Disclaimer: Don't own Mass Effect or Firefly. If I did the game would have gone differently and Firefly would still be on the air in season 10 and the verse would be shiny.

Chapter 7

Omega

Mal heard the sound of a gunshot and hurried down an ally, he vaulted over a crate and skidded around the corner to find Aria standing over the body of the bounty hunter, smoke from a vent obscuring the rest of the body.

"Aria?" Mal said surprised to see the ruler of Omega.

She slipped her pistol behind her back and raised her brow at him. "As I've said in the past I am Omega."

"You usually send Anton or one of you muscled thugs to do the dirty work." Mal said holstering Winona.

"When are you going to upgrade to something more efficient?" she asked seeing holster.

"I like the feeling of the draw." Mal said patting the sidearm then showed her the second pistol. "Besides Winona is special."

Aria shook her head. "If that gun was a woman I would be jealous."

Mal gave a soft smile.

"I am surprised that you have another Asari on your ship." Aria said her gaze hard and studying him.

Mal sighed and leaned against the ally wall. "She is a Companion. She studied under the Consort from the Citadel." Mal was looking at the body of Massani and missed the scowl on Aria's face.

"I know I said I wasn't going to let another Asari on my ship. Not after that Ardat Yakshi." Mal sighed. "It was so easy to hate all Asari, but then its hard to do when your lover is Asari."

"You're an ass." Aria said without heat to her words.

"I hate and love your species. For all the beauty your kind possesses and I have yet to see an ugly Asari, there is a danger and not just the Ardat Yakshi." He sighed and looked up to see Aria standing before him.

She reached out grabbing his face.

"Your species is the most frustrating and the most fascinating." Her voice becoming lower just above a whisper. "You both weaken me and make me stronger." She sighed. "You Malcolm ignite a passion in me that frightens me and at the same excites me in ways no other has before."

He smirked at that admittance. "What can I say darlin'?"

"Embrace eternity." Aria said her eyes black as she leaned in and kissed him roughly, hands moving to remove clothes and armor.

XX

Zoë watched as the last of the cargo was secured and she was handed the manifest. She nodded.

"It needs to reach Illium on time." The young Batarian said and Zoë scowled, "The cargo will reach its destination on time don't worry."

The Batarian seemed to shift and turned, its eyes widening as it spotted Mal walking towards the ship. His clothes were shredded and he sported a nasty bruise on his face and neck.

"Captain?" Zoë asked.

"The cargo loaded?" he growled getting to the boarding ramp.

"Just finished." Zoë hesitated. "Sir?"

he strode past her and hit the intercom. "Tika get us into space." He smacked the controls for the cargo ramp to seal and made his way to the stairs leading up.

Zoë watched as the captain made his way towards his cabin even as she felt the docking clamps release from the ship.

"It looks like the captain was in a war."

Zoë turned to see Illyana standing on the catwalk outside of the corridor that led to her shuttle.

The first mate was silent as her thoughts were formulating plans to speak with the captain as soon as possible.

XX

Afterlife, Omega

Anton entered the enclosed balcony.

"Serenity has left and is hitting the Relay now." The Batarian reported.

Aria sat on her couch in a relaxed pose a long stemmed wine glass. "Have the body disposed of…give it to the Vorcha." She said.

Aria activated a monitor that showed the relay. She watched as the Hotaru class freighter entered.

"Be safe." She whispered softly to herself. Shutting it off she looked at her right hand thug. "Bring me that Salarian that set up the clinic."

Anton went to do as Aria ordered, his mind going on to the message she had sent by killing the bounty hunter, keeping his opinion to himself about the bruise that was hidden by the collar of her jacket on her neck.

XX

Serenity

Zoë entered the captains cabin easily overriding the locks.

"Go away." The captains voice came out of the darkened room.

"Lights." Zoë ordered and the rooms lights activated and she found Mal sitting on the floor, his back against his bunk.

"We've entered the relay and the ETA to Illium is nine hours." Zoë took a relaxed stance that showed her military training.

Mal grunted.

"Illyana and Serena cleaned up sickbay." Zoë continued. "And Tylee reports that the engine is working perfectly."

"You've given you're report now leave." Mal said.

"You're being an asshole." Zoë said.

"I am what I am." Mal muttered. "Tell Tika that once we offload the cargo we are going to the Citadel." He took several breaths. "You're in charge."

"Sir?"

"I need to be alone Zoë. After I speak with Anderson…we'll decided what to do after that."

Zoë looked at the man who she followed for the last couple of years.

"Why are you taking this so personally?" she asked. "We've lost shipmates before."

"Because this is something Anderson trusted me with. Because the Doc was actually going to stay." Mal said his voice cracking.

"Now I have to tell the man who I respect almost as much as my mother that I failed to protect a person he entrusted to my care."

"Mal…" Zoë said softly.

"I'm tired." The captain said climbing onto his bunk and rolling over to face the wall.

Zoë looked at him and exited shutting the lights off as she went.

XX

Matika'Zorel nar Valen studied the controls. She looked up hearing footsteps to see Zoë enter the cockpit.

"Status."

"Systems are all green and the transition was smooth." Tika said. "How's the captain?"

"Physically a few scrapes and bruises. Emotionally, he's strung out." Zoë confided in the Quarian pilot.

"We'll leave him alone for now. We're to deliver the cargo and then set course for the Citadel." Zoë said.

"We're not taking on cargo?" Tika inquired.

"No, and I need to inform our Asari Ambassador and our Drell Monk that they are to stay on the ship. I have a feeling which of them will not have an issue." With a wry smirk.

"My money is on the Asari. She has yet been allowed to conduct her business." Tika said.

"You want to do it?" Zoë asked.

"Not on your life. Its why your second in command." The pilot said checking the instruments.

"Funny that's what Mal told me once when we had to deal with a Krogan that didn't want to pay for the job."

"What happened?" Tika asked.

"I shot the Krogan and took the money from his second in command who was quite eager to avoid getting shot."

Tika's laughter followed the first mate back down the corridor from the cockpit.

XX

"This is unacceptable."

Zoë stood just inside the hatch of the rented shuttle. She shook her head as the Asari stood from where she'd been reclined.

"Well the only other option is we leave you and the shuttle behind and pick you up on our next trip." Zoë said. "You are of course welcome to leave the ship and I'll see that you're given back the remainder of your deposit for the remainder of the month."

Zoë saw the Asari didn't like either option. "You have until we reach Illium to decide." Zoë turned and thought that the other passenger the Drell just nodded and told Zoë that the journey was what was important, not the destination.

"Ms. Sinclair." Illyana called to her.

Zoë looked over her shoulder as the companion approached her. "I will be staying, but I want it filed that eventually that I will need to remain somewhere to take clients otherwise I won't be able to pay for another month."

Zoë looked at her then gave a short nod. "Understood." She left the shuttle putting the Asari out of her mind as she went towards the engine room, deciding to talk with the ships mechanic.

XX

Zoë watched as the last of the cargo was offloaded. The captain had remained in his quarters since he came aboard. She received the receipt.

"Are you sure we can't get you to take a load back to Omega?" the dock worker asked.

"Our next port is the Citadel and it might be for some time." Zoë said.

"Well we might have…" the worker said.

"No, we're leaving now. There isn't time for cargo to be loaded." Zoë cut him off, "I'm sorry, but our business is personal and we don't have spare time for anything else this trip."

The worker nodded. "Well then safe journey and watch out for pirates."

Zoë nodded and strode up the ramp, hitting the seal release. "Get us on our way." Zoë said slapping the intercom.

She felt the ship shift and the internal gravity activate before she even reached the stairs. Reaching the cockpit she found Tika already at work.

"Illium Control this is Serenity, we've cleared port and are entering exit vector." The Quarian said as her hands dancing over the controls.

"Acknowledged Serenity, exit vector is clear and the relay is awaiting activation signal." Came the Asari controllers voice.

Zoë took her seat as Tika began to countdown. "Hitting the relay in 5…4…3…2…1…"

Zoë closed her eyes as she hated the slingshot feeling and felt worse when she was able to see out of the ship during the transition.

"ETA to the Citadel…three hours." Tika's voice informed her.

Zoë stood. "I'll inform the captain." She patted the Quarian on the shoulder and left.

As soon as Zoë was gone, Tika activated a side console her focus on an old earth game she'd found and pirated a copy.

"Alright Master Chief, lets show the Covenant what people in suits can do."

XX

Captain's Quarters

Mal woke to find the lights on and his first mate sitting at the end of his bed holding the nearly empty bottle of whiskey.

"Report." His voice croaked.

"You are suffering a hangover after drinking…" Zoë began.

"Ships status." Mal said giving her a look that he knew she understood.

"Cargo delivered to Illium without incident…for once. You've been in your cabin since Omega. We are about to dock with the Citadel. Tika reports we've been cleared to dock at C-Sec Academy docks and we'll be there in ten minutes." Zoë reported.

"Tylee reports engine status is in her words perfectly shiny."

Mal snorted and winced. Zoë held up an injector. "I'm giving you this with the understanding that you won't drink yourself unconscious again for at least a month."

Mal growled as he grabbed the injector.

"I have a mother already Zoë, I don't need a lecture…"

"I think you do sir." His first mate said cutting him off. "Yes it was a shit deal with the death of the doc, but I've never seen you take a loss like this. We've lost crew before."

Mal sighed. "This isn't about the doc as nice as she was. This is I failed the one man who was like a father to me after my own father was killed." The captain said as he injected himself.

"Of all the mistakes I've made over the years, the one thing I never wanted to do was fail at anything Anderson asked of me. I've already failed my mother."

Zoë looked at him the slugged him. "Get your head on straight. This ship cannot function without her captain and that is not me…at least not yet." She gave him a feral grin. "Now, you and I will go see Captain Anderson. Then we'll offload the doctor's body and go and find some work."

Zoë stood then looked at Mal, "And we'll need to find places for Asari Ambassador to work her trade, unless you want to forgo the credits she paid for the use of the shuttle."

Mal made a face. "There is something about her but until my gut tells me what, tell her we'll be here for several days." He slapped his hands on his thighs. "That should give her enough time to…ply her craft."

Zoë chuckled. "And the others?"

Mal stood and gave a sigh. "Shore leave. Tell our Drell monk she can go on her walkabout, but to check in."

"And our pilot and mechanic?" Zoë asked.

"Out of all the crew we've had, those two we need to worry about the least. But tell them to stay together or wait for one of us."

"For the last couple of days I should make you go with them." Zoë said and her grin was genuine as Mal looked a bit scared. "You are a cruel woman."

"Just be glad we never dated…sir."

XX

Captain David Anderson sat shocked at the news that was just delivered to him by the one man he thought would have been able to keep Cheyenne safe.

Mal stood at military attention before his desk while Zoë stood back by the door nearly at attention herself.

"How?" Anderson finally managed to ask. Mal had waited until Udina had left, telling the other man he had personal business to discus.

"Sir, there was…" Zoë said from the door but Anderson cut her off with a look and fixed his gaze on Mal. "Well?"

Mal seemed to straighten even more. "Sir, my only excuse is that I let my guard down. I didn't believe she would be in danger so quickly or that bounty hunters would be involved."

Anderson released his breath and rubbed his hands over his face.

"Sir…" Mal started and tried to speak but the words were eluding him.

"Just go." Anderson said his voice choked with emotion.

"Andeson…"

"GOD DAMMIT SHEPARD, JUST GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

Mal looked at the man he respected above all others and spun and fled the office, his first mate followed, neither saw the breakdown of Captain David Anderson.

XX

Deep in the Citadel

Illyana B'Accarin slipped thru a secret passage and checked the intersecting corridor. She found it empty and continued on her way. She used several more hidden passages and entered a room the only illumination was a pale orange light.

"You are taking a great chance coming here." A female voice said out of the darkness.

"I needed to speak face to face." Illyana said.

"This is unwise."

"Why do the Matriarchs waste time and resources on this man?" Illyana asked. "He's a smuggler, a pirate."

"You do not see it because you are young." The voice said and an Asari with strange rune tattoos stepped into the light. "The destiny of Malcolm Shepard has been sung from a time that the Matriarchs have watched over since the time before we traveled the stars."

Illyana looked surprised. "He's mentioned in psalms?"

"Mentioned? Little one, psalms 316 to 600 are all about him."

Illyana blinked. "I don't think I'm qualified for this."

"You are." The rune covered matriarch said. "You have to be."

XX

AN: Seems the Asari have plans for Mal. Next time the crew takes a job and run into a certain group and Serenity gets some new faces.