TUCHANKA

The sun has been down for over two hours. Shepard is staying warm by pacing back and forth. They cannot risk having a fire because they do not have good cover. They would be spotted from miles away. She and Wrex, who is sleeping, are waiting for Eli and his clansmen to return. The plan for tonight was to take two towns.

Shepard hears vehicles approach. She shakes Wrex awake.

"What?"

"Someone's coming." Shepard checks her sidearm then grabs her shotgun. Wrex gets up off the ground with a grunt and a moan. He grabs his shotgun. The two hide from the approaching vehicles.

Twelve Tomkahs slowly drive past the operational camp. The first vehicle pulls off the dirt road and parks, the second follows then the third and so on. Shepard and Wrex know it is Eli and the rest of the Krogan. They come out from their hiding spot.

Eli is the first to exit. "Shepard, Wrex is at that you?"

"Yeah," says Shepard.

"Get in. We need to get back to the main base, we have wounded."

Shepard and Wrex enter the same Tomkah as Eli.

"I left a Tomkah about half a mile out," says Shepard.

"We will have one of the others pick it up." Eli nods to a fellow Krogan who dispenses his orders.

"So?" asks Wrex.

"We took both towns, but not without loss."

"How many?"

"Five dead and three wounded."

Wrex growls.

"Any civilians volunteer?" asks Shepard.

"Two."

Wrex growls again.

"Do you have a better idea Urdnot Wrex?"

"We need to take a city. We need a bigger base of operations. We are wasting too much fuel with running back and forth between these towns. You should have at least ordered everyone into one of the towns and made that our new base."

"Normally I would agree with you but Clan Jurdon is making that very difficult."

"How so?" asks Shepard.

"The minute we attack, the Krogan from Clan Jurdon set fire to the buildings. They destroy any vehicles or any technology they find. It's as if they know they are going to be defeated so they ruin as many homes as possible leaving the civilians homeless. Besides, the towns are not fortified. The ones we have taken back would not make good bases, not good for a defensive position."

"If so many homes are being burned why aren't more volunteering?" asks Shepard.

"Cowards," says Wrex. "Peace has made us soft. That is how Jurdon Gran got the advantage and how he keeps it," says Wrex.

"We can't force them to fight Wrex," says Eli.

"Like hell. Turn these things around."

"What?"

"You left the civilians in the town right?"

"They refused to leave."

"Send your strongest forces to the towns you have already captured. Bring the civilians to the biggest town you just cleared."

"But Wrex."

"I gave you an order Eli."

Eli gives his orders to the driver.


THESSIA

It is raining and is past midnight. Mia wakes when a huge clap of thunder rattles the entire house. "Mom? Dad?" She pulls the covers back and rubs her eyes. She remembers. They are not home. They are not home where they should be.

The whole house lights up. Mia looks out the window and sees brilliant lightening zigzagging across the sky. It blinks in and out of the darkness lighting up everything in its path. Mia checks the light to her room, it still works. She makes her way down to the main floor. The city lights outside look beautiful as ever. She sits on the couch in the dark watching the light show.

There is a knock at the door. Who could that be? Mia turns on the kitchen light. She checks the monitor. It's Dava. Shit

The soft knock comes again; it is a little faster now and a little more urgent.

Mia slowly takes in and lets out a breath. She opens the front door.

Dava is soaking wet and shivering.

"Goddess Dava come in."

Mia closes the door and reengages the security system. "What are you doing out in this weather, do you know what time it is?"

Dava is just standing there hugging herself, shivering getting the floor wet.

"Dava?"

The asari just stands and shivers.

"Come on." Mia puts her arm around her shoulders and leads her into her Mom and Dad's master bathroom. She turns the shower on and turns the water to hot. "Go ahead get in."

Dava does as she is told.

"Take your clothes off Dava."

There was a time when Mia would have very much wanted to see Dava naked. When they dated in their early twenties Mia thought she was in love. She has not felt that way with anyone else, not for lack of chances, but she has shut herself off. Though she does not talk much about it, Dava forcing herself into her mind changed Mia to the point that she is scared to get too close to anyone.

Dava tries to lift her shirt up over her head but is shaking too hard. Her hands won't work like they are supposed to.

Without thinking Mia steps into the shower still in her pajamas. "Here let me help you." Mia lifts the shirt off of Dava. Mia grabs a washcloth hanging on the outside of the door and warms it under the water. She starts to softly rub Dava's back. "What happened Dava?"

Dava shakes her head and she continues to hug herself.

"I am going to take your bra off okay Dava?"

She nods.

Mia can hear her teeth chattering.

With the bra off Mia washes Dava's back, then moves to each arm. When Dava faces her Mia cannot help but look at her blue ample breasts. She looks at Dava who has her eyes shut.

"Ssssooo c-c-c-cold."

Mia steps in and holds her. "I got you. You will warm up soon."

Dava latches on to Mia holding her close as if letting her go would mean to die. Mia is scared at first at her desperation but feels Dava shivering from head to toe. Mia turns the water hotter. "Hang in there, you will get warm soon." Mia steps back from the hug, though they are still in each other's arms. Dava's eyes meet hers. For a split second Mia feels the familiar spark, the attraction. Dava quickly looks away, but Mia could see her desire. "I am going to take your pants off Dava okay?"

She nods still too cold to talk coherently.

Mia pulls her pants down. Dava steps out of them. Mia looks up at her underwear. She grabs the underwear on either side of Dava's hips, closes her eyes and pulls them down. Then she quickly stands. Goddess she is beautiful. Dava quickly hugs her again as her body trembles. "I got you." Mia just holds her. They stand under the hot water for a few minutes. The entire bathroom is steaming up; Mia forgot to leave the bathroom door open. "You feeling warmer?"

"Y-Y-Yes, th-th-thank you."

"Okay I am going to step out and get us some towels okay?"

"Okay."

Mia steps out of the shower and grabs two towels. Dava turns off the water and steps out. Mia averts her eyes and hands Dava a towel. "Th-thanks."

Mia starts to dry herself but realizes it is pointless because she still has her drenched pajamas on. She looks up at Dava. Dava smiles at her a little then turns her back. Mia takes off her pajamas then dries off.

"Are you hungry?" asks Mia.

"A little."

"Stay here, I will get you some clothes okay?" Mia wraps the towel around her. "I'll be right back."

Mia quickly makes her way upstairs. She grabs some shorts and a t-shirt and quickly gets dressed and then she grabs some shorts and a t-shirt for Dava. She returns to the master bedroom to find Dava sitting on the corner of the bed wrapped in a towel.

Mia clears her throat. She avoids eye contact when she hands Dava the clothes. "I will heat up some left over dinner for you and make you some hot tea."

"Mia?"

She turns to look at Dava, "Yeah?"

"I know this is probably the last thing you wanted to have happen tonight. Thank you."

Mia gives her a small smile then enters the kitchen.

It doesn't take long before Dava emerges from the bedroom wearing Mia's clothes. "How do I look?"

When Mia looks at her, her eyes, her smile, she is reminded of the old Dava, her Dava. "You look great, good…you look good." Mia looks away and returns to making tea.

Dava sits at the breakfast bar. Lightening lights up the house through the floor to ceiling windows in the family room. "Wow it is really coming down out there."

Mia hands her a cup of hot tea. "The food will be a few minutes."

Dava takes a sip.

"So what happened Dava? Why are you out so late at night and in the middle of a thunderstorm?"

"I…it's hard to explain."

"Try."

"I …I know I am not the same person I used to be Mia. I feel like there is something inside of me, I don't know what it is but it's there. I sometimes get so angry that I don't know what to do. Do you ever get so angry that you want to hit something or just scream your head off until your throat hurts?"

"I guess," says Mia after she thinks about it. "What does that have to do with you showing up here drenched?"

"I think I hurt someone."

Mia feels a shiver run down her spine. She swallows. "What do you mean Dava?"

"I…I'm not sure. It is a feeling I guess."

"What do you mean a feeling? Like Raina?"

"No, no nothing like that." Dava takes another sip. Mia notices her hands have a slight tremble in them. "I sometimes find myself in places and I don't know how I got there. Like tonight. I don't know why I am out tonight and I don't know why I came here. Old habit I guess."

"Have you told anyone about this?"

"Like who? You? You stopped talking to me remember?"

Mia hears the anger in her voice. The Dava she remembers is slowly disappearing before her eyes. "With good reason Dava."

Dava lets out a sigh, "I know. It's just…"

"Your getting better is not my responsibility Dava it's yours. And I don't like you holding me up on some pedestal thinking I am the answer for you. It's not fair."

"Fair? You want to talk to me about fair Mia?" Dava stands, she nearly knocks over her cup of tea.

Mia takes a step back. She readies her biotics.

Dava's eyes look at each fist with blue light swirling around them. The asari sits back down. "I'm sorry."

Mia stops her biotics. "You need to see someone Dava."

Dava winces in pain. She grabs her head with her hands. "Aahh!"

"Dava?"

Dava stumbles off the chair at the breakfast bar. She is squinting while holding her head, "Ssss stay back Mia."

"What is it? What is going on?"

"Some…things" Dava falls to her knees clutching at her head, "wrong…"

"Dava?"

"Get away from her Mia!"

Mia feels static electricity in the air, but it is not her. Blue light suddenly surrounds her. She looks to her left and sees Raina, her sister has shielded her.

"Mia back away now!"

"But?"

"Noooo!" Dava stands. Her eyes are pitched black.

Mia looks at her hands. There are red and blue lights forming around each of them. Mia knows she is getting ready to strike out.

"Dava no!"

Mia, prepared for the worst, sees Dava thrown back. Raina pushed her with her biotics. The asari stumbles to her feet.

"Raina!" Mia watches her older sister walk with purpose toward Dava.

Dava snarls at Raina. She brings her hands up but Raina throws her back once more.

"Stay back Mia!"

"You are mine T'Soni!" Dava's hands come up and red light shoots from them. Raina is already shielded but is thrown against the wall.

"Raina!"

Raina does not lose her balance. "I am NOT yours." Raina fires a large blue biotic ball that hits Dava square in the chest. She is thrown up against the floor to ceiling window in the family room cracking it. The asari falls to the ground in a heap.

Mia starts to run toward her.

"Stop Mia!" Raina punches her away with her biotics.

Raina approaches the prone asari. She quickly looks at Mia, "Get something to tie her up with."

Mia is shocked. She is not sure she heard right.

"Mia T'Soni! Get something to tie her up with before she wakes up!"

Raina throws a stasis field on Dava while Mia slowly comes to terms with what just happened. "Hurry!"

Mia normally would look in her Dad's gear bag. She had tie things that worked really well. "I think I have rope upstairs."

"Hurry."

Mia can see Raina is getting tired. She sees her sweating and her body is starting to shake.

"Hang on Raina." Mia runs upstairs.

"What is going on?" asks Eva rubbing her eye.

"Go downstairs and help Raina, Dava is here."

"What?" Eva runs downstairs.

Mia looks through her stuff. She finds some rope. She runs downstairs. She finds Raina and Eva both holding Dava in place. The asari is awake and struggling against the stasis field. Mia kneels down and grabs one wrist. She loops some rope around it then reaches in the stasis field to grab the other wrist. She loops the rope around that then pulls tight. "Got her."

"You sure?" asks Eva.

"I'm sure." Mia sits on Dava's back holding her wrists. "You guys can let her go."

Raina and Eva stop the stasis field. Raina sways on her feet. "I got you." Eva eases her into the nearby chair.

Dava tries to buck Mia off of her.

"Keep it up Dava and I will hit you."

Dava hisses and bucks again.

Mia hits her with her fist between the shoulder blades.

Dava grunts a little and stops struggling.

Eva hands a glass of water to Raina, "Here drink this."

Raina downs the entire glass.

"You two mind telling me what is going on?" asks Eva.

"She was fine until a few minutes ago," says Mia.

"I think we should call her parents."

Dava laughs a deep, scary laugh.

"Oh Goddess."

"What Raina?" asks Eva.

Raina shakes her head, "We need to call the police."


En Route to Omega

Miranda enters the quarters she is sharing with her bondmate Arelia. Liara took over flying the ship. They could fly on auto but none of them want to take any chances. Miranda is exhausted and cannot wait to crawl into bed. As quietly as possible she strips then crawls under the covers.

She lets out a long sigh as she get as comfortable as she can lying on her back not touching Arelia. She misses her bondmate, her skin, her lips, her breasts, her…

"Miranda?"

"Hmm? Sorry Arelia did I wake you?"

"It's all right. I don't sleep very well without you here."

At that comment Miranda wants to hold her, but she doesn't move.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine, just tired. Liara is piloting the ship." Miranda feels Arelia move closer. She turns her head to look at the asari. "How are you doing?" Miranda moves onto her side so she can face her bondmate.

Arelia reaches out and touches her cheek. Then she scoots closer and kisses her.

Miranda is taken a bit off guard. She thought Arelia was still mad at her. Miranda wraps her arm around her and shifts under her as she pulls Arelia on top of her. She deepens the kiss holding her close. When they finally break from the kiss Miranda says, "I thought you need more time."

Arelia plays with her long black tresses. "You have given me the time I needed. Thank you." The asari leans in and softly kisses her again.

Miranda looks at her when they break, "I am sorry Arelia. I will try not to…"

Arelia stops her lips with her own.

Miranda quickly moves Arelia and gets on top of her. "This needs to come off."

"If you insist."

Miranda kisses her way down Arelia's body. She stops at the end of her pajama top. Her hands travel up underneath them to massage the asari's breasts.

Arelia moans a little then loses patience. She sits up quickly and takes her pajama top off. She grabs Miranda's face and pulls her up to kiss her. The human lies on top of her while their tongues dance. Miranda moves off to the side, her hand cups a blue breast as she softly bites Arelia's lower lip.

"I have missed you so much." Miranda trails kisses down to Arelia's breast. She sucks on her nipple then softly bites it. The human kisses her way down trailing her tongue over Arelia's tight stomach. She pulls down Arelia's pajama bottoms.

"May I?" asks Arelia.

"Please." Miranda softly kisses Arelia's inner thigh when she feels Arelia begin the meld. It has been too long for the couple.

Miranda brings Arelia over the edge quickly. She could sense in the meld how badly Arelia needed it even though it was fast. The second time the human took her time.

Lying in each other's arms Arelia is threading Miranda's hair through her fingers. "That was amazing."

"You are amazing Arelia for putting up with me. I can be such a bitch sometimes and I am so sorry I hurt you."

"Enough," Arelia squeezes Miranda close. "Please. Enough. Let's put it behind us."

"I promise to do better in the future." Miranda kisses her hand. "I love you so much Arelia." Miranda lifts her head up to kiss her.

"I love you too."


TUCHANKA

The civilians are all gathered in the middle of the town. Wrex is standing on a make shift stage that other Krogan quickly put together. Eli has his troops watching the perimeter. Shepard is standing off to the side of the podium facing Wrex like the other Krogan, she has no idea what he is going to say or do.

"Listen up!" says Wrex. "Tell me right now if you want to live like we used to."

The civilian Krogan look amongst themselves. No one answers.

"That is what I thought. Clan Jurdon is killing our people. He has taken our women from us. He is holding our brothers and sisters captive. Are you okay with this?"

"No!" one Krogan in the back yells. Others join in with grunts and head nods and other shouts of No.

"Now is the time we must fight for what we want. If we don't fight now we have already lost. Our women need you. Our brothers in arms need you. You are the key to victory!"

Shepard yells, "Yeah!" other Krogan join in. She feels the energy of the crowd.

"We have fought long and hard as Krogan. You may not have fired a shotgun in decades, but it will come back to you. You were all soldiers once and can be again. We need your help. I need your help. Help me take back our planet!"

"Yeah!" the Krogan in the back yells. Others join in.

"Help me take back our brothers!"

"Yeah!"

"Help me take back our women!"

The entire crowd yells and raises their arms. They start chanting Wrex's name.

Wrex holds up his hands to quiet the crowd.

"It will not be easy, but it must be done. Rest tonight for tomorrow we take a city!"

The crowd roars again.

Wrex steps down off the make shift stage and signals for Shepard to follow. Once they are inside and cannot be seen Wrex slumps into a chair.

"That was amazing Wrex! I knew you still had it in …" her voice trails off when she looks at her friend. "Wrex?" She places her hand on his shoulder. "What can I get you? Water?" She looks around for water. She steps away from Wrex but he catches her wrist. "What? What is it?"

"Victory. Get me victory."