Elephant - Tame Impala
Incoming message - Marked Highly Confidential
Commander Shepard,
For both of our sakes', I'm requesting that this sensitive information is kept on a need-to-know basis.
I'm highly interested in what you had to say at your presentation today, although as I'm sure you can understand I do not wish to aggravate the rest of the Council which is why I'm contacting you directly.
There will be a very exclusive, turian-and-guests only party at my loft on the Presidium tomorrow evening. I'm formally inviting Garrus Vakarian, due to his family's rank in the hierarchy, as well as yourself as his guest. This is a black tie affair; as a soldier, your wardrobe may be lacking in such attire, so I'm sending 5,000 credits to your account to purchase something suitable for yourself and Garrus, if necessary.
When you arrive at the party, my servant Mr. Buxton will give you further directives.
I've attached coordinates for my loft. I'll see you at 1830 hours. Food and drink will be provided.
Councilor Sparatus
Shepard withheld a laugh as she read the message. Typical politician. He believed what I had to say, but was so concerned about what everyone else would think that he had to investigate it in secret. Well, at least someone is willing to listen to me. And I get a dress out of it.
Shepard was far from a feminine woman. Her personal funds had often been spent on tools, weapons, and armour, not on fancy clothing and makeup. But a thrill went through her at the thought of transforming herself for a date with Garrus.
She stopped walking so abruptly that a volus almost walked into her, murmuring his discontent as he passed. Did she just think of this as a date with Garrus? And did she just think to herself that she was looking forward to it?
That was strange.
That was very strange.
She resumed walking, and made her way back to the ship so she could change into her civvies and grab a female to assist with her shopping. But she felt bothered at the thoughts which had intruded into her mind. On her list of priorities, romance had consistently been at the bottom. Yet here she was, excited to dress up and go to a fancy turian party with Garrus.
Why Garrus, of all people? It was undeniable that he was who she considered to be her best friend, and she explicitly trusted him. But he was a turian, and a high ranking one according to Sparatus. She had no place among his affections, and no time to even ponder it with such an important mission as her priority.
Didn't mean she couldn't find him cute. It was just something she would have to keep to herself. Something she could investigate more after the days of the Reapers and the Collectors.
Reaching the ship, she entered the elevator and went upstairs, sending a quick message to Miranda requesting that they meet at the docks in fifteen. She had settled on Miranda as a good shopping companion, knowing that a day with no one but Kelly Chambers would drive her mad. She yearned for the companionship of her old friends Tali and Liara, but had accepted that their lives had to take separate directions.
Shepard changed quickly, released her hair from its normally restricting bun, and headed to the docks to wait for Miranda. She was early, so she took the moment to shoot a message to Garrus.
G,
Forgot to ask if you even have anything formal. If you don't, let me know, I'll send some funds your way.
Zoey
Moments later, her omni-tool pinged in response.
Shepard,
I think I have something hidden in the back of my closet. Wouldn't want to show up better dressed than you, anyways. What is it exactly we're going to?
G.
P.S. Is this the official start of me calling you Zoey?
Although it was just a message, she felt a butterfly stir at the pit of her stomach at the thought of him calling her Zoey. For years, the only people who referenced her by her first name were her direct family members, and even her father had taken to calling her commander.
G,
Only in private. I need to maintain a semblance of respect to the crew.
I'll let you in on what we're up to tomorrow. Top secret business. Think James Bond.
Z.
His second response came quickly again.
Zoey,
You think the crew respects you after seeing those dance moves two years ago?
By the way, who's James Bond and is he as dashingly handsome as I?
G.
G,
You have a new project before tomorrow: research James Bond on the extranet, and watch The Spy Who Loved Me and Goldfinger.
I'm off to shop with Miranda. Wish me luck.
Z.
Z,
You give us shore leave and then tell me to stay inside and watch vids?
Good luck, Zoey.
Bond.
She was laughing at her omni-tool when Miranda arrived.
"Shepard, what can I do for you?"
"I have a fun assignment for you."
Miranda cocked her hip and rested her partially gloved hand on it. "Assignment? I thought we were on shore leave?"
Shepard raised an eyebrow in response. "Well, if you don't want to go shopping..."
"Shopping?" she asked, clearly surprised. "I didn't take you as the shopping type."
"I'm not, which is why I need your help."
"What do we need?"
"Black tie. And maybe..." she paused. Was she ready to open this bag of worms? "Maybe something a little slinky. I have a lot of people to impress."
Miranda linked her arm with Zoey's. "You've made the right choice for a shopping companion, then. Let's go!"
To her surprise, Miranda was a great companion. The trip proved to be a moment of bonding between the two, as they avoided the topic of the Collectors and instead discussed their families, growing up, and their careers.
"I have to admit, Miranda, I thought you'd be more curious about why we're doing this trip." Shepard knew Miranda was the sort of woman who didn't like secrets being kept from her.
Miranda let out a sad sigh, rolling a silky dress over her fingers and admiring the feel of the fabric. "You're my Commander, first and foremost, Shepard. But I like the idea of having someone who can just be my friend sometimes. I often incite jealousy among other women, it makes friendships difficult."
Shepard snorted. "You know Miranda, I have every reason to hate you but I still like you. Besides, I spent years growing up on ships, having a few people I considered to be my friend for a few months, but then we'd bounce to the next ship. Commanding a ship has been an amazing opportunity and one of the main reasons why is because of the lifelong friendships I've been able to develop. I hope ours will turn out to be one of them."
"That makes two of us, Shepard."
Garrus was pacing the main battery.
He was wearing, for the first time in a decade, his family formal attire. It was over-the-top: a tight-fitting top, blue with a white stripe down the middle with a high, dark blue neck and pants which buckled along the side, paired with black boots and what his sister called a cape. Shepard was expected to meet him any minute now, and he hadn't the faintest idea what the two of them were going to be doing. All he knew was that it required fancy attire, and food and drink would be provided. Which he was eternally grateful for, since nutrient bars and paste had become very boring very quickly.
He jumped when the door to the main battery opened, and his heart leaped into his throat when he saw Shepard standing before him.
Was it Shepard? Zoey Shepard? She looked like an entirely different - but magnificent - person. Although he had found her most compelling when she was covered in engine grease or sweat after a long battle, she had undergone a complete transformation. And she was stunning.
"Spirits, Zoey," he muttered.
Her hair had been pulled into a knot at the back of her head, but several pieces had fallen out and framed her face in wavy strands. She had painted her face in the human fashion, with deep colours on her eyelids and longer eyelashes to accentuate her eyes. She had dashes of pink on her cheeks and her lips were a deep red. On her chest rested a blue-jeweled pendant, drawing his eyes to the sweetheart neckline of her strapless black dress, which gripped her curves and trailed almost to the floor with a slit halfway up her left thigh. She was wearing red heels to match her lips. He shook his head and felt extremely foolish when he realized that his mouth had been open while he took in her stunning form.
She rested her left foot on his cot and pulled the fabric aside to reveal a hidden holster high up on her thigh, packed with her trusty pistol. His heart rate increased when he took in her milky skin, and he fought hard to resist the urge to reach out and touch it, to feel how soft it was.
"Mr. Bond," she said quietly, interrupting his blissful reverie. "The name's Agent XXX. Are you ready to be briefed on this evening's mission?"
Be suave, Vakarian. Be suave.
He raised a brow plate at her. "Pleasure to meet you, XXX. What's the mission?"
She continued in a velvety voice. "Councilor Sparatus has invited you to a very private party in his loft. I am to be your guest. Details will be given to me upon arrival, but it sounds like Sparatus was interested in what I had to say yesterday and wants more details."
He held his elbow out for her to grab. "Shall we, then?"
She grabbed it and smiled up at him. His arm burned where she held it. With her heels, she was nearing his height, her eyes just below the level of his own as they met.
The two of them must have been a sight walking through the ship dressed to the nines. But his eyes were only on one person - Zoey Shepard.
He knew the moment he met her that she was special. She was compelling in an absolute way, and he knew that he would follow her to the ends of the earth if she asked him to. By the time that he had followed her through several missions and observed the grace which she crossed the battlefield and the compassion which she showed her enemies, he was fascinated. When he watched her fix machinery with a second nature, listen to each of her crew members, and single-handedly talk Saren into suicide, he was enamored.
Over the years after Shepard's death, Garrus had spent much of his time contemplating his feelings for her. To pacify himself, he had equated them to pure admiration for the Commander and her abilities. But after the relief he felt upon seeing her again, and considering the way she made him feel now that she was back, he knew there was more to his feelings. And the best part was that he would never have to lose her again.
But how would he have any idea if she felt the same? She had never expressed any romanticism to him, although she had made it clear that she trusted him. With their incompatible biologies, human-turian relationships were highly unusual. He also knew that humans often found turian traits to be unattractive and vice versa. But when Garrus looked for a partner, it wasn't about looks. It was about spirit, and Shepard had more spirit than anyone he had met before.
They left the ship and walked through the Citadel, remaining arm-in-arm for the duration of their walk. The night cycle was approaching, and the Citadel was bathed in red and orange. They blended in, for many well-dressed people were on their way to parties and dinners of their own. Garrus found he was so nervous he had difficulty sparking conversation, but Shepard appeared comfortable in the silence.
"Are you ready, Mr. Bond?"
Garrus hadn't realized they had already arrived at the loft. She knocked and a turian servant answered, a tray laden with clear liquids in his other hand. Garrus didn't fail to acknowledge that he was barefaced as he bowed curtly to them and showed them into the loft.
It was absolutely stunning, though nothing less could be expected of a Councilor. It was wide and spacious, but functional and very angular in the turian architectural fashion. Grey was a standard colour in various shades throughout the area, and most of the portraits were of landscapes. To their left was a small dining area, with a lavish pine table with matching chairs, and to their right was the kitchen, the marble countertops sparkling. Before them a glass spiral staircase lead to the next level.
"Remind me when the Reaper war is over to become the turian Councilor," Garrus whispered into Shepard's ear.
"Commander Shepard," Mr. Buxton drawled. "Councilor Sparatus has requested your presence in the dining area. You will find levo food and drink there."
"Garrus, do you want to go to the -"
Shepard stopped when she saw the expression on Garrus's face. His mouth was wide, his mandibles consistently fluttering, fear and shock in his eyes. She touched his arm gently, and he didn't react. "Garrus, are you ok?"
He was silent for a few more moments, his gaze completely drawn to a group of turians in the kitchen. One turian in particular, actually - a male with similar blue markings to Garrus.
Garrus finally found the courage to speak, and muttered so quietly that Shepard could barely hear him.
"Dad?"