Chapter 8

C-Sec Academy

"Why?"

Tylee looked at the Quarian. "What do you mean?"

Tika shouldered her pack and sighed. "You are going out clubbing as you call it while the captain and Zoë are doing who knows what after those Alliance soldiers came and took the doc's casket."

Both looked to where the suspension pod had been and the six Alliance soldiers who had come to collect it under Captain Anderson's orders.

"We have down time until the captain gets us some work. And with all the refits I literally have nothing to do. I've taken apart the mule twice already and I've cleaned all my tools three times out of sheer boredom." Tylee said.

Tika sighed. "I guess I can meet some of my people." Both of them walked down the boarding ramp, Tylee using her omni-tool to close the ship and activate its security system.

"So which club will you go to?" the Quarian asked as they entered the elevator.

Tylee shrugged. "I was thinking of trying Flux. Drinking, dancing and gambling machines as well as all those hot soldiers looking for fun."

Tika shook her head. "You humans are very strange."

XX

Zakera Wards

Sienna passed a pair of Krogan who were talking about fish. She had to admit that she was always amazed at the things she heard on her wanderings. She had passed a Volus that was screaming about a Turian shooting something and wondered what it was and how good of shot was made.

Her walkabout dragged her towards the markets and she closed her eyes basking in the hum of sounds as various sentient went about their business. She was amazed at the sheer volume of different species. She was planning on heading off to find a place to eat when she was bumped into.

XX

The Presidium

Mal watched as the sky cars delivered their passengers and returned to the programmed parking areas to await new passengers. He knew Anderson had reasons to be pissed, but he hated that he disappointed the one man who had been there his whole life.

"Are you going to sulk some more or can we do something other than moan and stare at the pretty lake like a bitch?"

Mal sputtered and looked at his first mate with a glare that didn't phase her. "Do you mind?" he growled.

"Yes." Zoë answered blandly. "You sulked on the ship, enough is enough. If I wanted to deal with emo-shit I would have stayed in the military and been posted under some snot nosed fresh from the academy lieutenant on some backwater world dealing with farmers. But I am here with you and you need to pull your shit together sir and act like the man who was all balls and brimstone."

Mal stared at her and then chuckled. "You know Sinclair, I almost pity the man you decide to marry."

"Who says it'll be a man sir?" Zoë asked crossing her arms.

"A woman couldn't deal with you as she'd have her own ideas, and your as flexible as a Krogan when you wrap your mind into something." Mal said. "Alright, since you're all bossy and obviously have some ideas, lets hear them."

"I do." Zoë said. "A certain Salarian Doctor actually sent me something that might me right up your alley of thrilling heroics."

"Not really in the mood to be a hero. Tell me we have something more criminal to do." The captain said his voice not actually pleading, but his first mate knew differently.

"Well there is that smuggling job to Illium…"

"We'll take it." Mal said then paused. "We have to wait several days, I did give the crew and out passengers that time."

Zoë sighed and shook her head. "You know captain, you need to learn to stand up and take charge."

Mal snorted. "Right. When my crew and passengers are female? Do I look that stupid Zoë? You all say one thing yet you really mean something different and there is no power in the 'verse that is going to get me to piss off a ship full of women, all of who can kick my ass and that's before y'all resort to weaponry."

Zoë gave a smirk, "Who said you can't be trained."

"My mother." Mal said flatly.

XX

Illyana watched from the shadows of an arch by the lake. Her talks with others of her order had left her wondering what was so special about the man. She had not been impressed with Malcolm Shepard, yet the rest of her order insisted there was something there.

What is it about you? She thought watching the captain and his first mate. You run when you should fight. You fight when you should run. You work for criminals and yet you have a code of honor that is rigid in its guidelines.

Illyana B'Accarin was determined to find out why Malcolm Shepard was important.

XX

Serenity

Two days later found the crew and passengers gathered in the hold of the Hotaru class freighter once more. Mal looked around and nodded.

"We're making way to Illium for a job our first mate lined up. I'm offering out passengers a chance to disembark here and find other means of travel. We recently lost the Doc…and…"

Tika stood from her seated position on a crate. "The board is green and all flight paths are clear. I'll set course for Illium once you give the word captain."

Tylee who had been sitting on the stairs up to the catwalk spoke next. "All systems are in the green, the engine is purring and engineering is ready when you are."

Sienna who had been standing spoke next, "As I told you at the start of my journey I have no set destination. One port is as good as any other. In other words, I have no intention of leaving."

All eyes turned towards Illyana who focused on the captain. "I will be taking on some clients when we get to the next port, so I'll need at least two days."

Mal exchanged looks with Zoë. "We can do that." He said.

"Then I will of course continue renting the shuttle." With that she turned an climbed the stairs to the catwalk and then to her shuttle.

Mal clapped his hands together.

"Alright, since your all staying, ship closes up in thirty and we're heading back to Ilium." He looked at Zoë, "I'm going to try and talk to Anderson one more time, I leave the pre-flight in your hands."

Mal strode off the ship and Zoë was about to give orders when the mechanic asked, "Was the captain wearing his gun?"

XX

Embassy

"Captain Anderson is in a meeting with Ambassador Udina and they can't be disturbed." The Asari receptionist said when Mal tried to enter the embassy wing.

The captain sighed. "Could you pass him a message? My ship is heading out and I wanted to speak with him."

She agreed to deliver the message and Mal recorded a message disc and handed it to her. He left the embassy and was headed towards the nearest sky car to take him back to the docks and was just reaching for the door handle when a voice called out from behind him.

"Shepard."

He turned to see a Krogan in green and black armor along with a pair of Vorcha. "Aren't there leash laws on the Presidium?" he asked.

"Someone wants a word with you." The Krogan grunted.

"I don't see clients that haven't been thru a service." Mal said.

"You will see this one." The Krogan said.

Mal reached for his gun and cursed at leaving it in his quarters on Serenity. He looked up to see the Krogan right in front of him and noticed seconds too late the hand rearing back and slamming into the side of his head and blackness claimed him.

XX

Hidden Location

Mal came to and blinked at the bright light that was shining in his face.

"See, he's awake."

Mal identified the voice as the Krogan's that had knocked his block off.

"It would be helpful if he doesn't have brain damage from your exuberance." An older cultured voice scolded.

"You told me to bring him and not to take no for an answer." The Krogan argued.

"I suppose I should be happy that you didn't shoot him or let the Vorcha take a hunk of meat off of him." The voice said and the light was turned away from his face.

"Captain Shepard."

Mal blinked and once his vision cleared he saw he was faced with an elderly looking Turian.

"And who am I addressing?" Mal asked.

"You may call me Niska." The Turian said. "This is Griff, he wasn't supposed to knock you out, but you know Krogan, yes?"

"I've met a few." Mal admitted an had a sinking feeling at meeting the Turian Niska.

XX

Serenity

Zoë Sinclair was not worrying.

She shoved her shotgun against her thigh as she paced the open ramp. The ship was ready for take off, the only complication was that the captain had yet to return and wasn't answering his com.-link.

Tika was at the controls ready for takeoff while Tylee was stationed in the engine room. Both passengers were in their quarters and Zoë was glad as she really didn't want to deal with the Asari who had been asking questions about the captain's past.

Something I'll need to warn the captain about, whenever he gets back here.

He was thirty minutes late and Zoë was about to head out when a sleek sky car pulled up and the captain staggered out. She watched the car fly away and waited as the clearly ruffled captain walked towards his ship.

"You're late." She said.

"I'm neither late nor early." Mal said hitting the controls to raise the ramp. He hit the intercom. "Tika, take us out of here."

"Glad your back captain." The Quarian's voice said. "And we'll be clear to the relay in ten."

"So?"

Mal sighed, "I had the honor of meeting the illusive Niska."

Zoë looked at him.

"You've met the second biggest criminal in the 'verse?"

"Yes, and its not like I had a choice in the matter. He had his pet Krogan drag me to him unconscious."

Zoë raised an eyebrow.

"Yes I know, it wouldn't have happened if I had taken my gun. But come on it's the first time I've forgotten it."

Zoë shook her head. "Second."

"What? No it isn't." Mal argued.

"Sir, the first time you not only didn't have your gun, but you forgot your pants." Zoë argued back.

"That doesn't count. She stripped me down and threw me out of the room. If it wasn't for Mordin I would never have gotten Winona back. So that doesn't count as she used some strange drug and stripped me down to my birthday suit."

"Sir, the whole port saw the tattoo you have." Zoë argued.

"And even in the cold air it was impressive." Mal countered.

"What possessed you to get a tattoo there?" she asked then shook her head. "Never mind I don't want to know."

Mal watched as his first mate stormed up the stairs and the catwalk towards her quarters.

"If I ever live to be a hundred I'll never understand how a woman's mind works." He decided to check on Tylee before going to get his gun.

Its not like I'll need my gun on board.

XX

Mal reconsidered his thought as he ducked a thrown wrench and spent the next ten minutes listening as his mechanic chewed him out for making them all worry about his "Dumb ass."

It took another ten minutes to explain what had happened to him and found himself in a bone crushing hug and an apologetic mechanic near tears one second and swearing to put Niska thru the intake of the port thruster.

Mal assured her that she could eventually and made his way thru the ship, stopping in the galley and grabbed an apple on his way thru.

Reaching the bridge he found his pilot playing a game.

"So what are you playing?"

he resisted the urge to laugh as the now flustered Quarian fumbled with the controller and hurried to turn the screen off.

"Captain!" she said and Mal dropped into his seat. "Like it's a secret on what you do up here." Mal said calming her down.

Even with the tinted visor of her helmet he could tell the look she gave him. "What? You think we all thought you were up here doing what, playing with dinosaurs?"

"Yes." Tika said. "No." she kicked the controller under her console. "Glad to see you made it back. I think Zoë was going to head out and shoot someone."

Mal smirked, "So what are you playing?"

Tika's shoulders slumped. "Lollipop Chainsaw." She muttered.

Mal shook his head. "At least you wait until we've entered the relay." He studied a screen. "Just don't crash us and I don't care if you put an entertainment center next to your station."

Mal turned and left, managing to hold his laughter as the Quarian was measuring a space near her seat and muttering about ordering things when they got to Illium. He stopped seeing Zoë who glared at him.

"What?"

"You let her put an entertainment system there and I will shoot you." Zoë growled. "Especially when you refused to let me upgrade the training equipment."

Mal sighed. "And here I thought it was about that bath in your quarters."

"Not practical until I get married." Zoë countered and strode past him. "Now go tell her she can't have an entertainment center in the cockpit. Her quarters fine."

Mal waited until Zoë entered her quarters before sputtering, "Wait, you want me to get shot!?"

XX

Illium

"Did your contact tell you where we were going to meet?" Mal asked Zoë as they made their way past several market stalls outside the docks.

"We would be met by an intermediary at the night club." Zoë said.

"Which club?"

"Ummm." Zoë paused and quickly checked her omni-tool. "The Underground." She said. "Its near the ground levels."

Mal shook his head and gestured for to lead the way.

XX

Mal frowned. "You know I don't recall seeing the seedy underbelly of Illium before."

"And you wouldn't be now sir, if not for that special access code that allowed us to take the elevator down here. Even the sky cars can't go below a certain level."

Mal shook his head, "And who said the Asari can't pretty up their corruption. Seriously, this should be a tour or something." Mal passed a vendor stand. "Is that…" sniffs, "Varren burgers?"

Zoë shook her head as the captain began to move towards the vendor. "And is that…Drell Beer? You can't find that outside their system with the Hanar."

Zoë managed to snag his collar. "We have a job sir."

Mal whined. "We are so coming back here after this."

Zoë didn't have the heart to tell him that the code was a one time window.

"There's the Underground." Zoë said gesturing to an entrance that led even lower.

They entered the bar to find that they had to check their guns. Mal took the key and strode down the stairs. There were Asari and female human dancers and Mal was surprised that the bartender was a Hanar.

"How is it that I've never seen this place before? How is that we've never been here?"

Zoë grabbed two ales and headed to a booth. Once they were seated Mal looked at Zoë. "All joking aside, you need to tell me about the client."

A cultured female voice answered and Mal turned to see a very gorgeous raven haired woman in a very skintight black bodysuit. "The client can answer your questions."

She sat down, her eyes sweeping over the door before looking at Mal. "Captain Malcolm Shepard."

"That's me, your name would be nice." Mal answered.

"Miranda Lawson." The woman said. "And your first mate told me you could help me with a job."

XX

AN: Not as long as I would have liked, but this chapter was giving me hell to write. Well that and I've been watching Anime on my laptop during the time away. Queen's Blade is worth a few giggles. Is This a Zombie as well. Add in several new games and a busy real life writing has been fumbled more than a football. Lollipop Chainsaw, Skyrim, and now Batman Arkham Origins has dragged me in and with Assassin's Creed IV this week, writing is getting sabotaged. For those that liked the Walking Dead game a new one called A Wolf Amongst us is now available. And if you haven't checked them out do so.

BTW my girlfriend told me she has been unable to cut and paste on ffnet, anyone know what's going on?

I've reposted NILF on an archive of our own. When I get time I plan to add my other adult friendly stories there.

Patience readers.

ESM