Shepard's hologram appeared in front of The Illusive Man, while she wasn't pleased with him, he still needed her
"Shepard. Good work on Freedom's Progress. The Quarians forward their findings from Veetor's debriefing. No new data, but it's a surprising olive branch, given our history. You and I have different methods, but I can't argue with your results," he said as he tapped his cigarette.
"Ever thought about playing nice once in a while as oppose to trying to kill everything in your path?" Zenna shot, her eyes narrowed.
"That's a bit of an exaggeration of what we do. Diplomacy is great when it works, but difficult when everyone already perceives you as a threat," he tried to defend.
"Wonder why the Quarians perceive you as a threat?" she asked rhetorically. "Could have something to do with Cerberus trying to attack them,"
"The Quarians were harbouring an asset of ours and we were only trying to get it back," he countered. "We would have been open to talks, but they refused to play nice,"
"Due to your reputation," Zenn said as she began to count the things Cerberus had done. "Assassination, bombings, kidnaping, extortion, drug and gun running, piracy. I would go on but I think I made my point. Your actions have caused Cerberus to get an unfavourable reputation, because your actions make you seem like a threat so no one will negotiate with you. You shot yourselves in the foot in that regard,"
TIM however just dismissively waved his hand. "I'd like to get back to the topic on hand, Commander. You've confirmed that the Collectors are the ones behind the abductions,"
"But you already suspected as much," the minotaur concluded.
TIM took a puff of his cigarette as he nodded. "Yes. But we need evidence. The Collectors are enigmatic at best. They periodically travel to the Terminus Systems, looking to gather seemingly unimportant items or specimens. Usually in exchange for their technology. When the transaction is complete, they disappear as quickly as they arrived; back beyond the unmapped Omega-4 relay. Until now we've had no evidence of direct aggression from them,"
"You're holding something back," Zenna said picking up on how careful he was being with his words. "How do you know the Reapers are behind this?"
"The evidence is buried in the data. I won't wait until the Reapers are on the march. We need to take the fight to them," he reaffirmed.
"If this is a war, I'm going to need an army, or a really good team," the Commander said making it clear she wouldn't accept anything less.
"I've already compiled a list of soldiers, scientists, and mercenaries. You'll get dossiers on the best of them. Finding them and convincing them to work with you could be challenging, but you're a natural leader. I'll continue to track the Collectors. When they make their next appearance, I'll notify you and your team. Be ready,"
"That's fine but let me make one thing clear. If I make contact with any of my friends and if they are willing to join me, they will whether or not you have a dossier on them," she said baring her fangs.
"I would expect you to. You need all the help you can get on this mission. Though two things. First, go to Omega and find Mordin Solus. He's a brilliant Salarian scientist. Our intelligence suggests he may know how to how to counteract the Collectors' paralysing seeker swarms," he advised knowing what she would need.
" Good, and the second?"
"I found a pilot I think you might like. I hear he's one of the best. Someone you can trust," he said.
With that he cut the connection as Shepard heard footsteps behind her followed by a familiar sent. She turned around a saw Joker give her a weak smile.
"Hey, Commander. Just like old times, huh?" He waved for him to follow.
"I cannot believe it's you Joker," Zenna smiled as she and the pilot walked up a flight of stairs.
"Look who's talking. I saw you get spaced," Joker countered with a smile
"I got lucky," the minotaur shrugged. "With a lot of strings attached. How'd you get here?"
"It all fell apart without you, Commander. Everything you stirred up; the Council just wanted it gone. Team was broken up, records sealed, and I was grounded. The Alliance took away the only thing that mattered to me. Hell yeah, I joined Cerberus," he explained.
"Do you honestly trust The Illusive Man?" Zenna asked looking at the pilot.
"Well, I don't trust anyone who makes more than I do. But they aren't all bad. Saved your life. Let me fly. And there's this. They only told me last night but she's still under construction,"
Zenna looked down into the hanger below as lights turned on one-by-one revealing the sleek ship below. Drool began to leek from one side of her mouth as she looked at the mechanical beauty below.
"It's good to be home, huh, Commander?" Joker asked before looking to her, only to see the commander drooling on the glass over the ship.
"So pretty," she muttered.
"Ah, right," he muttered. "Forgot you're a gearhead,"
OOOOO
Shepard, Miranda and Jacob took their first steps on the Normandy with the former looking around in awe. But a more accurate term would be 'drooling'. Zenna took it all in as she looked around and neared the new galaxy map.
"Welcome to the Normandy SR2," Jacob said. "Just try not to take everything apart,"
"No promises," the minotaur smiled.
"Commander, the ship is almost ready to go. Construction will be completed in a matter of ours. Recommendation: it's logical to find scientist Mordian Solus." Miranda said.
"It is the best course of action," Zenna agreed.
"Acquiring Professor Solus seems like the most logical option," an electronic female voice then sounded.
"Who are you?" Zenna asked fearing another golem.
A blue hexagonal gridded orb appeared behind her as she turned to face it, her eyes widened at the sight.
"I'm the Normandy's Enhanced Defence Intelligence, the crew refer to me as EDI for short," EDI said.
Zenna said nothing for a moment, just staring at the hologram in front of her. "I have no problems with AI, but Joker might," she said
"Mr Moreau's talents will not go to waste. I operate the cyber warfare and electronic warfare suites," EDI said before disappearing.
"We are going to have a conversation about her," Zenna said.
"I'll be in the armoury and Miranda will be in her office if you need us," Jacob said before saluting and the two of them walked off.
As they walked off Zenna looked around before eyed a red-haired nekomata standing in front of a terminal. Interested Zenna walked up to the red head but before she could say anything the red head turned around and faced the commander with a cheery smile.
"Commander I'm yeoman Kelly Chambers. I'll be helping you with email's and helping around the ship as you need me," Kelly said. "Nyaan,"
"Well, that's nice coming from a cute little thing like you," Zenna said smiling making the yeoman blush.
"Thank you," she smiled but then turned a little more serious. "By the way commander, I wonder if it would be ok to organise weekly sessions with you. Your… mental history has me a little concerned about the future nyaan,"
"Thanks, when would be a good time for you?" Zenna asked.
Kelly turned to her terminal. "Nyaan, Wednesday at 5?"
"Sounds good to me," Zenna nodded. "But I assume it will change to due missions?"
"Yep, nyaan," Kelly smiled.
"Good to hear, I need to have a look at this beautiful ship," Zenna gushed and left.
'I shouldn't be surprised,' Kelly thought. 'Minotaurs love tech,'
Shepard finished speaking with most of the crew and headed for the med-bay. She wanted to introduce herself to the ship's doctor. Zenna walked inside, as she walked inside the familiar smell of a lamia and the greyish scales met her.
"Commander Sssshepard. I watched you die with the Normandy," Dr Karin Chackwas said as she turned to look at the commander with a smile. "It's sssso good to ssssee you again,"
"Well, out of all I've seen here you are the most welcome person here," Zenna smiled as she pulled up a chair and sat down. "So, you're on a Cerberus vessel?"
"I am loyal towardssss fighting the Reaperssss and that'ssss why I'm here," the doctor smiled. "Helping in the battle anyway I could. And besssidessss being a sssship'sss doctor wassss alwayssss the besssst,"
"Can't argue with that," Zenna smiled as she cracked her neck. "I wonder if the gym is finished,"
"Am I that boring?" the lamia teased.
"No, I feel like I need to test my body," Zenna said. "I may have been rebuilt but how much of me is still… well me?"
"A fine point," the doctor nodded as she moved up to the minotaur. "Sssssshirt up pleassssse,"
The minotaur complied and pulled her top up allowing the snake-woman to look at her well-toned abs. She then reached out and touched Zenna's stomach felling the muscles of the minotaur. Minotaurs were naturally strong, granted if left undeveloped this strength disappeared. But if they decided to developed their muscles, they become one of the strongest creatures out there. This required regular training to keep their bodies up to shape, but their strength decayed slowly.
"Hummmm," she purred feeling the hardened structure of the minotaurs abs.
Even with the noticeable scars from both surgery and being a chimera, the doctor was still impressed with the amount of work that went into remaking the commander. After a few moments of feeling the minotaur, the doctor moved over to the door and activated the lock which also tinted the windows.
"Pleasssse take off your clothing," the doctor said.
"Fully naked or keep my underwear on?" Zenna asked.
"Underwear, and jump onto a bed," the doctor said.
Zenna nodded and walked over to one of the beds before undressing down to her underwear while Chackwas gathered together some items. As the doctor gathered the items she needed, Zenna claimed and lay on the bed. The lamia slithered over and activated the scanner while she prepared with the tools next to her.
Shepard wasn't embarrassed with her lack of clothing. When she was younger, the frequent medical exams and tests made her used to people seeing her without clothing. It also helped that minotaur's had a very casual attitude towards things like sex. To them it was just a natural function, nothing sordid, unnatural or anything bad about it. Even married minotaur's normally had multiple partners.
Once the scan finished, Chackwas leaned and began to lick the commander's body tickling her slightly. She pulled back before spitting into a palate.
"Yuck, sssssynthetic," she muttered placing the palate to one said before picking up a needle.
She slid it into Zenna and drew some blood before setting it to one side. She then picked up and eye tool and used it to looking into the minotaurs eye. It didn't take long and she wrote something down.
"All good?" Zenna asked.
"All good for now," the dr said as she moved away as the minotaur sat up. "I'll run a few testssss, but you sssseem to be ok,"
"So, I've got nothing to worry about?" Zenna asked as she pulled her clothing back on.
"From what I can sssssee, but I'd recommend taking it eassssy for the next few daysssss," Chackwas said as she slithered back up to the commander and looked at the scar on her jaw. "Thisss will heal," she smiled.
"Thanks doc," the minotaur smiled.
"Itssss no problem," Chackwas said as she moved over back to her desk. "My door isss alwayssss open,"
"See you around," Zenna nodded and walked out of the med bay before making her way down to engineering.
As she stepped onto the main reactor floor, she began to drool over the high-tech stuff that was available. Licking her lips, she dove into the tech like a kid in a sweet shop taking it all in. She was in there for hours until the two engineers walked in.
"Come on Gabby," a man with a Scottish accent said. "Time to get too…" he stopped as he looked down as the legs of the minotaur under one of the terminals.
"Who's under here?" Gabby asked as she squatted down as the commander pulled herself from underneath. "Oh commander!" she and her partner straightened and saluted.
"Ma'am," the Scott said as Zenna stood.
"At ease," she said before leaning against the terminal. "So, the two of you are my engineers? Good to meet the two of you,"
The two Cerberus engineers smiled as Zenna looked them over. They were baseline humans, and given how much TIM was putting into this project it seemed that he was putting all his best people on it.
"Yes, ma'am I'm Gabriella Daniels," Gabby said before indicating to her partner. "And this is Kenneth Donnelly,"
"Gabs and Ken," Zenna nodded. "Sounds good to me, care to help me,"
Both engineers smiled and all three of them got to work.