MASS EFFECT: ENTANGLED SERIES

CHAPTER 32

THIS TAKES PLACE ALONG CHAPTER 42 OF "SOLACE"

Krysta still felt waterlogged and mentally drained following her mission from Desponia. Leviathan broke its connection with her, but did the evasive species truly release its hold? Its words were ominous and foreboding. The coalition with them was crucial, another tick mark to Shepard's counter-offensive, but in the end, would the cost be far worse than the Reapers? After all, the Leviathan was the apex race, the alpha and potential omega. She gave Hackett the green light; the assault against the Cerberus station in Anadius would begin and it was the point of no return. She had a window of two hours tops and her body longed for some sort of reprieve from physical exertion.

"Um, Commander. Do you have a moment?" Specialist Traynor beckoned to her as she exited the war room to the CIC.

"What is it?" Krysta paused at the yeomen's post. The dark-haired woman before her appeared to be very disturbed about something.

Traynor wrung her hands, "There was an unauthorized transmission sent from the Normandy while you were down there. I-I wanted to bring it to your attention."

Shepard cocked her head to the side in bewilderment. "What sort of transmission?"

Samantha gulped as she stood straighter to face her commander. "Mam, while I was off-duty, Bray went to the communications officer to gain access to the video comm. He gave a false authorization from you. When I came back to my post, I was informed of what happened and I verified that you did not give me any sort of authorization for him to use our private channels."

Krysta tensed at the alarming news. "Who was the recipient of the call?"

"Aria T'Loak, mam…" Traynor cringed as she responded, then quickly added, "I have begun compromise protocol to make sure there were no breaches in our security."

Shepard clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes. "Aria…," The vile name rolled off her tongue angrily in betrayal. "I should have known…" Her hands balled into fists at her sides. "Where is he at now?"

"Let's see…" Traynor checked her terminal. "It appears his last scan came in on the Shuttle Bay."

Without offering another word, Shepard moved to the elevator with focused strides. She felt her chest become tight with hurt and rage. Why was Bray going behind her back with Aria? The asari was nowhere near them, why run off to her again? Jealousy pained her. What if there was more to them than he let on? What if Avery and Jones were right all along? What if he was merely using her for T'Loak's personal gain? All this, them, it was a farce. She was being played. She let her guard down through sheer weakness after the loss of Kaidan. She resisted the temptation to activate her biotic implant as she stepped onto the elevator. She was not going to play anymore games.

Cortez stood amused with his arms crossed as he watched Bray continue the pull-ups on James' bar with Vega nervously looking on. The batarian agreed to a challenge with the brash marine on beating James' current record. "Slow down there, Bray," The shuttle pilot chuckled teasingly as he eyed his friend beside him. "You're making Mr. Vega scared over here." Bray laughed lightly in between breaths. He was wearing a pair of black combat pants, boots and had removed his shirt for the competition.

"He's going to break," James shook his head calmly as he tried to show no fear. "No way, he will hit it."

"Thirty more and he will," Steve jabbed.

"He's getting tired already. I can see him shaking," Vega provoked. Bray ignored him.

Steve noticed Krysta stepping out of the elevator in her regular Alliance dress down uniform and acknowledged her with a head nod from where he stood. "Captain on deck! You want in on this, Shepard?"

When James saw the cold look in Krysta's brown eyes, he winced. "Not a good call with the admiral?"

"I need to speak with Bray," Her face remained stiff as she walked over.

"Hey, Shepard," The batarian's back was to her as he continued his reps. "I'm going to break James' record."

Krysta crossed her arms heatedly as she looked on. "It's about your call with Aria."

The tone of her voice sent chills down Cortez and James' spines. "You need privacy, mam?" Steve asked as he worriedly watched.

"Clear the floor, gentlemen," Krysta furiously kept her eyes squarely on the batarian.

"Ah, shit." James held up his hands and slowly stepped back away with his friend as Bray dropped from the bar to address her.

Krysta remained silent until she watched the fellow officers leave in the elevator, then she glared hard at the batarian before her in complete hurt. "So, what was the call about?"

Bray sighed and scratched his face lightly. "Look, Krysta. I meant nothing by it. I wanted to let her know what was going on with Avery and Sh'sk."

"Bullshit," Shepard icily cut him off. "Stop the fucking games, Bray. This is a war vessel and your friendly conversation with your employer could have jeopardized the mission!"

His bottom lip dropped some by her strong accusation and his posture became guarded by defense. "Are you going to reprimand me, Commander? Send me down to the brig like a dutiful Alliance officer?" He snapped.

"Why the hell are you up Aria's ass all the damn time?" She shook her head as hot tears formed in her eyes; her emotions were soaring at uncontrollable levels like an out-of-control fire. "Do you sleep with her too?!"

He looked at her incredulously. "What?!"

His deadpan response was not what she was expecting. He truly looked confused by her accusation. Was she jumping to conclusions too quickly? Why was she feeling this way? A part of her was so furious with him for being secretive while the other half was scared to death about his fate if he lingered beside her much longer. They were heading to the final stages of the war; one way or another, it would end soon. Her chance of survival was slim, but she didn't want him to die along willingly at her side. She wanted him safe. She didn't want Virmire to repeat. "Look, just go back to Omega. I'll get a shuttle out before we hit the relay."

"Shepard, I can fight with you," He insisted.

"No," She shut the option down. "I don't want you near me. I can't trust you and you being here is causing a big distraction." She ran her hand through her bangs in aggravation. "I don't know what the hell I was thinking. I should have expected this shit from Omega."

"Or from a batarian?" He asked with a lifted eye ridge, hinting at the norm xeno-phobic aggression and distrust against his species. "I think you were wanting to say that."

Seeing the pain in his eyes, Krysta realized she struck a nerve harder than intended. She was enraged, but she was not being racist with her statement. Her mind was a whirlwind and she didn't know what to truly think. All she could think of was the pure deception and hints that nobody with Aria could be trusted. Realizing that the argument was heading in the wrong direction, Shepard gritted her teeth and then turned to move back to the elevator. "You and I are both soldiers," He called to her. "You need my help and I know damn well that you have feelings for me. You said it before. Well, guess what? I don't know why, but I do too."

Flinching at this remark, Shepard stopped in her steps and felt herself breaking down as a tear escaped her eye. "No…" She took a slow breath to regain her composure. Her back remained to him. She couldn't dare to face him. "No more betrayals, Bray. We just had one spark and that was it. I have moved on. I need to focus on the war."

He looked at her back and his voice softened, "You're lying, and you know it."

Krysta took another slow deep breath as she kept her brown eyes straight on the elevator door, not wanting to look at him. The sight of him being half-clothed was stimulating to her no matter how hard she denied it. "Don't piss me off, Bray." She could hear his boots along the metal floor as he approached her from behind.

He was then merely a foot away. "Tell me again you feel nothing for me, and I'll go."

Krysta sighed and rolled her eyes as she stood still. "This is ridiculous. I already told you."

"Say it to my face," He snarled aggressively.

Shepard turned to finally look directly at him. "Bray, I already said it. I need to prep for the assault."

He crossed his arms in dissatisfaction with her response. "Your data referred to your hatred towards batarians. You were called the 'Butcher of Torfan.' You hate my kind, I get it. We can't be trusted. You want to fight? Then fight me. Try to beat my ass."

Shepard stared blankly at him, puzzled by where he was leading her. "Now you sound like when we were first on Omega." The memory stirred a slight giggle of amusement from within her. "I did want to beat your ass then."

"You never got your chance," He opened his arms widely in an invitation. "Here it is. Let's go."

She shook her head and held up her hands in a non-aggressive manner. "Just drop it."

"Fine," He shrugged then swung at her with a left hook.

Her training kicked in and she lifted her arms immediately to a guard position, blocking the intended hit. Her eyes widened at his intention. "Bray?"

"You're pissed," He remarked as he returned his fists also into a guarded stance. "Stay pissed. Get it out! You hold in way too much. Don't be so holy." He struck at her again with a right jab. This time when she blocked, she returned with a swing of a left cross-hit that he blocked too.

"Don't try to get in my head!" She growled as she took another strike then followed up with a right hook that caught his chin. His head snapped back lightly at the hit. He shook his head to shake it off.

"Does it make you uncomfortable?" He punched at her again and followed with a left upper cut that struck her in the right upper chest.

The hit made her jump back a few feet as the strike stung. "Not at all."

"You sure about that?" He countered as he rushed at her.

Krysta sidestepped and used his unbalanced for leverage as she flipped him over onto his back in a jujitsu maneuver that she learned in her training. "Are all batarians such lousy hand-to-hand fighters?"

He chuckled at the quip and sprung back up on his feet. This time, went at her again with a rope-a-dope tactic by coming at her with his left fist, but just as she moved to block, he retracted and then did a low sweeping kick, knocking her feet out from under her, sending her careening to the floor onto her back. Krysta blinked at how he was tearing at her walls, making her feel weak and catching her off-guard so much. Seeing her laying there stunned for a brief second, Bray lunged from where he stood and wrapped his legs around her own. Twisting his body, he flipped her onto her stomach and now was directly behind her. He kept his hands pinned on either side of her for an enclosure. His face was close to her right ear and the heat of his breath sent a chill up her spine. She could hear a seductive chur from his mouth that rattled her senses. Bray felt her body tremble in front of his, this aroused a smirk from him. He lowered his head back down to her ear and whispered, "Face it. You want a batarian." Krysta bit her lip and felt her face growing flushed as her heart raced in her chest. She found it difficult to speak. Then he flipped her onto her back and moved over her body. Her brown eyes looked right up at him to see his primal intent. Her lips quivered from the intensity. His right hand moved over and pressed around her neck to inflict slight pressure, but not enough to cease respiratory function. Just as he did, his body slowly lowered closer to hers. His face was now inches near her own. "I told Aria I wasn't leaving you."

She gaped at the confession and looked up at him sadly, and nearly choked out, "…. Why?" Guilt washed over her. She confronted him minutes ago about his deception and felt like he was going behind her back.

"You know why."

Feeling like a fool, Krysta shook her head at her previous action and leaned up, kissing him deeply. Her fingertips were placed lightly on his bare chest, feeling the tiny hairs on his skin. He returned the same, matching her passion. Her tongue flickered inside his mouth to taste him, and she heard a slight moan from him as he removed his hand around her neck and shifted his body to where she could sit up now to him. Their lips never broke. Taking a break to breathe, Krysta slipped off her top revealing her Alliance standard sports bra, and then went back to his lips again. His hands reached behind her head and removed the hair holster to allow it to flow freely down behind her back. His mouth parted from hers and his lips continued over to her jaw, then lightly down her neck, sending shivers all over. She lifted her head back to allow him access as his other hand moved slowly up her abs to her chest. His fingertips lightly traced around a few scars on her side from previous battles. His body inched closer to hers to where she could feel his arousal pressed against her. A moan escaped from her mouth as she felt his pants touch her. "Let's get to my cabin," She murmured in between kisses before finally breaking away from his mouth. Her body felt so hot, and she wanted him so bad.

Bray said nothing and nodded his head allowing to her stand up first. Then as he did, he swept her up in his arms to where she was facing him and allowed her to wrap her legs around his waist. "I don't want you to go too far," He gave a sloppy grin.

Shepard smirked and kissed his lips just as they walked inside the elevator car. Bray supported her with one hand as he reached over with his other to hit the button for the desired level. Then he moved quickly over to the car's wall and pressed her against it as their lips reunited hungrily. Her nails dug into his back by their scorching embrace. Her mouth shifted away and kissed down his neck, lapping at his skin hungrily. Hearing his breathing becoming heavy made her increase the tempo, incorporating tiny bites with her teeth.

The elevator doors opened to her cabin, and he moved her out to their privacy. Once they were inside, Krysta moved away to allow her to remove her sports bra and threw it on the floor in their steps. Upon reaching the bed, he placed her down and moved along over her, taking her hands, and holding them above her head in the process. His grip was firm as his lips captured hers once more ravaging. Then his head lowered down to her cleavage, allowing his tongue to teasingly lick slowly between her ample soft breasts. Her back arched in reaction. His fingers danced along the entrance between her legs temptingly. Shepard threw back her head to allow a moan in ecstasy to escape feeling his touch so close. Her breathing became more jagged. Moving his hand away, she maneuvered to where she was now on top of him and shook off his pants before straddling his upper thighs giving her full access to his most sensitive area. Seeing him so aroused by her body made her grin in delight. Her fingertips slowly traced his chest in a downward motion allowing the anticipation to settle in. Her eyes met his just as her hand found his hardness. Moans of pleasure fled his mouth as his breathing became louder by her delicate touch. Just as she rose to hover over him, he bucked his hips allowing the tip to touch her entrance. A twisted smile slid on his face as he looked at her once more in the eyes.

Catching her off guard once more, he flipped her again on her back and lowered himself down. His hand slowly moved along her upper thigh, caressing her skin as he spread her legs allowing him to get in between. His mouth captured hers hungrily once more as he started to penetrate her. His lips stifled the loud moan that came from her. His hand caressed her face as his rhythm started slowly, sliding deeper with each motion. She bucked her hips and rotated up against him, wanting him more. Her nails scraped down his back as the pace increased. His movements were relentless and hit her sensitive moist area. Their bodies were glistening in sweat as he continued. Unable to hold it in any longer, Krysta broke his mouth and clenched her teeth. "Bray!" Her nails dug more into his skin as she felt herself getting closer. His pace didn't let up and his hot breath remained at her neck and ear as he continued. The sensation was unforgiving. Her legs spread wider to allow more of him in and lapped at his neck, tasting the salty sweat from his skin.

Bray moaned heavier, "Krysta..."

Moments later, Shepard was unable to hold it any further and allowed her body to be released, feeling him doing the same seconds later. Her head snapped back as she screamed with intense lust and release. Just as he did, he buried his head into her shoulder, almost biting her to stifle his sounds. His thrusts became quicker as he finished.

Krysta trembled from the aftermath and collapsed as her wet hair dangled along the sheets. Bray rolled off and panted hard to catch his breath. "Holy fuck…" He murmured.

"Ditto," She gaped up at the skylight window above her bed that looked into the darkness of space. "That was..." She found it difficult to speak during breaths as her heart rate declined.

"Fucking intense," He tossed her a playful sleepy grin.

"Yeah," She laughed lightly. "You're not going anywhere."

"I told you; I wasn't planning on doing so."

"I can't take you on the next mission."

He looked at her stunned due to not expecting that answer. "Why not?"

"How can I fight Cerberus with you around after what just happened," She grinned.

He shrugged with a coyishly leer. "Let them look."