"Thinking"
"Talking"
"Impactful word"
Location: SSV Normandy SR-1 - Third Deck - Engineering and Storage Room
Shepard POV
"Hey, Garrus!"
She felt the tiniest bit of sorry for disrupting the turian in his concentrated state, but he didn't seem bothered, "Oh, I didn't see you there Commander. How was the mission?"
"It certainly didn't lack action." The turian chuckled, understanding from experience that neither of Shepard's missions was boring.
Aside from the dangers, she was inwardly glad that she had visited Sharjila. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stumbled upon those pirates by accident. It was a challenge to clear out their base of operation. Her party had taken quite a punch, especially from the head of the band. The asari slaver wasn't asari commando level, but her biotics were strong enough to overpower Alenko's L2 implant. Since the Artemis Tau cluster fell under Earth Systems Alliance Space, all the data they had managed to retrieve went immediately to the Alliance to support Alliance recon and suppression efforts.
But she had something different in mind right now.
"Uh- Did you need something from me, Commander?" he asked, fiddling with his talons as Shepard's thoughts trailed off.
"Oh- yes! Have you seen Akane by any chance?" Jane voiced what had her mind bugging, a mix of hope and worry lacing her voice.
"Sure, we've just finished our sparring session as per usual." Jane let out a relieved sigh, much to the turian's amusement.
"Now there's nothing to be solicitous about, Commander, she is in good health," he affirmed and Jane rewarded him with a small smile for easing her worries.
"If you cross paths make sure to greet her on my behalf, okay?" Jane turned on her heels to prepare for their shakedown on Edolus. Garrus' witty remark fell on deaf ears but nevertheless brought a laugh to her lips.
Her fever went down, eventually, though she expected nothing else to happen after Tali's consistent care. It had come to the point where it was almost annoying but Akane indulged her, she would still have even if she would be in the position to do so. It was difficult to shake her off after recovering, but the Anbu assured her with a promise that she would visit her later on.
True to her word, the kunoichi went to her after her combat lessons with Garrus, who was making steady improvements in his hand-to-hand combat if she might add proudly. The engineering room was one of the two places Akane hadn't been in, so there were a few glances thrown at her when she entered it. Her pale eyes widened in awe as she took in the massive drive core behind the consoles, the light it gave off whilst functioning almost blinding in its intensity.
"It's fascinating, isn't it?" she heard the quarian comment, Akane nodded in lack of a proper answer.
"Are you feeling better?" Tali asked the same question for the millionth time and the shinobi resisted the urge to roll her eyes at its abundance.
"Much better."
"Glad to hear it. So... when do you want to begin?" Akane's brows shot up at the question.
"Begin with what?"
"I promised you some lessons on the geth, remember? On Therum?" Tali clarified.
After careful consideration, Akane responded, "Now is as good as any."
"Splendid!"
And so began a small history lesson followed by a more in-depth analysis of the overall construction of the inorganics. She moved through different topics effortlessly (all revolving around technology), even though Akane made a poor participant due to the absence of experience on the topics at hand. Her obvious inactiveness was oblivious in the face of passion with which the quarian spoke about her favourite theme - ship technology.
There were many things Akane understood... but it was equalled in numbers she didn't. At least she got to learn how the Normandy operated - to a limited degree. Tali professionally explained it to her, which meant in a primitive way, with the occasional input of the local expert Lieutenant Grey Adams, who as much as he appeared to be focused on his work, seemed all too eager to join their discussion. She didn't even notice the Commander coming back from her mission until her voice could be heard through the speakers.
"Alright, guys! Awesome news: We are heading home!" The human majority of the crew was vivid with cheers. Well, up to the point when she decided to ruin the joyful mood by adding, "For a mission!"
A collective round of disappointed groans echoed all around the Normandy with a distinctive, derisive laugh from Wrex next door and Akane couldn't hold back her enjoyment any longer. An unrestrained smile adorned her otherwise blank expression and it felt almost foreign to her muscle memory. For once it didn't feel forced, for once it did not feel fake, and it gave her a sense of freedom.
"With all due respect Commander, that was an effective buzzkill." Joker's voice cut in.
"I learn from the best."
"Uh-uh, don't throw this on my account, I am not eager to get on their chopping block."
The Commander did end up going on a mission; to Luna. Earth's moon. But she didn't take Akane with her, choosing Tali and Garrus in her stead to probably let her rest. Although it did have a downside: the kunoichi was deprived of the only two beings on this ship she felt decently comfortable talking to. Now she felt the effects of boredom creep up on her and it left her wandering the Normandy for anything to busy her mind with.
Seemed like that 'anything' led her into the field of interest belonging to a certain krogan.
"Hey, kid! You're in for something?" She heard Wrex guttural voice calling for her. The way he asked was akin to a smuggler offering drugs on a dark street but Akane didn't feel deterred, so she came closer.
"For what, Sir?"
A flash of amusement flashed through his expression before it was replaced by... thoughtfulness, perhaps? Ugh, she was getting a hand of turian expressions but she still had a long way to go when it came to the krogan ones. Perhaps she would make better improvements in the krogan apartment as well if she interacted with Wrex more often.
"Garrus been giving you shooting lessons?"
"I believe you can answer that for yourself when you've been constantly watching us, Sir." The kunoichi replied sharply. She had felt his gaze scrutinizing her when she wasn't facing in his direction. Despite his intimidating krogan nature, he was subtle in his spying, but he should know better than to spy on a shinobi.
The only response she got was a hearty laugh that left her confused.
"You remind me of an old friend - Aleena."
"You aren't getting sentimental on me, Sir?" she quipped tauntingly.
"Hah! As if!" Wrex reacted spontaneously, tempting her to inquire more about his friend. However, she waited in pleasant silence in case he wanted to drop the subject here and there. When his attempt failed, he relented and began freely talking about it, which was strange in itself because he rarely talked about himself. Anyways, Akane had pegged him as a guy who minded his own business and was only in for the money.
Casual mercenary persona. Seemed like she had been a bit hasty in her judgement.
"So, I headed back to the diplomat to give him the good news and collect my pay. But before I got halfway there, Aleena sent me a message: Better luck next time."
"A praiseworthy performance though I am unable to find in which way we are similar," she concluded after half an hour of Wrex's storytelling, expecting the krogan to elaborate.
"You're both tough women," he snorted, "and crazy bitches."
It took her all not to sputter at the description along with a second longer to collect herself.
Akane had a fair amount of insults thrown at her during her short fifteen years of life, though most of them tend to be more of an offensive nature rather than complimentary. It caught her off guard to hear the latter. Nevertheless, since they were at it, there had been an unresolved issue at the back of her memory that she couldn't wrap her head around. It involved the alien in front of her and she decided it was best to ask now when Wrex was in such a talkative mood.
"I've been meaning to ask you something, Sir?"
"Huh, go ahead."
"That krogan on Therum - Godrak - you seemed to have been greatly displeased by his appearance. May I inquire why?"
Of course, there was more to the question than it sounded. It was safe to assume that Wrex had known him from business, as from their shared profession, but that didn't explain his resentment towards this particular one of his kin. She sensed a story behind it but knew all too well that Wrex wasn't one to share much of his private life, not even with Shepard. Though perhaps given time...
"I don't like him. End of the story."
"Why, though?"
"If you want stories, ask the qua-"
Uh-uh, that won't do.
"Tali." Akane pinned him with a threatening look, her voice dangerously low, "Her name is Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."
He didn't flinch, she knew he wouldn't, but that was not the point of it. Her intention was to draw a line. One that if he chose to cross, there would be serious repercussions from her side. Tali was the first friend she had made since her... let's call it awakening. And even then it was a fragile relationship as it happened just recently. So she was protective over it, as she had always been in these matters.
"-ask Tali," he gritted through his teeth, his restraint palpable but she was surprised he had given in to her demand. Wrex wasn't an asshole, but next time he should think twice before making fun of her friend when the kunoichi was around.
"Anyway, there is something more important than shitty banter," he continued on as if the tension between them never existed.
"And that is?"
"The riddance of turian supremacy in your marksmanship." A grin stretched across his rugged visage that reeked malicious intent certainly not aimed at the Uchiha herself, but rather the ex C-Sec officer oblivious in his tinkering at his usual spot not too far from their own. Akane gulped unconsciously.
In what personal dispute had she gotten herself this time?!
Location: Arcturus Stream - Arcturus - Arcturus Station
Hackett POV
A week of relentless digging on part of the Admiral's team and the results were never so disappointing. Akane Uchiha, as she had directly identified herself... if it even was her true name, was in no records (at least in those accessible to the Alliance) whatsoever. It was nearly impossible to remain fully anonymous when there were so many methods of exposure. Either by surveillance, scanners to a regular omni-tool.
Information was a powerful resource these days, valuable in its variety of usages ranging from a tool for achieving goals to a means of profit and etc. Sometimes it took one simple fact about a person - a lead - to find out their identity but even that was hardly helpful in the case of the teenager. It was as if she had never existed in the first place.
They had her full name and some scans of her physique, so where was the problem? They had everything they needed at their disposal.
There were only two identities that Steven knew could accomplish such a feat. The Shadow Broker or the Illusive Man, inclining to the latter in this case. That enigmatic figure was known for his human-centric diatribe, but he never imagined the Illusive Man to conduct experiments on humans. On the other side, there wasn't much intel on the pro-human syndicate known as Cerberus to prove the opposite.
Needless to say, that put the mysterious teenager at an advantage that opened many possibilities Steven wasn't sure she even realized. Though taking her intelligence into consideration, she might as well know. Out of all of Shepard's crew, he distrusted Akane the most. He had nothing to use against her to protect Jane should it ever come to her endangerment, and he disliked feeling powerless, which was funny considering he was one of the most influential figures within the System Alliance.
Despite his misfortune at finding more about Akane, he was glad lady luck was on Shepard's side. She had made another addition to her crew with Liara T'Soni. Deriving from the Commander's report, there was enough evidence to conclude that the geth were after Benezia's daughter. For what? Hard to say, though he didn't doubt that her prothean expertise played a major role in it.
Speaking of her crew, one of the Rear Admirals serving under his fleet requested an inspection of the Normandy for the Joint Military Council. Reaching out for his datapad, he looked up the message from the man. Ah, Rear Admiral Mikhailovich, 63rd Scout Flotilla. He had been one of the few votes against the co-development of the Normandy, though not out of racial reasons, but because he believed the vessel was overdesigned, costing a huge amount of credits that could have been better spent elsewhere; the frigate cost as much as a heavy cruiser.
Unlike some of the others, he had made a valid point, though Steven suspected his anger, which stemmed from the placement of the Normandy under the command of Shepard instead of him, also motivated him to this surprise inspection.
At any rate, he would definitely express his concerns to Jane soon enough. And it crossed his mind to give the Commander a warning but he decided against it as to not raise the suspicion that the Alliance brass had something to hide.
He heaved another disappointed sigh as he leisurely skimmed his eyes over the display of his terminal.
After taking care of the rogue VI on Luna, Shepard planned to head towards the Citadel for shore leave, and that left many opportunities in his head. It had crossed his mind several times to ask the redhead out for dinner, but he neither found the courage nor time. Or something else was amiss, which always seemed to be the case. Their working schedules were overlapping one another and it was difficult to find a date where they both were off duty.
You're just making excuses Steven! You're a goddamn Admiral you estúpido! Show some backbone!
For once his ridiculing thoughts did encourage him to do something.
Location: Serpent Nebula - Widow - Citadel
As it always was when they had shore leave, those that the Commander had no need of quickly dispersed besides the two poor devils that would go with her. Thank Kami she wasn't one of those today, because the Commander didn't get to walk two steps before she was halted by some straight-up ass from the System Alliance followed shortly after by an equally hostile reporter asking for an interview.
The details had been lost to her since she observed from afar with the Byakugan though it was apparent by Williams' jaw clenching that these conversations weren't pleasant. Growing discontented by watching Shepard, she left the Normandy to find a way to sate her boredom.
This was how Akane ended up with an abundance of free time she had no clue how to spend, though she had to be limited her wanderings across the space station. Last time she checked she was still on the 'wanted patients list', so she had to disguise herself every time she wanted to go out. She had no plan to break her word to the Admiral.
She wouldn't want to cause unnecessary trouble for the Spectre. To repay everything Shepard had done for her.
Words dictionary:
Estúpido = Idiot