Jacob said firing his pistol hitting one mech in the glass face panel "Someone must have rigged them to attack anything that moves."
"Why would survivors do that?" Miranda called but no one answered her – it didn't make sense.
Shepard turned, shooting the mechs smoothly as she got back to her feet "Let's go find out." She said simply.
By the time Crow made it back through to the gym Taylor was on the weights – he rolled his neck, sighing as the muscle there popped and tingled before he got down on the press-up mat, jamming his feet under the bench and started his crunches.
He had just started counting when he saw Taylor moving out the corner of his eye, she moved, sitting on the bench in front of him – a foot on either side of his legs so he was, in effect, lying between her legs. She smiled at him, blonde hair washing over her shoulder in a wave.
"What do you want Taylor?" He asked her trying to keep it friendly but the tone was a bit cold for that.
"Whatever I want." She said breezily and Crow clenched his jaw – they all knew Taylor Hackett was the Admiral's daughter, but what was worse was that she knew it. She could have any one of them struck off the team with a whispered word and she would still have the pick of the jobs in the Alliance. She cocked her head as her smile widened "You better make sure your girlfriend knows that Crow. I get what I want."
He smiled, pressing his back to the mat "She's not my girlfriend." He muttered, and then frowned wondering how out of all she said he picked up most on that. What the hell? And when he thought about it JJ moved into his vision, that smile she could get when she thought she had one-up on him, the way her long red hair fell over her shoulders like dark honey, the way she would struggle and writhe under him – always fighting, always butting heads. He shook his head feeling heat creep up his neck as he narrowed his eyes at Taylor.
"You don't know what you want." He muttered, pulling another crunch easily "Girls like you never do."
She moved her shoulders smiling sweetly at him just as the door to the store room opened. Crow paused, tilting his head so he could look with his eyes as Hobbs and Abby re-entered the gym looking dishevelled and flushed as the door closed again and Hobbs held her against him.
"Can you two knock it off!" He said but it was in good humour – he had spent too much time around the couple to know it was genuine and part of him wished he could have that kind of connection with someone. Part of him was a little jealous at the light in Hobb's eyes when he saw Abigail, of the love that seemed to overthrow life itself and the desperate, searing passion that insisted – no demanded – they have each other at the most inopportune of times.
"Sorry." Abigail said, pressing her hand over Hobbs' mouth as it moved toward her own again, he made a heavy noise, pressing his mouth to her throat instead and she pushed him away this time laughing a little.
"Alright, alright." Hobbs said, still breathing heavy as he moved to the fight ring again "Come on Tempy, let's show them how it's done."
Abigail swung through the ropes, watching Hobbs as he adjusted the waistband of his combats, stretching fingerless gloves over his hands as he rolled his shoulders. Crow and Taylor sauntered to the ring side, watching them curiously and Hobbs paused, pointing a finger.
"Go and get JJ." He said calmly, waiting while Crow left.
When the three of them were waiting he turned to Abigail giving her a slow smile. She felt nervous suddenly, they had done this many times before – in many settings, it was Hobbs favourite game.
"Watch and learn kids." He said, pushing a gum shield into his mouth as he moved. Abigail moved with him – a mirror image as they circled each other. She curled her fists, smiling at him as his gaze held hers, and when he moved she moved with him. Their rhythm was flawless, each blow blocked smoothly, each leg sweep avoided gracefully until it looked like some kind of macabre dance.
Taylor watched entranced as they moved, a stab of jealousy rising in her throat as she scoffed "She's a biotic though." She snorted "She's a freak."
At the word Hobbs caught Abigail's wrist, stopping the movement abruptly "What did you say?" He asked her and she moved her shoulders.
"We're not biotics Hobbs." She said calmly.
He let go of Abigail, wiping a hand over his forehead "Taylor – she's not using her biotics." He said patiently "I'm trying to demonstrate what you guys could be like if we could all learn to work together. What me and Tempy have? That's months of working together there – more than a year in fact!" He said hotly "We need to be this good – we need to be at this level already dammit! We're supposed to be spec ops, we're supposed to be elite!" He shook his head "Not one of you could take Temps down if she were to use her biotics and you have to be able to. You think an asari would hold back? A krogan?" He shook his head "Trust me, if she used her biotics I would be floored."
"Please." Taylor scoffed rolling her eyes "Biotics aren't that powerful."
Hobbs nodded, dipping out through the rope smoothly as he gestured to the ring "All three of you, go ahead, see how far you get."
"Hobbs." Abigail said shaking her head "I don't thin-"
"No, no." He said calmly "This is a lesson they need." He said sincerely "Just don't kill them Tempy."
JJ smiled, climbing into the ring alongside Crow and Taylor – it seemed a farce. Abigail was tiny, probably just over 5ft 4, and she was the gentlest person JJ had ever met, there was no way she would be able to hold off all three of them at once.
Without a word to the other two Taylor launched for her – predictable, and both JJ and Crow paused in amazement as Abigail's skin began to shimmer blue, she moved like water – looked like it too – the swirling blue energy moving with her as she blocked each one of Taylor's hits and swept her feet from under her gracefully.
"Holy." Crow muttered and he looked to JJ.
Hobbs was pressed against the ropes, his legs crossed at the ankles as he smiled quite pointedly at Taylor as she landed hard on the ground.
"I said teamwork." He chided "Trust me you're not going to get close otherwise."
"Get on the team a bit Taylor." Crow barked and with a nod to JJ they both moved in together. JJ pressed her attack, holding back at first, but as each blow was blocked – each hit countered she soon put her maximum effort into the fight still coming up against Abigail's hands and legs smoothly. It seemed impossible as she moved lightning fast, tripping JJ too easily and gripping crow's wrist in an arm bar letting a pulse of energy lift him from his feet to crash further back on the mat.
Taylor was back up, flying for her in a fit of rage and JJ watched, panting as Abigail took her down again, and when she got up she put her back down. She shook her head looking to Crow helplessly – was Hobbs right? If they couldn't take down one biotic how were they going to cut it in spec ops.
"Ok," Hobbs said sighing "I'll give you all a hint. If biotics are fuelled by emotion – what do you think could give you the advantage?" He shook his head, his eyebrows rising.
JJ frowned at him, she hated that stance he took – like he was in charge, but he was actually quite good at it, not that she would ever give him the satisfaction of knowing that. She blinked, turning sharply to Crow.
"Distraction." She whispered and he blinked at her dumbly, his large frame lumbering toward her as he shook his head.
"What?"
"Distraction." She smiled "I'll distract her, you get through the defences."
Crow nodded once to let her know he had it and moved toward Abigail, feigning blows here and there waiting for the opportune moment.
JJ took a breath, sweeping her hair back over her shoulder as she feigned a rush toward Abigail, instead pivoting on her heel and grabbing Hobbs by his shoulders.
"Crow!" She shouted, and just as both Abigail and Crow turned heads to look she pressed her mouth to Hobbs' roughly.
It worked a treat. Thoroughly shocked and distracted the blue glow winked out and Crow tackled Abigail to the ground where he pinned her in a light suppressive move.
Hobbs reared back, grinning at JJ with mirth and humour "JJ!" He cried "I didn't know you had it in you!" He slapped her back like one of the guys and she closed her eyes patiently "10/10 – see!" He threw his hands up "Teamwork people."
Letting Abigail up Crow fell back onto the mat panting "How the hell do you manage to spar with her." He breathed and Hobbs smiled, offering a hand to Abigail who got her feet barely even breaking a sweat.
"We don't spar with biotics." He said giving her a cheeky smile "Biotics are for the bedroom right Temps?"
Abigail blushed, punching his arm and he rubbed it gently, pulling away from her as he chuckled warmly.
Taylor curled her lip "Too much information Hobbs." She shook her head "If biotics are so awesome how come spec ops don't have one on every team?"
Hobbs moved his shoulders "I think they should. I think they will, one day. Biotics are just unknown for now."
"Maybe they should stay that way." Taylor muttered.
"The point though is we need to work as a team, we need to fight together or die alone guys." He took Abigail's hand, pressing her knuckles to his lips gently "We have to get better."
Crow sighed nodding, touching JJ's hip as she watched Hobbs gather Abigail in his arms – she had a gooey look on her face; that same look girls got when they saw something they thought was cute, and he swallowed as her gaze swung at last to him.
"Good call on the distraction." He said, giving her a small smile.
"Well." She smirked "If you had kissed him I think it would have worked better."
Shepard blinked, coming out of her thoughts as she ducked lower behind cover wondering if she could ever work with Cerberus like she had with the Alliance – these people were not her friends; she couldn't trust them.
The mechs were everywhere. Fighting through them had taken longer than expected and by the time they reached the East side of the complex the blips on the scanner had moved again.
"In here." Jacob said bypassing a locked door and Shepard drew her pistol ready. The door hissed open and she pushed forward bodies moving catching her attention as raised her pistol firing a round at the ceiling. The movement ceased and Shepard could see the group was quarians, their beautiful enviro-suits masking their faces as they turned to look at her.
"Wait!" A voice called out, distantly familiar as a petite quarian muscled her way to the front of the group "Shepard?" She breathed "Is that you?"
"I'm not taking any chances with Cerberus operatives!" One of the male quarians argued taking a step forward and raising a rifle; the petite female turned to him, holding a hand up.
"You said you would let me handle this Prazza." She growled and then she turned back to Shepard unsure.
"Tali." Shepard dropped her pistol, holstering it as she signalled for Miranda and Jacob to do the same.
"What are you doing with Cerberus?" Tali asked, her tone nervous as she looked to the agents behind Shepard carefully.
"I'm not." Shepard said, the familiar face making her drop her guard slightly as she glanced to Miranda and Jacob pointedly "I'm not with Cerberus. I'm helping them investigate these abductions." She turned back to Tali imploringly "They are the only group investigating… the Alliance and the Council…" She shook her head.
"Tali – you are not seriously considering helping these Cerberus dogs?" The quarian she had called Prazza spoke up, and Tali looked at him, light reflecting off the visor of her face mask.
Tali inclined her head – it was impossible to tell from her expression what she was thinking so Shepard had to look to her body language for clues. "We're here for a quarian." She said at last "His name is Veetor."
"Everyone else is gone." Shepard said carefully "What makes you think Veetor is still here?"
It was Prazza who answered, folding his arms over his chest "We saw him when we landed." He said stonily.
"If you saw him then why isn't he with you already?" Jacob asked, taking a step forward to stand next to Abigail.
Tali sighed "Veetor was injured and he was always… well… nervous-"
"What Tali means is he was unstable." Prazza said heavily "Combine that with damage to his suit's Co2 scrubbers and an infection from open air exposure he is likely delirious."
"When he saw us landing he hid in a warehouse and we suspect he also programmed the mechs to target anything that moved." Tali explained.
Abigail sighed, rubbing a gloved finger over her forehead "Veetor is the only one who can tell us what happened here, we should work together to try and find him."
Tali nodded "Good idea you'll need two teams to get past the drones anyway"
Prazza made a noise, probably a scoff but it sounded much louder through the speaker of his suit "Now we're working with Cerberus?" He demanded hotly.
Tali turned on him "No Prazza you are working for me if you can't follow orders go wait on the ship." She stared at him a moment longer, and then the male quarians head dropped submissively and Tali turned back to Shepard "Head to the warehouse at the centre of the compound we'll go around the outside and draw off the mech fire to clear you a path."
Shepard shifted uncomfortably "Ok." She agreed at length "Maybe once we figure this out we could catch up – I have some ques-"
Tali held up a hand "Shepard." She said cooly "It's been two years, and now you are with Cerberus. That changes a lot of things; we're…" She shook her head "We're not friends."
Stung Shepard sank back on heels nodding slowly; she had expected Tali to be happy to see her – to be brimming with information and answers that would at least give her some direction in amongst all the confusion, but the quarian was cool and distant. She obviously didn't trust Cerberus and in their colours Shepard was one of them.
She nodded slowly "Alright." She said firmly "Keep in radio contact."
Slowly Tali inclined her head "Yes Commander."
"I can't believe they made you Squad Leader!" Crow cried, slapping a heavy hand between Hobb's shoulders roughly "That is a big deal man. To you."
There was a flutter of voices as everyone agreed and the sound of bottles clinking together over the table as people reached forward. Hobbs sat back, taking a drink from the neck of his bottle and raked a hand through his hair. It was a good day to be him: promoted to Alpha Squad Leader, finally convinced Shepard to move in with him – yeah things were on the up.
"We need more drink." JJ complained, getting to her feet she pushed past Crow and wound her way through the crowded dance floor toward the bar. Crow watched her go and then feelings Hobbs' eyes on him he blushed deeply, clearing his throat as he lifted his bottle to his lips.
"What are you looking at?" He asked Hobbs and his friend broke into a grin.
"Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing." He said lightly "You haven't asked her on a date yet have you?"
Crow's eyes widened as he looked to the other operatives around the table as though warning Hobbs to keep his voice down. Hobbs laughed, leaning forward toward his friend, pressing elbows into his knees "They're not listening." He said dismissively "I thought we agreed you would ask her on a date?"
Crow flummoxed, his mouth opening to speak but nothing came out "I…I'm getting there." He managed at last. "I will. Eventually."
"Tick tock." Hobbs said meaningfully and then his attention was stolen as across the club Abigail appeared in the doorway flanked by a massive bouncer.
She looked amazing dressed in her black jeans and a red spaghetti-strap top; her dark hair was tousled, falling in wavy ringlets around her shoulders and down her back. She paused, the bouncer leaning down to talk to her and then he stretched to his full height once again pointing one stocky finger in the direction of their table.
Hobbs put his drink down and got to his feet, excusing himself politely from the group as he made his way to meet her.
"You managed to get away!" He grinned gathering her in his arms tightly "I wasn't sure…"
"Like I could miss this!" She smiled "Squad Leader!" She shook her head, smoothing a hand down the side of his face "I'm so proud of you baby, I knew you could do it."
He lifted her off the ground, smiling as she squealed, wrapping her legs around him to gain some balance "I couldn't have done it without you Tempy." He said seriously gazing up into her eyes "You brought me back from the black. You saved my life – I owe you everything."
She shook her head dipping down so she could kiss him gently "I moved the last of my stuff in." she smiled and he chuckled, letting her slide down to the ground once more.
"Is there any room left in the apartment?"
She punched his arm playfully "I left you a shelf in the wardrobe." She muttered sarcastically and he laughed, threading his fingers through hers.
"How did Anderson take you moving out?"
Shepard paused, moving her shoulders gently "Like he took the news we were dating." She smiled "Not well." She shook her head "He knows he's not my dad though so I think he finds it hard to really take a stand about it." She moved her shoulders "I guess it doesn't matter now though, we've done it, haven't we?"
Hobbs smiled kissing her forehead "It's just starting Tempy." He whispered "This is a whole new beginning for us."
It was later that night when Hobbs saw Shepard again, hanging on JJ's arm the pair wandered over with a glass in their free hands and dropped unceremoniously onto one of the black leather couches around the low table.
The club was getting rowdier as the night wore on and a lot of the spec ops teams had left. The table was littered with empty bottles and glasses and Shepard leaned forward setting her glass amongst the chaos snorting back laughter as she pressed a hand over her mouth.
"What have you done to her?" Hobbs asked, his eyebrows rising as he watched Shepard wipe her eyes.
"Biotics don't drink, apparently." JJ laughed "We decided to put that theory to the test."
"You see!" Abigail yelled, wrenching forward and pointing a wobbling finger in Hobbs face "Biotics have super fast metabolism, which means we process alcohol much quicker which means we get drunk much quicker which means we can drink more!" She cried, throwing her hands up.
"Or maybe it means you should drink less." Hobbs smiled "A lot less."
She waved him away dismissively turning to the other agents that were sitting on the opposite couch. He could hear her asking their names, loudly, and grimaced fondly at her – he had never seen her drunk before. She had told him once that Biotics really shouldn't drink, now he was beginning to understand why.
He turned to Crow who was laughing, his face red as he held his ribs – it was quite a sight he supposed. Little, serious Tempy without restraint, laughing and talking like a Salarian on stims, he smiled taking a drink from his bottle as he watched her.
And then her favourite R&B song started playing.
Abigail leapt to her feet, almost toppling forward on to the table as she cried out in excitement.
"It's our song!" She exclaimed, grabbing Hobbs arm "Dance with me!"
Hobbs blushed, pressing his hand over hers and squeezing her fingers gently, shaking his head "No. No Temps. Not here. Not that song."
She turned and looked down at him "Dance with me." She said her tone serious, but her eyes were still twinkling from the alcohol. Hobbs shook his head, smiling at her.
"That song is not for a public audience." He said "We'll dance later."
Shepard narrowed her eyes at him "Fine." She snapped, turning so quickly he thought she would lose her balance on those heels but she didn't, instead she stepped up onto the table, knocking bottles and glasses to the floor as she cleared herself room.
"Tempy." Hobbs warned, but she wasn't listening as hoots and whistles rose from the other operatives around the table. As the music hit the chorus she began to move, and Hobbs caught his breath making to reach for her before he was muscled back to the sofa by Crow.
Abigail's eyes opened painfully to daylight, and she smiled, curling in Hobbs' bed as she drew the duvet around her tighter. Our bed, she corrected herself, that same excitement seizing in her chest. She couldn't believe he had actually asked her to move in, and more, that she had done it – that she had finally confronted Anderson about his attitude toward Hobbs and left.
She could smell cooking and her stomach rumbled angrily, and then she remembered last night – the club, Hobbs' promotion –
"Oh no." She groaned, burying her head in the pillow.
"Oh no is right." It was Hobbs and she peeled the duvet back enough to peer an eye out at him. He stood in the doorway with a mug of coffee in his hand and smiled at her. He was in nothing but grey pyjama bottoms, the elastic waist barely holding on at his hips as he moved toward her and sat on the edge of the bed.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her offering the mug.
She took it gingerly, her face blossoming with heat as she took a sip. It was his coffee, strong and heady and just the way she liked it. She handed it back to him and he took a drink, his green-blue eyes watching her over the rim of the mug.
"What happened last night?" She asked and he almost choked on the coffee, setting the mug carefully on his legs as he flashed her that cheeky smile.
"You don't remember?"
She shook her head "I think I do. But I need you to tell me – just in case it was a nightmare."
He laughed "It wasn't a nightmare." He said simply "You were dancing on the table."
"Oh no." Shepard said, her breath hitching in her throat.
He nodded slowly "And you took your clothes off."
"Oh no!" She flopped back on the pillow, burying her head under the duvet.
"And then you tried to give Crow a lap dance."
"Stop!" Her muffled voice sounded under the blanket and he laughed setting the mug on the floor before climbing under beside her. In the dim light under the duvet her face still looked incredibly red and he swept dark hair aside as he kissed her gently.
"I have to go." He said quietly "We have a mission. I'm due to report in in less than hour – I'm glad you woke up before I had to leave."
"Oh." She said in a small voice, her fingers threading into his hair "How long will you be away?"
He shook his head "I don't know Tempy." He smiled "I'll try and get word to you somehow though." He chuckled at her pout, kissing the bottom lip gently "And when I get back," He added, swinging the duvet back as he climbed out of the bed "Maybe you can show me – and not Crow – that dance again."
Abigail forced Hobbs from her mind as she raced into the clearing of the compound where an armoured Atlas was slaughtering the quarians. They had ran ahead, against the plan, when they had spotted Veetor again intending to fly him from the colony before Cerberus could speak with him and now they were paying the price.
Miranda and Jacob deliberately hung back, letting the YMIR Mech slaughter them needlessly, but Shepard couldn't bring herself to stand and watch. Legs pumping she tore through the compound, skidding behind cover as the mech barrelled Prazza over and shot him in the face.
She heard Tali cry out over her radio and ground her teeth – she couldn't just sit back and watch the mech kill her friend, even if Tali was being distant – that didn't matter – Shepard could still remember the conversations they had had on the Normandy, late into the night about pilgrimage, quarian culture and all other manner of girl topics.
Rolling from her cover she approached the mech, not entirely sure what she was going to do with it. Her scanner showed shields and she quickly functioned a sabotage, shorting the shields long enough to get some shots in. The mech whirled to face her, firing rounds and rockets her way which she somehow managed to dodge.
She could barely think as she rushed the mech on instinct alone throwing a train of biotic energy toward it as she skidded low, rounds pumping past her, barely missing her face. The biotic blast hit the mech with force sending it stumbling back and the sound of gunfire picked up behind her as Miranda and Jacob finally joined the fight.
Aiming her pistol Shepard shot the mech in the head as it closed on her, the glass front shattering and sparking as it paused mid-walk, fuses shorting and she ducked behind cover just before it exploded in a bright display of wires and smoke.
Jacob and Miranda joined her, moving to the sealed bunker as they examined the locked door and Shepard hesitated, looking to where Tali was treating one of her wounded. She wanted to move to her, to check she was ok, but she was right – two years had passed and Tali was a different person. It seemed only yesterday to Shepard she had shared lunch with the quarian. Time was something she was going to have to learn to accept.
"I think we've got it." Jacob said turning back to her and Shepard readied her pistol as the door to the bunker hissed open.
The room inside was dark, lit only by a wall of console screens that flashed and blinked different images over and over as the quarian sitting in the seat in front of them tapped furiously on the controls. He was muttering to himself so fast Shepard couldn't make out his words – only key ones here and there 'monster' and 'hide'.
Shepard glanced to Miranda who rolled her eyes – clearly Cerberus were still as xenophobic as ever. She sighed, taking a step toward the quarian, holstering her pistol. "Veetor?" She asked.
"No, no Veetor." The quarian replied hurriedly "Not here. Swarms can't find. Monsters coming. Have to hide." He was hyperventilating, the speaker on his suit screaming as he sucked in heavy breaths and blew them out.
Shepard moved a little closer "No one is going to hurt you." She said gently.
"I don't think he can hear you Commander." Jacob said gently and Shepard looked at him, chewing her lip as she programmed a shunt from her omnitool that took out the wall of consoles, closing the video links so instead there were screens of white snow.
Veetor was muttering again, rocking back and forth as the screens all winked out, with his distraction gone Veetor got to his feet slowly, turning to look at them.
"You.. you're human!" He said surprised "Where did you hide? How come they didn't find you?" His voice was shaky and traumatised, the darkness in the room giving the whole conversation a note of terror as Shepard held up her hands to put him at ease.
"It's ok." She said gently and then Miranda took a sharp step toward him.
"Who didn't find us?" She asked cooly and Veetor's helmet turned to her slightly, his voice wavering as he shook his head.
"The monsters." He said, his voice pained and uneven "The swarms. They find everyone."
Shepard moved forward taking control of the situation once more "We weren't here Veetor she explained. We're not survivors. Can you tell me what happened?"
The quarian began to wring his hands nervously "You don't know." He said urgently "You didn't see. But I see everything." He turned back to the consoles tapping the controls once more and the many screens became one, showing an enlarged video image of the colony. It was blurred, and at first Shepard thought it was poor picture quality, but then she realised it was something in the video, like moving fog, or locusts.
"Looks like security footage." Miranda commented "He must have pieced it together manually."
Shepard narrowed her eyes as the video banked a little and from one of the cabins something emerged. It was shaped like a man, two legs and two arms, but the similarities ended there. The heads were flat and tapered toward one end, the face a wall of eyes and between them they carried what looked like giant cocoons.
"What the hell is that?" Jacob asked, and Shepard sensed him step next to her as he frowned at the image.
"My god," Miranda breathed "I think it's a Collector."
Shepard frowned, the Collector's had been a bit of a myth in Citadel space – mysterious aliens that appeared every now and then for odd trades, usually advanced tech for live subjects. Shepard had never really paid much attention to them before, now she wished she had.
"I thought they mostly kept to themselves?" She frowned glancing to Miranda.
"They usually work through intermediaries." Miranda said frowning "Like slavers or mercenaries." She shook her head "If they are somehow working with the Reapers though, that could explain what happened to the colonists."
"Hmm." Shepard frowned "And they offer advanced technologies right?" She shook her head "They could have tech to make entire colonies go dark."
"The seeker swarms." Veetor said in his haunted voice "No one can hide. The seekers find you. Freeze you. Then the monsters take you away."
"Why didn't the take you?" Shepard asked.
"Swarms didn't find me." Veetor whispered "Monsters didn't know I was here."
"Collector's aren't known for being careless." Jacob observed "Maybe his envirosuit protected him from their sensors?"
Miranda sighed "Or they were using technology specifically designed to capture humans." She said coldly "Only human colonies have been attacked."
Shepard shook her head "We can't jump to any conclusions like that Miranda." She said calmly "Cerberus is a human-centric organisation. How do you know other planets aren't being attacked and investigating like we are?"
Miranda looked at her sceptically "We know." She said firmly.
Sighing Abigail turned her attention back to Veetor "What happened next?"
Veetor shook his head "The monsters took the people onto the ship and then they left. But they'll be back. No one escapes. No one." His voice broke as he sank into that trauma and Shepard swallowed, he reminded her of herself, once upon a time when she had been pulled from Mindoir. She forced those thoughts down as she cleared her throat.
"Thank you Veetor." She said sincerely "You were really helpful."
"I studied them." Veetor rambled on "The swarms, recorded them with my omnitool. Lots of readings. Dark energy."
Miranda spoke hurriedly "We need to get that data to The Illusive Man." She said urgently "Grab the quarian and call the shuttle-"
"What?!" The voice was Tali's and Shepard swung to see her standing in the doorway "Veetor is injured! He needs treatment, not an interrogation!"
"We won't hurt him." Jacob argued "We just need to know if he knows anything else. He'll be returned unharmed."
Miranda scoffed "If you get your hands on him we'll never get the intel we need." She said derisively and Tali took a step toward her.
"I'm telling you can have his omnitool data, but let me take Veetor." She said "He needs medical attention."
Shepard swallowed, turning to face Miranda carefully "We'll take the data. Veetor goes with Tali." She said evenly and the brunette met her gaze frostily.
"On your order Commander." She bit off sharply.
Shepard nodded, as she turned she caught Tali watching her, she inclined her head "Thank you Shepard." She said honestly "I'm glad you are still the one giving orders."
Shepard gave her a smile, but it left her feeling cold and lonely as she touched the comm in her ear "We're ready for pick up." She ordered, turning back to the screens on the wall.