Exodus II
Citadel Military Institute 12:10
Nate POV
Rikki and I were in the music room. I just caught her singing a song that I knew very well and she was well. Pissed off. She yelled at me and dismissed me, but in the end she couldn't resist my coercive tactics and legendary charm. Nah more like she's bat shit crazy and bi-polar. Like right now she's being all charming and funny, that's not the Rikki she's shown me. She told me about her brother and what he's like. Apparently he drives her up the wall since he's always getting into trouble leaving her to apologize on his behalf. She also told me that there was someone who paid for her to take the Military Aptitude Test. It's not cheap to take either; her scores were pretty high as well.
She also informed me that someone called TIM was the one who was sponsoring her. I'd heard his name before, Jacob said he was the one who paid for his test but other than that TIM is a complete mystery.
"I've got a question Rikki"
"Shoot"
"Are you bi-polar?"
She looked at me as if I'd grown a second head. That was before falling to the floor in laughter. "I guess that's fair. I have been pretty different" she conceded
"That's a bit of an understatement. Normally I can't stand you, now I almost like you"
"Maybe this is the real me and I've shown you a fake me" she countered
"Maybe and if that's the case then you are quite the actress"
She took a little bow "Thank you"
"To be perfectly honest I don't know, maybe it's the music, maybe stress relief, maybe… you"
I felt a chill run down my spine and my every instinct was screaming at me to get the hell out of here. What the fuck is wrong with this girl. Is an early death on her bucket list
"Relax boy scout. I know about you and Jack"
I need to get back to form. If she found us in this room together and there was no one else but us. I'm pretty sure she'd tear off the Citadel's arms
"It's getting real late Ineedtogetbacktoformnow" I rushed making a beeline for the exit but I was quickly cut off by Rikki moving a table in the way.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Anywhere that isn't here"
"But what's the rush. I'm just trying to get to know you" she teased. She's fucking with me, trying to make me squirm. And now I'm suddenly remembering why I don't like her in the first place
"Funny… now can I go back to form now"
"You have my permission. She said triumphantly" she narrated
"And that's when the walls were painted red by Rikki's blood. He threatened sadistically" she actually giggled
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17:30 CTD, Citadel, Silversun Strip, Tiberius Towers, Traynor's Apartment
"Come on Shepard you're going to get us killed" Sam groaned
"I'm the only one actually doing any damage" I argued
"Charging in head first and trying to take everyone out isn't a sound strategy Shep" Kasumi added
"I'm a Vanguard what do you expect."
"In real life maybe but this isn't reality. This is a fucking game, now blow Nyreen's head off and hide like the rest of us" Kasumi ordered from across the screen.
I was playing this game called HARBINGER. It was this long ass adventure game about someone rallying troops to face an arm of robotic space squids. I'm at Sam's place playing multiplayer with Kasumi on our side. I'm a Sentinel, Sam is an engineer and Kasumi is an Infiltrator.
"Nice Kasumi" Traynor giggled "Now hide; Jacob and Grunt are on the way to your location. I swear to god Nate if we lose this, I am telling Jack about your dream threesome with her and Miranda"
My player ran behind a crate before climbing a ladder towards Sam. Sam laid a turret down and began constructing it and Kasumi prepared to use her sniper. I hit the two of them with an EMP before the turrets ripped their armour to shreds. Kasumi finished them off with two headshots.
Sam gave me a high five and cheered "Now that's what happens when you mess with me"
I turned my mic off "You're taunting Omega's queen, her girlfriend, one of the strongest biotics in the school and a fucking Krogan"
She also turned her mic off "If they aren't good enough to beat me then they'll be taunted instead. It's basic gamers etiquette Nate… take notes "
I rubbed the bridge of my nose "Sam how many death threats are you getting now from these crazy gamers?"
"I've been good this month" she defended but after I gave her the look she sighed "400"
"Wow, it's gone down that much" I was genuinely surprised. Sam could make you want to throttle her when she wanted to
I tried to visit Kelly but Dr Chakwas refused to let me in again. I've tried to do so just about every day but she still can't stand to be in the same room as any male of any race. She breaks down into teas and just totally shuts down. I don't blame her for it either. I am going to kill Balak if I get the chance and I will make Saren suffer for everything he's done to my friends. Rylee visits her a lot and so does Sam. But from what they've told me she isn't the same as she used to be. She's quiet and jittery, doesn't smile often and she doesn't laugh. She's been trying to force herself to change but Sam discouraged it. I agree with Sam, I want her to really get better and not just superficially.
That's why I'm here in the first place. It always upsets Traynor and she'll admit it. She's my of my best girl friend and I'm going to be there for her.
My Omni-tool pinged "Hey Loco come down, I've got something to show you" James said before hanging up
"Was that James"
"Yes, this is not gonna be good". I gave her a hug "Say buy to Kasumi for me" I asked before heading down the stairs to my place
When I arrived home I noticed that the house was eerily quiet. Not a sound emanated from the apartment, not Jade and Ori's laughter, nor Jen and Miri's fighting, not even the TV. The armoury isn't in the living room so if someone charges then I'm fucked.
"ATTACK" I heard two high pitched, shrill voices cry. I felt myself being engulfed by a mass effect field. It wasn't that powerful but it still slowed me down significantly. Through my peripheral vision I could see a small form charging straight at me. Fucking kids.
I put my palm out to stop her from hitting me. On closer inspection I saw that it was Oriana and she had a pot taped to her head like it was a helmet. But she dodged my arm and went straight for my leg. She kicked the back of my knee causing my leg to buckle a little. What the fuck are they doing? I noticed the second kid too late. I saw Jade aiming directly at me, but not with a gun but with her arm. Her aim is a little too low to be my head or chest. She can't be, there's no way she would, she wouldn't dare.
That was when I felt the most painful sensation a man could feel. A blow to the crotch. I keeled over and held my balls protectively. That biotic ball was powerful as fuck. Kid's got good aim.
They ran into the kitchen "We did it" the cheered
A round of applause could be heard coming out of the kitchen and out walked James Vega, Jennifer Leigh, Kaidan Alenko, Rylee Shepard and Miranda Lawson. They all had these contented grins on their faces watching me writhe in agony.
"I don't know why he's in pain. There's nothing there in the first place" James joked
I managed to remove one hand from my crotch and used it to give him the finger. When I tried to speak nothing came out, the pain was too excruciating.
"It's okay take your time" he further patronised
"James if I ever get up the first thing I'm doing is kicking your ass into your throat" I wheezed.
"Come on Loco you have to admit it was pretty funny" I gave him a glare that suggested otherwise "It wasn't my idea, you can blame that on Lola"
I twisted my body towards Jack and she offered me a flirtatious wave. Fucking bitch. Getting kicked in the crotch is one of the worst things you could ever do to a man.
"What… the fuck" I cursed no longer caring that the kids were there
"They wanted combat training" Jen said
"So your response was to have them hit me in my special place"
"That wasn't planned. I just told them to get you to the ground" she defended before giving Oriana and Jade a smile "I didn't even need to tell them to fight dirty… I'm so proud"
I glared at her as a way to say shut up and she flipped me the bird. "Come on kids. I'm buying ice-cream" their faces lit up and they followed Jen out the door. Kaidan, Rylee and Miranda went upstairs leaving me in the company of Mr Vega.
"Come on Nate you've gotta admit that this is pretty funny"
"OK Vega how about I kick you in the balls and we can share the experience"
"Naah I'd rather just give you silent support"
"Well you can stop cuz it's not working" I retorted to which he guffawed
Our conversation was interrupted when Jen rushed back into the room. Some would have thought that she was going to check up on her injured boyfriend. But that was not the case. She knelt down and placed her wrist side by side with mine
"I'm takin some creds. Kids want a lot of ice-cream" she stated. Once she wired the money from my Omni-tool she ran back out.
Just before she left I yelled "I'm fine in case you were wondering"
"Grow a pair. Oh wait" she teased sticking her tongue out
"I'll get you back for this" I warned. She started giggling as she calmly strolled out of the apartment.
"You two are like an old married couple" Vega added. I used my biotics to take one of his feet out and he fell on the sofa
I waited for about a minute for the pain to be slightly less debilitating. I somehow managed to muster up enough strength to stand without support. Mostly due to the fact that I was pumping adrenaline around my body.
"In my defence, it wasn't my idea. I suggested they go to the park"
I nodded. When he wasn't expecting it I punched him in his solar plexus. I only punched him hard enough to take him down and that he did. "Shoulda warned me" I grunted before falling back to the ground in pain.
There we were for about 10 minutes just lying there waiting for the pain to subside. We both looked at each other, and seconds later we were bursting with laughter. James, Kaidan, Jacob and Garrus are my 4 closest guy friends. But what I appreciate most about James was his effort with Jack. He'd made the biggest effort to get to know her and her response to that was surprisingly positive. So far as I can tell, James and Thane are the only two guys she'll voluntarily hang out with beside me.
"You've got a good girl there loco"
"A good girl wouldn't let kids do that to her boyfriend"
"Then again since you haven't done it I guess she can take her chances" he chuckled
I sat up in shock and found that I wasn't in too much discomfort "How the hell do you know that?"
"She told me"
"Are you two that close?"
"Of course, Lola tells me all of your dirty secrets. For some reason I'm her gal pal"
"So you braid each other's' hair and have pillow fights?"
"Funny coming from a man with one testicle" he retorted. I flipped him the bird
"Thanks James, you made the effort to be her friend. It means a lot to me"
"We all did. She just took to me the best. Might because I'm AWESOME"
"Ann Bryson didn't think so" I countered
"She's lying to you, she took the break up badly and she's spreading lies"
"So when you tried coming on to Sam Traynor"
"Oh please Loco, we all tried to get with Traynor. She's hot and with that accent. Kinda like Rylee" I gave him a glare saying 'touch my sister and you die'
"Relax; I'm more wary of Thane than I am you. I know I can take you, not so sure about Scales though"
"Remember what happened when we were 15 at Steve's place. When you broke your collar bone" I reminded
"Yeah after I kicked your ass for eating the last on my huevos rancheros and I tripped on the carpet"
"You always blame it on the floor. I maintain that I softened it up a lot"
"So… any plans for your birthday"
"Yeah, we're headed to London. Jack, Miri, Rylee, Anderson, Kahlee, my mum and the kids"
"And here I was hoping we'd go to Afterlife and spend all night at the stripper pole like last year"
"You can still do that… you could bring… wow, you're the last single guy in the group"
"What about Javik"
"He has almost no sexdrive"
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine… just means more for me" he cheered
We spent the next couple of hours just talking about girls, fights, combat, Jack. Whatever popped into our heads and we had a good laugh about it. Rylee came down eventually to check on how I was doing. When she saw that James and I were both on the ground she called us idiots. When we could all stand we decided to play Skylian 5 poker while Rylee explained the Kaidan/Miranda situation.
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Miranda POV
Well that was fairly entertaining. I never thought I'd find that much pleasure from seeing someone get hit in the privates. I guess I still have some anger towards Nate. Right now Kaidan, Rylee and I are working on our history project. Benezia wants us to write an essay on the human perspective of the first contact war. That wasn't really a problem considering that we had already covered everything the course dictated. Rylee had left in order to tend to her brother leaving Kaidan and I alone.
"How much are we meant to do on Shanxi?" Kaidan wondered
"A paragraph. And remember the 4000 word limit" I reminded
"Thanks mom"
I wacked him in the arm playfully. Jack and Rylee's advice was still in my mind. Kaidan is a good man and he's agreeable enough. Who am I kidding; he's great and probably one of my closest friends. I'd learned to take great pleasure in making him lose control. We both restrain ourselves so much and breaking that restraint made me feel in control.
"You would not believe the amount of guys that check out your ass when you're not looking" he mentioned
"I'm not surprised, I've even caught you ogling it Mr Alenko" I teased
"That's different"
"How?"
"I… have no idea." He blushed
At the start of the year I never would have considered Kaidan as much more than a naïve introvert, whose sense of right and wrong would one day get him killed. I thought that he'd be so annoying I wouldn't be able to stand being around him for more than 10 seconds without throttling him. Everything about him just told me that he wasn't worth my time
But I was very wrong. I spoke to him since he'd known Nate longer than anyone else so I thought he'd be the most useful. I could have approached Rylee but guys tend to be more open about what they like in women to their friends not their family. I found myself seeking him out more and more often. And before I knew it I started to enjoy his company
He was playing music in the background. I normally listen to classical music but lately Nate and Kaidan were on a crusade to get Jack and I to listen to someone called The Weeknd.
Talk to me baby
Tell how you're feeling
You say you don't need to go
Don't you pretend you didn't know
"So you know quite a few women check out your ass too" I said
"Really? Well it is pretty spectacular"
I saw that cocky expression on his face and I felt a weird sensation take over my body. With all the men I've seen with that expression I would grow annoyed and even angry. That smug arrogance with no basis did tend to show just how low their self-esteem was. But with him I found it unbelievably sexy
"Miri… is there something on my face because… you're staring"
I found myself blushing; one of the disadvantages of having pale skin was that this was almost impossible to hide. I need to regain my composure, the last time I felt this powerless was with Nate.
Cause we both wanted to do this but I could tell that you were scared
Cause you thought there was more to us
That didn't turn out at all how I wanted. I ended up embarrassing myself and giving Jack more ammunition to use against me. Now Kaidan is giving me the same feeling and I can't help but think that there's someone else.
But we knew how this would end
It's gonna end how you expected girl you're such a masochist and I ask why?
And you rep
"Seriously is there something on my face"
I shook my head violently. That was when an idea popped into my head. "Actually there is, let me get it for you" I used my thumb to wipe nothing from his cheek. I just wanted to see if it was like it was with Nate. I could feel the stubble scratch at my skin and upon contact I felt something in my chest. All of a sudden my heart beat became so clear and loud.
I like thrill… nothing's gonna make me feel this real
I stared into his eyes, he seemed completely fixated on my face "Did you get it"
I don't know what it was that possessed me to do so but I allowed my face to hover over his. He tried to speak but nothing came out. Good to know that the feeling is mutual. I'm tired of being a total loner. I'm tired of being alone…. I want Kaidan.
So baby don't you go home…. I don't wanna spend tonight alone
That was when he wetted his lips and I lost all restraint. I closed the gap between our lips with great speed. He quickly returned the kiss and his lips felt so good my knees began to feel weak. To prevent myself collapsing I sat on his lap facing him directly. We had to break for air but we never broke eye-contact
"I care about you Miri"
"I…" I gulped "I care about you Kaidan" I confessed "Please… stay here for the night… I…"
"I won't hurt you Miri… I won't leave your side"
Baby please…. Would you end your night with me
Don't you leave me all behind… don't you leave me little life
I'm taking a chance on this and I'm hoping for the best. But I'm not sure if Kaidan can handle my baggage, with what happened to his cousin he likely has some of his own. But I truly want this to work. I don't want to feel that pain that Nate made me feel.
No, no, no,no, no
No, no, no,no, no
No, no, no,no, no
No, no, no,no, no
No, no, no,no, no
No, no, no,no, no
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Jack POV
23:30 CTD, Citadel, Silversun Strip, Tiberius Towers, Traynor's Apartment
Dumbass wasn't too pissed off about what the brats did to him. Which really pissed me off. I started feeling guilty and shit about it and decides to be all reasonable and shit. I hate that I'm ticklish because that's exactly how he got me back.
I hate that he's turned me from Jack- eater of worlds, badass biotic, fearless and frightening; into Jen- ticklish biotic, babysitter, lovesick and soft. But it's what I said I'd do. I want to be someone that deserves to be with him, and someone he deserves to be with.
"I love you" I whispered into his ear. It was getting easier to say the more I did it and it quickly became part of my nightly ritual. I rolled back onto my side. I closed my eyes and found that I couldn't get to sleep.
I felt him stirring and he turned to face me. He kissed my cheek before whispering "I love you too"
I was facing away from him otherwise he would have seen my eyes shoot open. He loves me! Wait a minute he loves me too. That means he's known for a while. Why the hell would he love something like me.
I felt my heart rate sky rocketing and I was breaking into cold sweats. Dammit why does he have to do this. When everything's going good he pulls stupid shit like this to drive me up the wall. If he's known this entire time why hasn't he said anything to me.
He's taking it at your pace. I doubt that's something that you'd take well. Him saying that to you. You're not exactly handling this in the greatest grace.
Shut up. Ok maybe he had a point in not telling the bat shit crazy, psychotic biotic that he loved her. But he's so… perfect. To me he is…he's hot, kind, strong, crazy and most of all he can handle me
He actually wants me for me. Not for sex or power, but just because it's me. He's trying to spend more time with me. He's taking to where he's from. Nate's trusted me with his hopes, dreams, fears, thoughts and he's done so because he loves me
Tomorrow I tell him the truth about how I feel. The longer I wait the more likely I am to chicken out like a fucking pussy.
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Citadel Space Traffic Control
Meanwhile in the air traffic control room the workers were as busy as ever. Since this was the hub of the entire galaxy they had to be on constant alert. Hundreds were employed in order to keep track of who entered and left the Citadel. And without VI's that job would be nearly impossible.
"Linus I am not going to cover for you whilst you and Kurt go to Chora's den" Rita groaned at her Turian work mate. "Besides isn't Kurt married"
"Casey said he can as long as he doesn't enjoy himself too much"
"What's too much fun" Rita asked. Linus turned his head and looked to the sky. Great now he's day dreaming and he's gonna say something really weird.
"And that's why you can't ask a Krogan for a piggyback ride"
"I'm going home Linus. Unlike you I have responsibility; I'm not leaving Jenna alone tonight"
Rita's screen began beeping. "What the fuck?" she walked over to her monitor. It was littered with white dots indicating ships headed for the Citadel.
"Rita, Pallin is still here we should alert him."
Linus ran out of the room and retrieved the C-Sec Executor. The Space Traffic control building was in C-Sec academy so it didn't take long for the executor to arrive.
"What's so important that I need be dragged up here?" Pallin growled before looking at the monitor. "Spirits"
Pallin approached the screen and activated the comm-link.
"This is C-Sec Executor Pallin. I haven't been given notice of a fleet docking in the Citadel"
There was no response on the other side. "I want an answer or I'm closing the arms immediately"
There was still no response. The ships merely began to slow down in their approach. The speakers began to play static. That was before the sound of someone blowing smoke in the air was emitted from them. Something like a glass was placed on a table and a man sighed
"Leng… eliminate them" an aged voice commanded
"Who the hell is Le-" the Executor didn't finish his sentence before the blade had been dragged along his throat, tearing his trachea to pieces in the process. His death was instant,. A body emerged from the shadows revealing the young assassin. The Turians life was pooring onto the floor and Leng wore blank expression
Linus immediately took his gun out and aimed it at Kai Leng. The 18 year old remained a vision of tranquillity. His sword being held limply by his right hand, the blue Turian blood still dripping from the blade.
"You bastard" the Turian seethed. But in seconds he could no longer feel anything at all. Linus was lying dead on the floor next to Pallin. A lone bullet hole in his head. Rita stood there in the same pose as when she had the gun aimed at her colleagues head. Her calmness was chilling. She had a vacancy in her eyes. As if she was never there in the first place. A husk of what she used to be.
She reached for the speaker that connected her with all the docking bays. She was unperturbed by the blood that covered the mouth piece "ATTENTION ALL DDOCKING BAY EMPLOYEES. THIS IS SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL. WE ARE EXPECTINNG THE ARRIVAL OF REFUGEE SHIPS FROM THESSIA AND EARTH. PLEASE PREPARE FOR A MASS ARRIVAL. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY" she announced before dropping the microphone
"Excellent work Leng. We should have control of C-Sec shortly" the Illusive Man announced
"And so it begins"