***Author's Note***
Sorry it has taken me a week to post this :/ But it's super long to make up for it ^-^
Thank you to Gamer072196 for being so patient with me this week :D
Enjoy and review and all dat jazz 3
Chapter 18 - The party
It was simple. Get in, get the greybox, get out. No guns, no bombs, no death.
Shepard sighed and looked at himself in the mirror. I really don't suit formal wear. The black suit fit him perfectly and the white collar circled his neck. What I wouldn't give for my armor.
He looked over his 'invitation' once more. Solomon Gunn? Jeez, Kasumi...It mentioned bringing a guest would be acceptable, so naturally he asked Garrus. Purely to watch his six, of course.
He vaguely wondered about what Garrus would be wearing. The turian style a lot less flamboyant but with that interesting jacket that stopped at their waists. Would it be blue?
He groaned as he realised that he had no more reasons to stall. His hair was perfect, his suit was pressed and his fish were fed. He resigned himself to the night ahead and made his way to the elevator to begin the descent to the shuttle bay where Garrus, Thane and Marie would be waiting.
Marie sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. "Is this really necessary, Kasumi?"
"Of course it is! You're being the date to the most skilled assassin in the Galaxy. We can't having you look below par." Kasumi shook her head and flicked a last bit of black onto Marie's eye. "Besides...Thane will love it."
The figure hugging black dress stuck to her like a second skin. The neckline dipped dangerously low to reveal her cleavage and a green stone that rested there of a black chain. High black heels defined her legs and a glistening black chain wrapped around her ankle. Her face was dark and dangerous, eyes outlined in a black powder and lips painted a deep red only to be softened by her hair that curled around her shoulders.
"Well...yes. But we're there to be discreet!"
Kasumi laughed and took her hand. "Dear, I'm there to be discreet, you're there to be a distraction." She walked to the elevator and Kasumi hummed to herself as she waited for it to stop for them. "Tonight is going to be interesting..."
"For you maybe."
The elevator opened to reveal an uncomfortable looking Shepard stood in its corner. His eyes widened as he saw Marie only to grin ad let out a short bark of a laugh.
"I suddenly feel loads better." He smirked down at the small engineer. "A beautiful woman on my arm? My night could be worse." He crossed his arms and looked at her appreciatively.
"Oh, Shepard." Marie chuckled and patted his arm. "I doubt that its me you want on your arm this evening." Kasumi doubled over laughing as Shepard blushed red. "Oh please! It's not as though you've been keeping it a secret!" Shepard grinned then and put an arm on her shoulder as they waited for the elevator to open onto the shuttle bay.
Thane and Garrus stood about the shuttle bay as they awaited the commander and the women.
Garrus, dressed in a deep blue turian suit with a slightly lighter jacket, was prepping the two shuttles the team would be taking to Donovan Hock's floating island where the party was being held.
Thane stood to one side and watched the elevator door. His leather suit and jacket made more formal by the high collar and more casual fit.
"So...what do you think we'll actually be doing? Who is this Hock guy?" Garrus looked over at the silent drell whose double set of eyelids blinked as he turned his head to answer.
He didn't get a chance as Kasumi emerged from the elevator and answered for him.
"Mmm. You boys clean up well." She smirked. "Hock's a weapons dealer and smuggler. He killed my partner and stole his greybox. Other than that he's not so bad. Rich, charismatic, willing to crack open a man's skull to get at the neural implants inside." Her Omni-tool flickered into life and she projected a series of images onto the wall beside her. "Our friend Hock is throwing a party for his closest friends." Images of Saren, a vault, and some details on the building. "A couple dozen of the worst liars, cheaters, and mass murderers you'll ever want to meet, all bringing gifts as tribute to the man himself..."
Garrus and Thane were barely listening as they caught sight of Shepard and Marie.
Garrus felt himself get very warm as he watched Shepard stroll toward him with a wicked smile on his face. His hair fell down his back in a shining golden curtain and his brown eyes glistened with laughter. The cut of his suit defined his waist and enhanced his broad chest. And then he was stood beside him and Garrus could taste his scent. Gun-oil and ozone and something distinctly Shepard. The commander rested his weight on one hip and grinned up at his first officer. Garrus flickered his mandibles in appreciation and turned his attention back to Kasumi, who was still talking about the plan. Something about Saren being filled with armour and weapons...
Thane trained his face into a passive expression even as the blood rushed to his neck and cheeks, darkening the pink there. He watched as Marie walked toward the shuttle, her face hard with concentration. Thane looked down and saw why. Tall heels that made her legs seem longer and defined the muscles in them were grabbing her attention. He followed her legs up to her swaying hips that were wrapped in a tight leather dress. She turned and leant against the shuttle and he followed the dress up once more. The vast amount of revealed skin nearly made him choke and his fingers itched to touch her as he caught sight of her cleavage. A green stone embedded between her breasts fell from a dark chain that wrapped around her neck and bare shoulders. Her eyes were on his as he met her face and he blushed darker and turned away. Amonkira...
The shuttle ride was a short one. Thane concentrated on driving and forced his eyes to stop looking at her, he kept them trained on the back of Shepard's shuttle that had the commander, Garrus and Kasumi within.
"So, what normally happens at this kind of party?" Her voice made him shiver.
"Criminals from around the Galaxy will come, hand over gifts, show of the men and women on their arms, listen as the host brags about his profit, and then most likely get drunk." He sighed as he watched the shuttle in front of him begin to descend. "I don't really attend them." He glanced at her. Her brow was furrowed.
"They show of how much they make other people's live harder?" Her eyes contained a steel in them he had only ever seem once. When she had saved Kolyat.
"Yes."
"You did this too?"
He swallowed thickly, no small amount of shame made him feel heavy. "Once. In my youth, after I had made a reputation for myself. I did not enjoy it."
The shuttle came to a stop and their doors opened for them. Shepard and Garrus stood to one side waiting for them. Kasumi was nowhere to be seen.
Thane got into character. His face became one of mild contempt and he saw that Shepard and Garrus were in a similar guise. A warmth in the crook of his elbow made his lip quirk and he had to force himself to not look around at Marie as she wrapped her arm around his.
Shepard nodded to him and they walked to the door of the grand building. Garrus wrapped his long arm about Shepard's waist but still held the menacing composure. No one would question it.
A golden statue of Saren had been unloaded by the door and they were stopped by security.
"Just one moment, sir. There seems to be an issue with this statue." Thane narrowed his eyes at the black clad Eclipse mercenary. Beside him, Marie sighed haughtily and the mercenary looked at her before rushing with his scan. He saw Shepard grin at the act.
A man dressed in an all white suit descended the stairs. "Is there a problem here?" Donovan Hock.
The mercenary glanced at Marie again who frowned lazily. "No, Mr. Hock. Just doing a scan." He scanned it and Donovan Hock turned to their group.
"I don't believe we've met. Donovan Hock." His eyes landed on Thane. "Ah, Sere Thane Krios. A pleasure, we haven't seen you for many years." He looked at the human on his arm. "A new mate, perhaps? One that allows such frivolities, hmm?" He smirked and Thane forced himself to not kill him. Marie discreetly squeezed his arm. "A lovely...prize." He looked Marie up and down.
"Indeed." He bowed his head. "My new wife is much more...forgiving." He smiled darkly at Hock who nodded his head. The rest of them acted as though this was old news even though Thane could very nearly hear their thoughts racing through their minds. "May I introduce my partner, Solomon Gunn? His mercenary band is doing quite well for itself, I believe."
Hock's cold eyes turned to Shepard who nodded in agreement. "Yes. I've heard a lot about you." Shepard went to shake his hand, Hock refused.
"Hmm. I've heard a lot about you too. You've been busy lately, if the extranet is to be believed."
"Sir, the scanners aren't picking anything up." Hock turned to the mercenary and frowned up at the Saren statue. Shepard stepped back into Garrus' arm.
"Hmm. I don't think our guests would come all the way here from Illium just to cause trouble. Do you?" The mercenary shrugged and Hock shook his head, a deep frown on his face. "You may pass through, Mr. Gunn, with my apologies." Shepard nodded and passed by with Garrus at his side, Thane and Marie went to follow. "Sere Krios." They turned to Hock. "Maybe you should leave that lovely specimen behind when you leave, hmm?"
Thane smirked. "I would, but she gets very violent when she doe not know where I am." Marie frowned at Hock and cocked her brow at him. "Also, I am not inclined to share." He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her into the building. He whispered into her ear. "You are very good at this." He felt her shake with a small nervous laugh.
The group wandered the party room as Kasumi spoke to them over their comms. "We need to find the door and case the security. We'll figure out the next step then."
Behind him, Shepard heard Thane laugh darkly as he and Marie remained in character as they mingled delicately with the guests. "How did you ever contain that situation on Aleph?"
A female party goer chuckled at Thane and Marie's supposed interest in her plight. "Oh, that? A quick application of force, a little pressure, and bam! Done." They laughed together before Marie and Thane nodded to the woman and walked by their side once more.
As they explored they picked up on other snippets of conversation.
"People say that Commander Shepard's still alive." A scoff. "Really!"
"That's wishful thinking a best!"
Shepard smirked as Garrus tightened his hold on him. "How little they know." The turian whispered.
The pair attracted no small amount of attention as they explored the area for a vault door. People whispered behind their hands, pointed with their wine glasses, or even outright smirked at them. Others seemed to feel the opposite, eyes wide with surprise or wonder. Jealousy in a few and some downright swooning at the attractive (albeit strange) couple.
Thane and Marie seemed to blend in a lot easier, Thane being quite famous in this select circle and Marie with her surprising acting skills. Party goers seemed to flock to them, asking questions about this or that.
"Sere Krios! And who is this? Such a lovely-"
"Mr. Krios, a pleasure!"
"I admire your work, truly! Such art!"
They didn't seem to be enjoying the attention as Shepard looked over his shoulder at them. Thane was wearing his usual stoic mask but his arm wrapped protectively around Marie, pulling her close to his side as he answered small questions amicably and downright avoided others. MArie put on a half sneer of contempt, pulling of the rich assassins wife easily. However, her face had gone quite pale with the pressure and she held onto Thane with a near iron grip.
Garrus chuckled as he watched. "They seem to be playing their part well." Shepard nodded and continued to look for the vault. "A good distraction."
Shepard lead Garrus down a flight of stairs and toward what he believed was the vault. As they approached, the wall flickered and disappeared.
Kasumi appeared beside them, making them jump and stare at her with wide eyes. "Very nice. There's more here than I expected." Her trained eyes glanced around the room, taking in the measure of security and monitoring equipment. Saren gazed down at them through cold, golden eyes. "Password protected voice lock. Kinetic barrier. DNA scanner - looks like an EX-700 series." She smiled excitedly. "Everything a vault needs to be impenetrable."
"Is this going to be a problem?"
"Please! Remember who you're speaking to!" She chuckled and turned to them. "We'll need to get a sample for the voice lock. You'll have to go chat up Hock for that." She nodded toward Shepard. "We'll have to find a password, too." A nod to Garrus. "DNA? Childs play. We should find plenty of DNA samples in Hock's private quarters." There was a smirk on her face and Garrus and Shepard shuffled on their feet nervously. "And the barrier? Cut the power. Never fails...if we can find it. Should be easy with Thane and Marie causing a scene upstairs." She grinned. "Keiji could get through a system like this in his sleep. And I'm better." She began her walk to the door before disappearing. "Let's get to it."
Shepard was exhausted. Hock was an egomaniac and he couldn't stand it. Bigging him up as Garrus did all the fun work made him grit his teeth. He listened, only mildly interested, as Hock droned on and on. His hair found its way to his finger tips and he tried to discreetly play with it.
Thane and Marie were sat in the library area of the room, a small crowd of fans gathered about them. This made it easier for Garrus to explore unseen as he hunted for the power grid and a possible password. Knowing the type of guy Hock is, it's probably his name.
"People these days want comfort, entertainment, love." His grey eyes flickered toward Thane and Marie, Shepard did not like his possible implications. "They do not see that the galaxy is fragile..." He smiled and oily smile and turned back to Shepard. "They only have to worry about the simple luxuries. Why? Because people like me..." He paused. "And you - are doing the terrible things that keep the galaxy spinning." Is this going to be a full-blown speech? Shepard groaned inwardly at the thought. I hate speeches... "This party is for us-" Oh gods...he's still speaking... "The cleaners. The support structure for the galaxy's gleeful delusions of peace. May there always be a market for the things we do!" The party goers clapped, all except his team who looked on with haughty aloofness.
"I said get him talking, and you got him talking." You read my mind, Kasumi. "We've got enough of a voice sample. Let him go."
Shepard nodded and nearly skipped away from Donovan Hock.
"I've got the password." Garrus' voice was made metallic over the comm, a small chuckle escaped the turian. "It's Peruggia..." Another scoff. "...what kind of password is that?" Shepard grinned as he heard Garrus' chuckle.
"Excellent, now all we need is DNA and the barrier power grid." Kasumi said.
"On it." Garrus affirmed and began to look for the grid as Kasumi adjusted his Omni-tool for electromagnetic traces.
As Shepard began to stroll around the crowd of people who now surrounded Hock.
"Mr. Gunn! Come, drink with us." Shit. "I wont take no for an answer." Double shit.
Kasumi sighed over the comm. "We don't have time, people will get suspicious of Garrus if he wanders around alone anymore." A pause as she thought as Shepard slowly made his way back into the fold of thieves.
"We will do it." Shepard nearly jumped at the sound of Thane's voice. "We know the way to Hock's private quarters, the blue prints were very thorough. We'll get in, get the DNA, and get out."
Shepard sighed in relief when no one argued with him. He did know what he was doing, after all.
"Excellent." Shepard could hear Kasumi's smile. "Don't take too long."
From the corner of his eye, he saw Thane and Marie leave the Library room at a leisurely stroll arm in arm. Thane's fans looked on in disappointment.
Thane was tired of this act. Sitting around and regaling petty crooks with fake stories from past assassinations. The only thing that made it feel any better was the fact that Marie had sat with him through the whole ordeal, and even that was awkward. Women and a few men would glare at her when she would blatantly place a hand on his knee or curve her body into his in a show of affection. Normally, he would very much enjoy the attention from her but not this way...not when she was acting.
And so, when given the opportunity to do something, it was an option he wouldn't pass up.
They made their way, arm in arm, toward the outside balcony. Smiling and talking about small things. A seemingly happy couple just after some fresh air. They passed Garrus on the way out, he looked flustered as an obviously desperate woman followed after him. Shepard will not like that. Marie laughed at him, her first true laugh of the evening, and Garrus flickered a turian smile at them and clapped Thane on the shoulder as he passed.
"Let's hope she doesn't turn around and decides to come after you." She smiled and nudged him with her shoulder. "I may have to send Mike after her."
Thane chuckled in agreement. "Yes, that would be a sight. I am honored that you would defend me so."
"I'm hoping it goes both ways!" She laughed.
"It does indeed." He placed his hand on her lower back and gently pushed her out the door and to the right where a small flower box sat. He casually sat on it and pretended to enjoy the view before him. Marie sat beside him, her face once again a mask of contempt. "We need to get over the flower box and below the main floor behind us." He muttered gently.
Marie looked behind them and nodded. "Ouch, my feet." Thane looked toward her feet as she brought them up and onto the box. "Next time, dear, buy me something more comfortable!" A couple that had been standing near by chuckled and the woman nodded knowingly before taking their leave. Marie smirked at Thane before removing her shoes. She then casually skipped down the other side of the box with a small huff and a thump when she landed.
Thane shook his head before following with a grin.
When he landed, he took her free hand and pulled them into the shadows. Years of training making his actions smooth and instinctual. They made their way around the curve of the building and nearly collided with two guards. "Marie, go into cloak and make your way to that window as quietly as you can." He pointed and Marie nodded, her act of confidence had faded into the real Marie. An engineer with no military background. She shook with nerves and Thane brushed her arm with the palm of his hand. "I will be right behind you." She bit her lip and nodded once more before taking a calming breath and flickering into nothing.
Thane could hear the soft padding of her bare feet as she made her way toward the window, he doubted the guards could hear her in their relaxed state. Thane blended with the shadows and made his own way there in complete silence.
When he reached his destination, he could hear Marie breathing a lot heavier than usual as the adrenaline pulsed through her. He looked at the window and frowned. Locked. But, he had made his way through more difficult obstacles in his time. He shrugged of his jacket and pushed the corners into small gaps and crevices around the window, he then began to knock the corners out as quietly as possible. It wasn't silent by any means but quiet enough to now draw attention. The window popped out and he lowered it carefully into the building with his jacket wound it to protect the glass for when he popped it back into its frame. "Climb in." He heard Marie huff as she lifted herself into the corridor when she flickered once more into a whole. Thane nimbly jumped into the building and quickly put the window back. If anyone tried to open it, it would fall out but for aesthetic purposes it looked whole.
"How did you know how to do that?" Thane looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "Oh, right. Nevermind."
He laughed before taking her by the hand and leading her into the door that led to Hock's private quarters.
The room was pristine. "The cleaners have done a very thorough job." He mused as Marie began to walk around the room. "We need anything that Hock may have touched recently, skin flakes should serve our purpose well enough." She nodded and began searching.
The ashtray was empty, the bed was clean, Thane frowned and wandered over to some datapads where a possible suspect may be. He scanned it and found some DNA.
"Aha!"
He spun and looked at Marie who had a look of victory on her face. "You found a sample?"
"No, a credit chit." She slipped the chit into a small pocket of her dress and began her search again.
Thane turned to an obviously prized piece of artwork on the wall and began a search. The cleaners wouldn't have dared touched something like this.
"Good morning! Time to wake up!" A blaring alarm sounded and he spun to Marie who was now trying to quiet an alarm clock.
Damn. He had to think quick before guards came. His eye landing on the bed.
He rushed toward her and shrugged his jacket of once more. She looked up at him with a half panicked and half questionable look. He pushed her onto the bed and bent over her, pushing her dress up her thigh to a unmodest length.
"Thane!"
"Shush!"
His other hand loosened his pants so that they hung loose on his hips and then placed that hand on her side, brushing the curve of her breast with his thumb. His other hand rubbed gently at her thigh and he buried his face in her neck. He felt her shiver below him and had to fight with himself to not go any further.
"Hey! You shouldn't be in here!" The guards stopped when they saw the two in the suggestive situation on their employers bed.
He pulled his face away from her neck and looked down at her flushed face. He dragged his hand languidly up her thigh and he smirked when she squirmed. He wasn't sure if it was for the act or if she did it involuntarily, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.
He turned toward the guard. "I apologise." He said darkly, every inch of a threat laced his words. "Allow us to...finish, and we'll be gone."
The guard looked from the drell and to the prone woman and back again. He turned to his partner who shrugged and tilted his head to the door. They nodded before turning back to the pair with slimy grins on their faces. "You have five minutes, better hurry drell."
Thane nodded his face before bending back over Marie and placing his hands on her suggestively. The door shut behind the guards and Thane leapt up of her and pulled her to her feet. He bowed his head. "I apologise."
Marie just blinked at him as her flushed face regained its usual colour. "Erm...yeah...no, it's okay...I'll just...look over there." She pointed toward the table with ashtray.
Thane shook his head. Is she angry at me? Maybe I should have warned her...there was no time! Maybe I should have gone fur-
"I found something!" She held up a glass, her face back to its usual happiness. Thane furrowed his brow but scanned the glass.
"Not a great saliva sample but it will do. I think we have enough."
She replaced the glass before moving toward him and replacing her shoes to her feet. "You don't look mussed." She took his jacket and placed it over his arm and untucking his leather shirt. "There. Do I look mussed?" Thane looked her up and down. She's going along with it? He shook his head and she sighed before pulling a few strands of hair over her face and wiping the lipstick from her mouth and then wiping her hand over his lips.
He could taste her touch on his lips as he looked down at her with question in his black eyes. "What was that?"
"You have to look like you've kissed me."
I could have actually kissed you. He thought before he nodded and leading her back to the party.
They passed the guards who smiled knowingly at them. Marie rolled her eyes at them and resumed her haughty character.
"We have the samples." Thane muttered.
"Excellent, meet us at the vault."
"-welcome Mr. Hock." The synthesised voice echoed around them and the door hissed open. Kasumi grinned. Finally, some progress.
Shepard let out a low laugh as he looked at Thane again and Kasumi grinned with him.
"The drell's new look suits him." Garrus chuckled.
Thane furrowed his brow at the turian before his eyes widened in realisation and he hastily wiped his mouth of the evidence. Kasumi smirked at Marie who shook her head with a sly grin. Ah, a decoy.
The door finished opening. "I'll check for security cams. Go ahead and get dressed..."
Shepard, Garrus and Thane all nodded and went to the Saren statue. She heard the code being typed in as she scanned and froze the camera in the white elevator beyond the vault door. She heard various bits of armour being clipped into place and small murmurs and chuckles as the three men instantly felt more comfortable in their war gear.
She turned around and sure enough, Shepard was in his custom-built armour, perfectly sprayed a matt black and dark blue with small areas of red. Garrus was rolling his arms in his usual grey and blue get up, and Thane was shrugging on his more fitted leather attire. Marie, still in her dress, clipped a heavy pistol on the mag belt at her thigh and strapped some flat boots on. Shepard really needs to get her armour...Kasumi though. Then Marie flicked her Omni-tool and was surrounded by the orange of tactical armour. Kasumi smirked. Clever girl. Shepard threw her pistol and SMG at her and together the group entered the elevator.
The door opened and the group stared in wonder at the treasures before them. Marie let out a choked gasp at the large remnants of a statue at the far end of the room.
"The Statue of Liberty's head!? He got her head!?" Thane wondered at the implications of this find as he watched her eyes get wider and wider. "When did New York lose that..?" Her fingers tapped at her chin as she pondered at it.
Kasumi hummed. "It was destroyed in 2096 when a group called Freedoms First protested against the induction of Canada and Mexico into the United States." The thief looked at Marie with a small smile.
"Oh..." She shrugged and moved onto the next piece that interested her; a statue of a rather gruesome looking creature with horns and a snarling snout.
Thane moved to observe pieces that interested him and waited for Kasumi and Shepard to finish their business.
"So..." The dual toned voice of Garrus whispered in his ear. "Did you and Marie...you know..."
"I assure you I have no idea what you're talking about, First Officer." The formality made Garrus chuckle and Thane could feel the vibrations in the air.
"Uh huh. So really, what happened." Garrus rested his weight on one leg.
"We had to create a diversion. I see your relationship with the commander is going well."
"I...still have to work some stuff out." His honesty surprised Thane. He wouldn't have said he and Garrus were close enough to share the secrets of such an intimate matter, but it seemed the turian had other ideas. "I'm really not sure if humans and turians can...you know...do stuff."
Thane winced. "Maybe you could watch a vid..."
"Ew. That just makes it all sound creepy."
"Ask Professor Solus?"
"Too clinical."
"Ask Shepard?"
"I think I'd rather die."
"Then, I'm afraid I can't help you, my friend." Thane shook his head and turned back to the art.
"Haven't you wondered that with Marie?"
Thane rested his face in the palm of his hand. "Drell are very...similar...to humans in that aspect, Garrus."
"Oh. could you-"
"No."
Garrus sighed and nodded before wandering over to Marie and talking quietly with her. The instant blush on her face made it clear that Garrus was probing her for information too.
"Don't bother, Ms. Goto. It's codelocked." The giant head of Donovan Hock appeared above the door. Thane frowned at him and stepped over to Shepard and Kasumi. "Ah, Sere. Krios. I should have known you were with her." Thane bowed his head mockingly. Hock turned back to Kasumi. "I had feeling that was you at the door. I knew if it was really you, you'd get through anyway."
"You know me. I don't like to disappoint." She said with a chuckle.
"I need what's in your greybox, Kasumi. You know I'm willing to kill you for it. I'll admit your skills are impressive. You got into my vault like I'd left it open. But you're still going to die, screaming, just like your old friend." At this, a priceless vase smashed around them. "Nooo!"
Shepard stepped forward. "Have I got your attention?"
"Ha! That shut him up." She looked at her Omni-tool that was downloading the data from the greybox as it beeped its completion.
"Kill them!" The giant head disappeared and the door below it opened.
Thane watched as Garrus shoved Marie behind him as a hail of bullets poured through the door. The turian grunted as a bullet grazed his fringe as he pulled them both down behind a low wall.
He pulled out his sniper and provided cover for the two as they made mad dashes to other points of cover toward the group. Shepard was roaring out a battle cry as he turned blue and blasted into a merc that got to close to their retreating friends. The mercs turned on the commander as he pulled out his shotgun and began pumping into his enemies.
With the small amount of relief this brought, Garrus began shooting with his assault rifle. He turned on one enemy only to watch as his head exploded into a fine red mist and brain matter. "Kill stealer!" He shouted and Thane smirked and got back to work.
He turned he scope to Marie as she stayed low beneath the wall. She worried at her Omni-tool as she attempted to ignite an incinerate. A merc crept up behind and Thane aimed at his skull which ducked out of the way as Kasumi jabbed him from behind and disappeared. Kill stealer.
The fight was over quickly and minus the small scrape on Garrus' fringe, there were no wounds.
"There's a landing pad to the east. Let's get out of here." And they were off.
They fought for what felt like hours before they got to the door that led to the landing pad.
Shepard sighed as he leant against a wall and looked his squad over.
Garrus was worrying at his fringe as a trickle of blue blood dripped of it. the gash from earlier had opened up when he had been blown into a wall and scared Shepard half to death. The impact had damaged his armour and left him with a barely noticable limp, but he was still able to snap wise cracks at them all.
"Hey, Thane. You ripped your coat." The turian smirked at the drell who glared at the offending shred in the leather. His nose was bleeding from where a merc had head butted him and they had to pop his shoulder back in when he had been over whelmed. The whole time he grumbled about the lack of stealth in their operation.
Kasumi smirked at them all, none worse for wear barring a cut in her knee and the slight grazing on her knuckles from all the punches she had dealt out this evening.
Marie worried him. She had gone very pale, and although she wasn't physically hurt, the strain of the night had gotten on top of her. The adrenaline had clearly worn of on her and she was slowly falling into panic only kept afloat by their seemingly nonchalant feelings about it all. She had dealt out her fair share in damage with her pistol, killing a merc with a bullet to the chest, then she had promptly dropped her gun and ducked back behind cover. At first, Shepard had wondered at it and questioned her ability on future missions, but then he realized...that was her first kill.
He sighed and moved over to her, acutely aware that he was being watched by the rest of them. "You okay?" He brushed a stray bit of hair away from her face.
She shook her head and frowned up at him, her face was pale with a sheen of sweat covering it. "I just killed a man."
"Yes." I'm really no good at this. "You did good..." It came out like an unsure question and he saw Garrus pressed his hand to his face with a soft slap.
"I did good? I don't think this is something I want to celebrate, Shepard!" She sighed and shut her eyes. "I killed him...with this." She gestured at the gun on her thigh.
"Hmm. Maybe you're thinking about it wrong?" She glared at him and he held up his hands in surrender. "You need to think about it this way. That guy knew what he was getting himself into, he got paid for it." He took a breath and laid a hand on her shoulder. "He could have killed you. He could have turned his gun on me and killed me, or Kasumi, or Garrus, or Thane." Her eyes flicked to the drell who nodded at her. "You stopped him from doing that. You protected yourself and us from a possible death. We're not invincible, doing what we do we could die at any time! Hell, I did die! Garrus has been shot in the face! You saved us from another bullet, Marie."
At this, a small smile formed on her lips and she nodded. "Okay, but I'll try not to do that all the time."
Shepard laughed. "Yeah, you can be a support role." He punched the door and it opened. He and his squad stepped out onto the landing pad with their guard up. A low humming sound could be heard and they looked at each other with quizzical looks. Then a single person fighter ship came from below the pad and hovered above it. "Maybe you'll have to postpone your role change, Marie." Garrus laughed a dry nervous laugh. Shit.
The ship opened fire on them and they ducked into cover quickly.
"You could've done this the easy way, Goto. Allow me to show you the hard way." I cannot wait to kill this bastard.
The ship exploded and Kasumi jumped away from it. Shepard was in awe at her skills but had to hold in his cheer as they made a dash for their shuttle. He caught a glimpse of the pilot and saw Jacob who was waving them over hurriedly.
They ran as mercs poured out of the door behind them, bullets streamed past their hands and skimmed their armour. Garrus was at the shuttle first, his long turian legs and superior speed doing the work for him, and yanking the door open to reveal Grunt and Jack. They provided cover fire as they dashed the final stretch.
He stood at the door and turned his rifle on the mercs, shooting down those that had bottle necked at the door. He ushered Kasumi in and looked around.
Thane and Marie were still on the main area of the landing pad, Thane ushering Marie as she struggled to keep up with them. Her tactical armour was flickering as they were pelted with bullets, Thane's own barrier sparking white whenever he was hit.
And then he heard her scream.
A high-pitched cry followed by her falling as a bullet tore through her back and out her stomach. Thane roared and lifted her into his arms and began to run toward the shuttled again, a limp in his leg. Shepard growled and charged over the them with his biotics and began shooting down the mercs that were too close for comfort. A soft blue surrounded them all as Jack hit them with a barrier and Grunt acted like a bowling ball and ran the mercs down. Some went down with carefully placed bullets through their foreheads. All the while, Thane was running, ignoring the pain that shot through his leg with every step as Marie bled in his arms.
The shuttle door closed behind them and began to lift. Thane lay Marie down carefully on the shuttle floor and they were quickly surrounded by the others.
Garrus growled at everyone to back of and nearly shoved Thane away as he bent over the wound in her stomach. Medi-gel would only do so much and he applied as much as he could. Thane waited and watched the gel do its work.
The bleeding slowed and they all sighed in relief. Her blood loss could be fixed and a little surgery would deal with the rest.
She lay pale and shivering in the middle of the shuttle as it made its way back to the Normandy. Kasumi cupped her head in her lap and grinned down at her. Marie smiled a small smile back and her eyes shifted to Jack who knelt beside her. Thane envied them their moment and wished he could be the one consoling her, but with Garrus hovering over his leg as he stopped the bleeding, it wasn't an easy feat.
Then her eyes were on him. A haze was over them as the pain killing effect in the Medi-gel took effect, but he could see the question in them. They would talk later.
The Med-bay was silent as Garrus got patched up by Chakwas. The doctor was irate at them and had lectured Shepard at great length about the danger he had put them in. Shepard had the decency to look ashamed as she fixed his nose with a sharp crack. She had then turned on Kasumi. "Your scheming could have got them all killed, young lady!" A swift stitch on the thief's knee. "Next time, you can all find a new doctor!" She then ushered the two of them out and she told Garrus to wait his turn.
Marie lay sedated on a table with Mordin hovering around her as he looked at her wound. Thane was on the table beside her with his breather mask on his face and his eyes growing heavy as his drugs took effect, he was fighting with them so he could continue to look at the girl. Then, Mordin drew a curtain around her and got to work and Thane fell back onto his pillow.
"Garrus." He looked up at Chakwas. "She is not a soldier. Luckily, the bullet missed anything vital but if luck wasn't on her side she could have died." Garrus nodded blearily, he was very tired. "Thane cannot afford to lose blood, his condition will not allow it. If they must go ground side with you, I need your word that they will be watched over." Again, another nod. "Shepard is too reckless, keep him in line, First Officer."
"I'll try Chakwas. But he is my commander, I cannot overrule him."
Chakwas smiled then. "I think you have more sway than you think, dear." She shooed him out then and left him confused.
Garrus sighed and walked through the Mess and toward his domain. He was thoroughly looking forward to crawling into his pile of blankets and sleeping for the next day or two, but fate it seemed, had other plans.
He stepped toward the pile and looked down into it. He scratched the back of his head and grumbled about needy humans and their insistent ways.
"Shepard." He called.
The commander merely mumbled and rolled over, his legs stretching out and making room for the turian. A brown eye looked up at him through his mess of hair, a small smile on his lips.
"What?"
"What are you doing?"
"Sleeping, now shush." He turned again and the blanket covering him fell away.
Garrus' mouth went dry at the sight of Shepard's chest. The pale skin marred only by the thin red lines that ran with the contours of his body. A small spattering of hair shaped like a V and a line of it that ran from his naval and disappeared beneath his sweat pants. There was a small tattoo on his right hip of the N7 symbol.
"Aren't you getting in?" A small murmur as Shepard slowly fell asleep.
Garrus stood for a few moments in shock. Then he began to strip away his armour down to his plates and skin and donned a pair of pants similar to Shepard's but cut just above the knee to accommodate his spurs. He crawled in beside his commander and sent a signal to the lock on his door with turned red and cast its glow over them.
He lay on his side away from Shepard and began to nod of with him pressed at his back. Then Shepard moved and his arm wrapped around Garrus' waist. Garrus froze at the contact on that sensitive bit of skin and the warmth Shepard's arm brought with it. When nothing else happened and the slow breathing of Shepard filled his senses, Garrus too fell asleep.
"I can't remember the pain."
Thane rolled over and looked at Marie. He hadn't realised that she had woken up and after her surgery she had slept for half a day.
"I don't know which is worse; the getting shot, or the not remembering it..."
She looked at him then with bright eyes. Happiness at survival? Perhaps. A small smile was on her lips and her fingers traced the fading pink line of the scar in her belly.
"Maybe it's best you don't remember. Just know that the person who harmed you is no more."
"You got him?"
He shook his head. "No. But Shepard did."
"Good." She looked up at the ceiling as she traced the line.
"Don't worry at it, it wont heal as well."
Her hand fell away from her stomach and she smiled slightly. "Sorry."
"Do not apologise, it is not your fault. But you don't see me playing with every remembered wound and scar, hmm?"
"I guess so. I forget that you can do that." A small laugh bubbled up from her.
"Yes. I can remember every wound I ever gained...the pain it brought. But I can look at my knee and see that it is not shattered. And there are the good memories as well."
"Hmm, I suppose it's best I don't think about it too much." She bit her lip before turning back to him. "This is going to sound really petty but...is it ugly?" She gestured at the pink scarring.
He pondered at it. Looked at the contrast between the redness and the bumps from the puckering and the smooth paleness of the rest of her abdomen. "No. Nothing about you could be...ugly."
She grinned and blushed before turning back to the ceiling. "Same to you...I guess."
He chuckled then.
Okay :) Next chapter there will be a break from violence and some fluff...maybe...
Hope you enjoyed :)
-Sophus