Chapter 4

She made it quiet

At Grissom Academy

"So, was it true?" James asked as the door closed between them and the students.

"Was what true?" She double checked the incendiary ammo to be activated.

"That first kill story."

"Haha, hell no. But the kid needed to hear something right?" She shrugged with a smile.

"Shit, you had me fooled. You Garrus?"

He chuckled as he picked up some extra heatsinks left on the bench. Garrus wasn't all that sure if anyone else noticed how much she lied, but it was like second nature to her.

"I've been trying to get that story out of her for a while."

"So what do one have to do to get that one out of you?" He stopped before the door, laying his weight on his right leg while watching Shepard roll her head from side to side. A little routine she had going when she knew she was walking into hell.

"Well you'd have to get me really drunk or..."

"Or what?"

"Nah, that's about it." You could easily hear the grin on her voice.

"Alright, I walked into that one." Vega had to admit, remembering one of his first talks with his new commander. Though Garrus just shook his head at them.

Entering the Atrium it took barely fifteen seconds before she'd gotten a good enough view to lay up a strategy. After agreeing on a frequency for radio communications, Jack now heard every word loud and clear without the commander having to shout them.

"Jack, you and the kids focus on the troops without shields. Send em flying if you can. Garrus pick off every Guardian you can find and if you see and engineer rip his damn shield off. Vega-"

"Centurions, right?"

"Hell yes."

"What about that Atlas?"

"I'll draw his attention. Now, the first one to use Medi-Gel owes me a drink! Lets go!"

It was a tough fight that required their full attention. A couple of times Shepard had to rush over to both Vega and Garrus to help them out of a pinch. At times she used her biotic charge so often that Vega wondered if she actually bothered walking. Of course she was a risk taker herself but it was only her barrier they managed to rip through, not a single bullet actually graced her skin. The second part of the atrium was even more intense with the number of engineers dropping down and managing to get those damn turrets up. Garrus overload proved to be critical to their survival and Shepard sure as hell didn't complain over Vega's frag grenades.

"Everyone okay up there?" The commander made a quick check on Jack and the students after the last turret blew up.

"Rodriguez took one in the arm.. because she didn't watch her barriers!"

While Vega hadn't known the biotic for long he most certainly could imagine her face while lecturing the poor girl. The tone of her voice really sent you a mental picture of the woman in the metal-studded leather jacket hovering above the girl. Shepard continued into the corridor locked in a conversation with Kahlee.

"Shit, didn't think we'd make it a few times there."

"You're doubting the commander?"

"I've read a lot of her mission reports that isn't classified but-"

"But?" It was something extremely annoying having a lieutenant question the commanders abilities.

"Hey, don't get me wrong here, Scars. Just after those set-backs on Menae... I was a little worried ok?"

"Look, Shepard works like this: the harder the fight, the better she is. I watched her take down Saren, the geth, several Cerberus operations, the whole damn collector homeworld. When it comes down to it she pulls through. Every time. And for the moments she cuts lose and starts playing around. Well, we just need to be there for her." The tone of the turians voice didn't leave any room for arguments. Sure as hell the commander had proved herself here today. Maybe the downtime on earth had her a bit lagged behind.

"Saved your ass a couple of times to huh?"

"There's a reason the scars are healing, not decomposing."

"Fair enough. Guess she isn't a an N7 for nothing."

"Come on people, we need to get going." She said knocking on the door-frame to get their attention after turning around a corner.

In one of the following corridors they stumbled upon a few students in conversation with two Cerberus officers.

"That's an impressive barrier Octavia. Our files say you have been working on shield technology." The soldier was trying to pose as a friendly, but the woman obviously didn't buy it.

"It's a hand-held multicore solution based on cyclonic barrier technology, jackhole. And it's pronounced Oc-tah-via."

Shepard turned her head towards Vega and nodded for him to throw a grenade. It exploded taking out one of the two, the other one fell victim to a body slam, and Garrus threw in a concussion shot, just for fun. Stepping out of the cover they weren't exactly greeted as liberating heroes.

"I don't know who you are but stay back!" The woman shouted at them. Clearly not a complete fool.

Shepard picked up a heatsink from the fallen trooper and reloaded her gun.

"I'm Commander Shepard with the Alliance. I'm here to help."

"I didn't buy it from the last guy, and I've got no reason to buy it from you."

"You mean... that guy?" She pointed. "Who I just killed to save your ass?"

"Well I'm not taking any chances. And this is a multicore shield prototype based-"

"On cyclonic barrier technology. Yeah, I heard you the first time. We don't have time for this. Garrus?"

"My pleasure commander." He stepped up, activated his omni-tool and with a few adjustments ripped their pretty hexagon shield to shreds.

"Nice shield. Maybe the alliance can use it... with a few tweaks. So since I'm not shooting at you yet you can safely assume that I'm-"

"The square root of 906.0 equals..." A man hunched over behind the other two students cut into the conversation.

"Thirty point one." Shepard recognized the man she had once saved from Cerberus. She gave him an alot friendlier smile than intended. Remembering what that particular mission gave her in return. The realisation that every decision can evolve in a horrible turn of events. Even having you sacrifice your own brother for the cause. After leaving him in the alliance care she hadn't been all that pissed off at the galaxy as before.

"Hello Commander Shepard."

"David, you know her?"

"Yes... She rescued me from Cerberus.. Sent me here.. She made it quiet."

"Alright I... You've got me convinced." Octavia stood embarrassed and scratched her arm.

"You need to get to the second floor. Contact Jack and she'll guide you to her and get you out of here."

"Okay, uh, thanks."

"You look a lot better David. Have they been treating you alright?" She put a hand on his overarm, seeking eye contact.

"Yes.. I've been... counting."

"Anything in particular?"

"The number of days you have lengthened my life." He turned towards a door behind him. "The security office. I hacked the locks. There's guns... lots of guns. Goodbye." The man left for the others while Shepard strutted along towards the door.

The scene seemed little more than strange to Vega, while Garrus remembered the mission all too well. At the end he and Tali had been left standing having to watch her getting plunged into a virtual network after touching a console. Staggering through a door that just would open despite his and Tali's feverish hacking attempts. When the control of the doors had been released they had arrived just in time to see Shepard backhand the Cerberus scientist so hard he hit the floor. He seemed to remember her scars healing a lot better after that incidence.

Opening up the door David had pointed to the Commander gasped.

"What is it?" Garrus hurried up.

"That's the Mattock!" She disappeared into the dark room and collapsed the shotgun she was carrying. "I love this gun." She picked it up, checked the sink, peered through the cross-hair and activated incendiary ammo on it. If she had actually cuddled it, he wouldn't had been surprised.

"So we're saving a bunch of kids from the evil hands of Cerberus and Lola gets excited over a gun?"

Garrus walked over to pick up a sniper mod and implemented it to his weapon.

"It's all for the cause Vega." She said with the gun aimed at him. "Here." She threw a modded thermal clip over to him while lowering the assault rifle. "So you can go about wasting more ammo."

He chuckled and implemented the mod to his M-300 Claymore. They walked out of the room and continued through the door.

"Hey Vakarian, what's you count?"

"Up too... 54 by now."

"54? That's a lie!" She grabbed his arm while walking to peer into the omni-tool. There the numbers glowed, plain as day. "Aw man. I'm falling behind. Only got 44."

"You're doing a kill-count?"

"How else are you supposed to know who's getting the drinks?" She said with a grin. "Oh check this out." Her voice dropped as the next door revealed a lone engineer standing over his omni-tool.

Without orders Garrus deployed an overload and Shepard got to try out her new gun. Three shots and the guy went down.

"Dibs on the mech!" She collapsed the weapon to her back and climbed into the empty Atlas.

"I'm still going to beat you at it." The turian stated collapsing the sniper for an assault rifle.

"Bring it!"

...

While Shepard's team fought through the last assault Jack organized the escape. Before the fight was over Shepard had to throw herself out of the Atlas, watching it explode and then again throw herself away from the second Atlas unit controlled by enemy forces. Since she decided to drop the last armour using a Nova strike and almost getting caught in the explosion herself. (This actually happened on my playthrough ppl)

They joined up with the students when Kahlee was readying a shuttle. Nearly all of them was inside when Jack suddenly stopped.

"Wait, where the hell's Rodriguez?"

Gunfire was heard and they turned towards the room behind them. And sure as hell, the student was being chased by three Cerberus soldiers. Her barrier ripped just as she managed to take cover behind a bench.

"She needs cover fire!" Shepard raised her weapon and started hitting the glass. Having it make little webs of cracks with each hit.

"She needs more than that!" Jack shouted and threw a biotic force so strong it shattered the large bullet proof window aswell as knocking down the soldiers.

Getting up from throwing herself to the floor Shepard shook her head.

"Why didn't I think of that!" She hurried over to the girl and dragged her up on her feet and pulling her along. Making it around the corner before any more bullets started flying.

The Lounge on the Normandy

Two hours after they had boarded the Normandy Shepard managed to get Jack into the Normandy's lounge without any kids in her wake. James and Garrus was at the couches and fell silent when the two walked in. With Jack dressed in her punk style and Shepard with the N7 leather dress they made an odd vision on an alliance vessel. Especially since they were both on the alliance payroll. They stopped in front of the window looking out on the stars passing through.

"I've got this mission on Eden Prime-" Shepard started but didn't get far.

"Stop it right there Shepard. Last time you got me wired onto the Normandy you dragged me into a fucking Suicide mission." Jabbing a finger against the commander Jack instantly took up a defensive position.

"I'm not telling you to stay, Jack. It's just one mission. Cerberus dug up something on Eden Prime and my job is to jerk it out of their hands. One mission." She raised a finger, empathising her point. "In and out, hopefully with some resistance on the way. I want you with me, one last time."

Jack took hold of the railing and looked out the window with a sigh. Had it been six months ago she'd jumped on it without a doubt. This responsibility thing sure as hell had changed her.

"It's on the way to the Citadel so we're going to stop there anyway. Come on Jack." She leaned her hip on the same rail Jack was holding. "One last together. You, me and Cerberus."

The chance to fight alongside this insane biotic... and against Cerberus at that. Ah dammit. Hell yes.

"Alright Shepard. One last time. Gimme a shout when it's time. I'm gonna go check on the kids."

She turned and walked out to the elevator. Garrus leaned back in the couch.

"Guess who lost today's competition."

"Yeah yeah. By one! God dammit." Shepard turned towards the two men and folded her arms.

"Hey Lola, there's this one thing."
"Yeah?"

"I'm no expert on biotics, but it looked to me those kids where doing all-right. Their attacks helped us a lot down there."

"You're right." She stated walking over towards the bar. "After some real field training they would probably had become a force to recognize."

"So why did you send 'em to the back ranks?"

Shepard reached over the counter and pulled out three bottles of beer which she distributed amongst them. Careful not to mix up Garrus special dextro/amino-based with theirs.

"Because they're kids." She flung open the cap with her thumb. "And I refuse to win this war by shoving weapons in the hands of minors."

"You know, turians begin their military training at 15." Garrus pitched in.

"That's because you're slow learners." Shepard teased him.

"Seriously, 15 years old? Your women to?"

While Garrus answered Vega received a punch in the arm from the Commander.

"Every turian has to go through military training before being considered a fully adequate member of society. Most serve until they're 30."

"Not just military though, if I remember correctly." Shepard remained standing, resting her low back against the counter.

"No, only the first three years is mandatory within the military. After that it's serving the state in any way you can. Administration, military, sanitation worker, just about anything that's needed."

"I'm guessing you were training to become a soldier since you were born, Lola. Having two parents on active duty in the alliance."
"Are you kidding? I was determined never to join the military. Ever."

"Really?" Vega sounded genuinely surprised. Garrus instantly became more interested in the conversation.

"All those rules and discipline. I wasn't exactly what you could call a good and obedient kid."

"Somehow I don't have a problem seeing that."

"What made you change your mind?"

"Guns, mostly." She answered Garrus question. But to him the lie was far too obvious.

"Well, it's been nice drinking with you people." Vega got up and placed the empty bottle on the counter. "But sitting still after a mission like that really isn't my style. Catch you later."

As the huge fellow left the room Shepard sprawled herself over the empty couch. Having her head on one arm stead and her feet on the other.

"You know that is in no way a proper way to behave wearing those clothes."

She just stretched out her arms and crossed them behind her head. Still wondering what kind of 'vids' he'd been watching to learn about 'human behaviour'.

"Well at least this dress is longer than the last one." He noted.

"Yeah I know.. I wanted to take the scissors to it but Liara wont let me."

In reality he wanted to press her about her reason to join the alliance, but he also had the distinct feeling she would avoid the subject feverishly. Though there was another thing he wanted to take up..

"About this Eden Prime mission.. I don't like it."

"What?"

"You, Liara and Jack against Cerberus? That's a lot of shields to take down."

"Aaaw, are you worried about me? I have rapid firing weapons you know."

"Still-"

"If you're that worried you sure as hell made a bad choice in picking your woman."

Alright, she didn't want to hear it. Point made.

He rose and put away the bottle and pulled off the gloves of his armour. Turning to the woman stretching out on the couch he squatted and started to pull his talons through her hair. There was something about it that quite fascinated him. No other of the citadel species had anything like it. Most of them just had... horns.

"Should I keep my eyes closed?"

Shepard asked smiling as his other hand rested at her stomach. Garrus chuckled and pulled a little closer, wanting to get good sample of her scent. He wasn't entirely sure how it happened, she was so quick when she wanted to. But her eyes flicked open, and moving like a cat she overmanned him. His back was to the chair across the couch she had been lying at. Her legs crossed over him and her hands at the rim of his armour. Clear blue eyes staring at him with a burning intensity.

"Bet you regret wearing armour right now, huh, freak?" She mused.

This was far from the first time she'd called him that. Although it was mostly 'armour freak'. Pointing out his habit of never wearing casual clothing, anywhere. He gave her a low growl as an answer. Pulling him towards her she kissed him, washing away the slightest doubt he ever would've had about her not being interested. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to pull her even closer as the door opened.

"Oh for crying out loud Commander! At least put a sock on it!" Dr Chakwas turned at the door after the sight of the turian and human together.

Shepard laughed so hard she was shaking. Garrus, not really getting it wasn't quite sure if he was supposed to be embarrassed or laugh it off with her.

"Put a sock on it?" Not sure as to what it was that needed... covering.

"Hmm? Oh. It's an old trick. Put a sock on the doorknob and people will know you're... busy. You know... David taught me this lovely trick that makes the button of a door go away.."

"Here? Really?"

"What?"

"Well it's been six months and I just figured it would be a bit more... classy."

"I'd never take you for a romantic Garrus." She mused with a low voice.

"Well it's just... I mean.. The vids-"

"Oh shut up." She said, getting up from the floor. "We'll do it your way. But depending on what we find on Eden Prime I just might not have time until we're at the Citadel. And when we get there I'm gonna get drunk, and when I get drunk-"

"I get it. But what could you possibly find that would take up you time, hmm? A new cipher?"

"Oh you never know with these things. Maybe the answer we're looking for. This Catalyst. Maybe a beacon. Or even an ancient old real prothean. The smartest of their people. And all he can do is speak in riddles."

"A living prothean? I'm not sure Liara would ever shut up."

Shepard laughed shortly and started to walk away, but stopped just before the door.

"And one more thing, Vakarian." A trademark hand on her hip. "No one has ever held me on a leash before. If I don't like it, I just might bite. You should know."

She disappeared out the door and again he cursed himself for his stupidity. Well, at least this time it wasn't all that far off to a cold shower. At least this time she was probably giving herself the same treatment.

Authors Note: So if you think i could write a little more about surroundings and stuff then, yes. I could. I'm actively choosing not to. This is written for people that play and love the game and can visualize everything within microseconds. (No offence My lovely friend Fey who is the ONLY one to have the kindness to actually review this. She just knows I can do better) Also I'm mostly just publishing this for fun. There isn't many people following this story. I'm still going to write it since it brings me lots and lots of joy. Transferring it from notepad (yes people I always write the first draft on all my stories with pen and paper.)to computer is mostly good practice.

It might take a bit longer for the next update. I'm edging on getting another chapter of my stargate fic out. (Where people actually read it, which gives a write lots more motivation)

Anyway

Next missions Squad mates are gonne be Liara and Jack! That'ss be fun, biotic bitch squad? (Kinda miss Morinth)

(and yes there's gonna be more scenes between Garrus and Kitten. Count on it.)