Mass Effect: Cry Out For a Hero

The journey from the Citadel to the Artemis Tau cluster involved passing through a series of Mass Relays and then crossing space to the correct local cluster. It was from one side of the galaxy to the other, and even with mass relays to help, it would still take time to get there.

During our journey, I remained active in the gym while getting to know all my fellow squad mates. Each had their own story to tell, and we spent time discussing our lives up to that point.

I learned that Flight Lieutenant Jeff 'Joker' Moreau had a condition called Vrolik syndrome, a brittle bone disease, otherwise known as 'osteogenesis imperfecta'. It basically meant that his bones broke incredibly easily, and it left him wheelchair-bound when not in the pilot's chair. Therefore, he only moved when absolutely necessary with the help of a walking frame. He didn't realise that I was unaware when asking him about it and it was a little awkward to begin with. I wasn't sure if he would ever warm to me in the end, but he assured me that he was the best pilot in the Alliance and would remain professional.

Kaidan Alenko was a powerful biotic with additional technical skills. He had been one of many young children sent out to Jump Zero to enhance their biotic capabilities. He told me the story of the turian commander, Vyrnnus, who had been put in charge of their training.

"A turian? Why not an asari?" I had to ask.

"What the Alliance were doing wasn't exactly legal," he admitted, "The turian was nothing more than a mercenary, and he didn't care what he did to us as long as it brought results. He introduced himself as a war veteran, trying to get a reaction from us. None of us had even been alive during the First Contact War."

Everyone has their breaking point and Kaidan reached his when a girl he was obviously sweet on was hurt by the turian. When Kaidan fought back, it was a fight to the death and Kaidan came out on top. From what he knew, that pretty much put an end to everything going on at Jump Zero and he returned home. The reason no one had an inkling of what was going on was that the records were sealed, the Alliance too embarrassed that it had fallen out of control so easily.

"Yet you chose to serve?" I had to ask.

"My father was in the military, and to be honest, I didn't blame all of the Alliance. Biotics was new and interesting, almost another step in the development of humanity. I guess it's happened before, people being hurt in the pursuit of progress. No, the mistake was in hiring someone like Vyrnnus. If we'd hired an asari, even a mercenary, I think things would have been better."

Garrus Vakarian was a C-Sec veteran and an example of the rigid structure of the turian hierarchy. There was no missing his talents as a technician and engineer, and I noted rather quickly he had a love for his sniper rifle. He admitted that it had been with him through his military training back on Palaven and he cared for it as much as he did himself. He admitted that he was interested in applying for the Spectres as he found the red tape of C-Sec constricting at times when it came to investigating. But he also admitted that the loose rules governing Spectres allowed someone like Saren to cause havoc.

Urdnot Wrex played his cards close to his chest. He understood that humanity were recent arrivals on the galactic scene and didn't know too much about the krogan. He said that I'd learn more the longer that we were together, but for the time being, he was along for the ride but to be assured of his loyalty.

"You helped me, Shepard. Can't think of too many other people in the galaxy that have done anything for the krogan recently. And this Saren is bad news. I've lived long enough to see turians, asari, salarians, batarians… All the species have had members try to pull off stupid shit like this. The Reapers? I don't know if they exist or not, but if Saren is convinced, I'd take it seriously. The best thing you can do? Once you have that turian bastard in your sights, don't hesitate. Kill him."

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya had an infectious personality. Lieutenant Adams took her under his wing immediately though he admitted rather quickly that she knew more about engineering than nearly anyone in the Alliance. My conversations with Tali were illuminating and also rather depressing. The Migrant Fleet was stuck crossing the galaxy on thousands of ships after a war with the geth that had decimated their population. The quarians hoped to find a new home but had been prevented from doing so at every turn. As for her Pilgrimage, she hoped her time with me would help her find something that she could return to the Migrant Fleet with.

Doctor Chakwas had been with the Alliance for decades, signing up once she'd graduated medical school. She was a little older than I thought though I still considered her a knockout for a woman of her age. She admitted to a somewhat romantic view of the service before she'd joined up, but she wouldn't swap it for the world, admitting the idea of running a clinic back on Earth or a colony world as far too boring compared to travelling the galaxy on board a warship.

I pulled the crew together that wasn't working into the mess room one evening so we could enjoy a drink and a conversation. I knew Wrex and Garrus were naturally suspicious of each other, and Ashley had urged caution about letting any non-human into our sensitive systems, but I was confident that we'd eventually all get along. Humanity had proven that we could put aside centuries-long hatred when it came to a common enemy.

It was a good night and while I don't think it was going to make all of us the best of friends, I knew everyone needed to trust the human, turian, quarrian or krogan next to them. When we finally hit the ground, I knew it would take time to build ourselves into a team. That sort of thing didn't come instantly. But we could definitely discuss tactics beforehand. Tali's engineering prowess would help against the geth. Kaidan's biotic abilities would be perfect against any 'organic' enemy. Garrus and his skill with a sniper rifle would help clear paths. Wrex was what one would have called 'a tank'. Capable of sustaining damage while dealing out plenty of harm. Ashley and I had over a decade of training and our own skills when it came to warfare. We just had to combine all of that together to hone ourselves into an effective fighting force.

I was lying back in bed that evening, ship-time, when my omni-tool dinged. I smiled to myself when it was a message from Jane.

JS: First human Spectre?! Why didn't you let me know?!

Shep: Sorry. It's been a hectic few days since then.

JS: I understand. I guess there's less chance of making it to Arcturus now?

Shep: Probably not, but I'll likely be on the Citadel more often given the scope of the job that I'm now doing.

JS: I've only heard rumours as the Citadel and Alliance are being tight-lipped about it.

Shep: I can't say too much, but I'm hunting someone down who wants to bring untold destruction to us and maybe the galaxy as a whole.

JS: Marvellous…

JS: You think about me, Shepard?

Shep: Jane… Yes, I do. Fondly.

JS: Good. Totally missing your dick. I think I've mentioned that before. I'll probably remind you again.

Shep: You're a horny little thing.

JS: Always horny when you come to mind. I have to close my office door and jill off at least twice a day since our night together. My dildo hasn't seen so much action in months.

Damn, I had no idea that I'd had that sort of effect on her. I knew we'd hit it off and there was no doubting the attraction between us. But she really seemed to miss me. I found myself smiling as I found myself thinking from time to time what it would be like to see her again. Would we have that same instant spark again that would lead us into the bedroom? Or would we take time to actually talk before we end up in bed?

Shep: Next time I'm heading towards the Citadel, I'll give you a heads up.

JS: Shepard, I'll take emergency leave if I have to. Book us a room somewhere so you can fuck me solid for a couple of days. That'll take the edge off for a little while. I know you're busy and probably enjoying time with other women…

Shep: Don't get jealous.

I'm not and I won't. It's just… Damn, you ruined me that night, Shepard. Hand on heart, that was the best fuck that I can remember.

Shep: Jane, trust me, I hadn't had it that good in a while too. I can't wait to see you naked in my arms again.

JS: You say the sweetest things, Shepard. I think I'll send you some nudes over the next few days. And if you want to return the favour, I'd definitely want to see one of you in the shower with that lovely dick of yours nice and hard…

Shep: You've got it so fucking bad, Jane.

JS: I want it fucking hard, Shepard. Just ruin me for a couple of nights. Though if you eat pussy…

Shep: What sort of man would I be if I didn't eat that sweet pussy of yours, Jane?

There was no reply for a couple of minutes before there was a picture message. It was of Jane lying back on her bed naked. I think she must have used an app on her omni-tool as the photo was from above her, legs spread and one hand between her pussy, a couple of fingers inside her. It was obvious that was she masturbating.

Shep: Good thing I'm on my ship and not about to head out on mission.

JS: Just thought you should realise how much you turn me on, Shepard.

Shep: Trust me, I do think about you from time to time, Jane.

JS: Good. Now I'll leave you to it as I know you are busy now. Let me know when you're on the way back to the Citadel and I'll do what I can to get there. I'll apologise now if I get a little giddy when I meet you.

I was still smiling myself the next morning when I joined the rest of the crew in the mess for breakfast. As I was about to fork another piece of fake bacon into my mouth, Ashley finally asked, "What has you smiling, sir?"

I didn't miss the teasing tone in her voice. I looked up and saw the amusement on the faces that I could read. "Well, if you must know, I met a girl on Arcturus…"

Wrex immediately started laughing. "I heard a rumour that you fooled around with the Asari Councillor…"

That led to many other eyes now staring at me in surprise. "How the hell did you hear about that?" I had to ask. He just gave me a look before chuckling to himself. "Anyway, back to your question, Ashley, the girl that I met on Arcturus was messaging me last night."

"Yeah, I bet she was," Wrex murmured, giving me a wink, "And I bet she was making all sorts of promises. I bet the Asari Councillor did the same thing."

"He made me a promise or two as well, Wrex," Ashley stated. I met her eyes and was relieved to see no jealousy on her part. In fact, she looked a little aroused. Maybe it was the fact that other women were so obviously interested in me?

"What sort of promises?" Tali asked, ever so innocently.

Wrex roared with laughter and gently wrapped an arm around her. "Oh, child, you have much to learn about certain races of the galaxy. I'm going to put it like this. I've learned that humans love to fuck. Particularly their males. They'll fuck anything if they're interested."

"Within reason, Wrex. We don't just go sticking our dicks into anything," Kaidan retorted. I would have but I was far too busy laughing myself. I liked the big krogan already.

"Anyway, child, I believe our Commander here already has interest from some women and maybe asari as well. What's the name of this woman messaging you?"

"Jane. She works on Arcturus."

"So we have Jane, and I just know he fucked the Asari Councillor while we were on the Citadel." I saw more than one jaw drop as I guess that wasn't public knowledge amongst my closest companions. "And I'm not blind to the fact that our Chief here wants a bit of alone time with Shepard as well."

"Well, I'd be stupid to say no," Ashley said quickly before forking some scrambled egg into her mouth.

"I'd fuck you over this table right now if you said yes," I almost growled. Ashley swallowed and returned a look that suggested she'd agree if it wouldn't lead to further embarrassment.

Wrex laughed again. "I like you humans. You guys don't fuck around. You're short-lived and therefore just want to get shit done. You're not as uptight as the turians." Garrus looked ready to retort before he thought about it and remained silent. "I wouldn't trust a salarian if you paid me. Devious little fuckers. The asari play the long game but never doubt for a moment that any decision is based on their own self-interest. Tevos fucked you because she wanted to keep you sweet and on her side, Shepard. But I don't blame you for fucking that sweet piece of arse. I've enjoyed more than a few asari over the years. Make an old krogan like me feel hundreds of years younger."

"Are you suggesting that Shepard might try and, um, you know… um… This Liara we're looking for?" Tali asked.

Wrex wrapped his arm a little tighter around Tali. "Well, I don't think our leader would say no if this young asari were to want a night or two in his quarters. Depending on her age, I'm sure she's rather flexible, capable of many positions and a sweet little pussy…"

Kaidan cleared his throat which led to a few chuckles. "It's barely 8am and we're already on this topic," he said.

"Fair enough," Wrex stated. It was obvious he'd taken a real shine to Tali as some sort of father figure. It was rather cute. "Anyway, child, you're going to discover the galaxy is many things. A wondrous place that will give you everything that you could possibly desire. Full of wonderful people who will make your life worth living. But there is a dark underbelly. One that will see your body dropped to the ground in a dark alleyway and no one will mourn your passing. There are few genuinely safe places. Living isn't easy. Death comes to us all in the end."

I was in the gym again with Kaidan and Ashley when Joker called in that we had arrived in the Knossos system and that the planet of Therum was only a few hours away. We were wiping ourselves down with sweat when I called my human companions closer.

"We go down with a full team," I told them, "Tali, Wrex and Garrus will join us on the ground. I have no idea what we'll find. Hopefully, we just find Doctor T'soni, get the information we need, and we can either leave or we take her back to the Citadel for interrogation. I guess it'll depend on what she has to say. Being the daughter of Lady Benezia…"

"What do you reckon, Skipper?" Ashley asked. I gave her a confused look that made her smile. "You're the captain without the title. We're on a ship so…"

"I like it. Don't worry. What do I think? I honestly don't know yet. We'll find out once we're on the ground."

"We'll be ready to go, Commander," Kaidan stated. He called me by my name most of the time, but this close to mission-time, I knew he'd call me by my title. Whatever made whoever comfortable.

He walked off as I continued to wipe myself down. We were alone in our corner of the hangar bay when Ashley stepped closer. Resting a hand on my chest, she asked, "What sort of messages with Jane last night?"

"Very naughty messages, Ash. She misses me. Said I was the fuck of a lifetime."

Her kiss caught me off-guard. I simply didn't expect it. I ended up sitting back on one of the weight benches as Ashley rested a knee to either side of me, feeling her grind her crotch against mine. The only reason I didn't tear off her bra and shorts was the fact our mission was close. When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily.

"Fuck it," she stated, "Look, Shepard, I'm interested. One hundred percent. And I'm committed to you and this mission. Whatever it takes, I'll be there. And if you're interested in a little fun, then all you need to do is call me into your quarters. I won't be jealous if others…"

"I'll ask this only the once. Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent."

"Okay. Can you head to the surface without distraction?"

She was mock offended by the question but understood and responded with one hell of a kiss. We only broke apart when we both needed a breath. "I think this is going to be the adventure of a lifetime, Shepard," she whispered, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Two things. One, rescuing me on Eden Prime. I was dead if you hadn't shown up. Two, for being you. I know you've had a lot of shit in your life, but you're not the complete arsehole that I expected. That's the only reason why I'm on your lap now, feeling that big dick of ours pressing into me, only a couple of pieces of fabric stopping you from sliding inside me."

"If only we had enough time…"

"I'm going to want the full works, Shepard. You'd better eat pussy as I will suck your dick like no tomorrow if you do."

"Then we should shower, calm down, and get our game faces on."

Once the Normandy was in orbit around Therum, we had the ship looking for signs of life on the ground. Therum was a planet claimed by the Systems Alliance and was full of heavy metals that were being mined and sent back to Earth and the colonies. The data at hand also suggested numerous Prothean ruins were on the surface. Would that explain Doctor T'Soni's interests in the planet? I knew the asari had started to travel in numbers across worlds inhabited by humans, but I was surprised one would be working in such a harsh environment.

I knew that I had to spring one last surprise on our non-human colleagues as we assembled in the cargo bay. The Mako was ready and waiting, Garrus having taken it upon himself to ensure it would always be in working order. When they were ready, I explained how the Mako would be dropped onto the surface. No parachute. The Normandy would fly low enough to the ground so the Mako could drop safely, relying on thrusters to keep it stable and allow it to drop as softly as possible. The Mako had fantastic suspension that would cushion the fall. As for being picked up, it was dependent on the atmosphere of the planet.

Wrex was roaring with laughter again once I finished explaining how it would work. "I like you humans. You're nuts," he stated. Garrus saw the tactical sense behind such a manoeuvre.

"Is it safe, Shepard?" Tali asked, hearing the nerves in her tone.

Ashley immediately had an arm around her. I smiled as Tali had immediately been adopted by Wrex and Ashely as a daughter-figure and sister. "We'll be fine, Tali. The Commander has done hundreds of drops during training and during his time in service. What's the plan when we're groundside, sir?"

"I'll be driving. Tali, I want you looking after the shields. Garrus, navigation. Ashley, you'll be on the cannon. Kaidan, you'll be handling the machine gun. Wrex… Passenger."

"Krogan don't like confined spaces, Shepard."

"You'll be fine, big guy. If you need to get out, just let me know and you can get some air."

The drop went off without a hitch. Tali almost screamed when we were free-falling. I could hear Wrex laughing away again. I found myself smiling as I liked the big krogan already. He would provide levity during the mission. The Mako landed with a crunch, the suspension handling it just as I explained. Once everyone was in position and let me know they were reading, I began driving forward.

We learned within minutes that the geth were on Therum and in considerable numbers. One of their ships flew overhead and deposited machines that I didn't recognise. Tali gave them names as we dealt with them. Single geth units, bipedal machines, were easy to handle. The four-legged machines, some considerably larger than others, were tougher nuts to crack. Some of them were shielded, Tali admitting that she could eliminate the shields of single geth units, but the bigger machines would be impossible.

Ashley was having a blast firing the cannon while Kaidan was accurate with the machine gun. Garrus was in my ear about the direction. The Mako was rather easy to drive when on level terrain. The heat was considerable as I knew the world was volcanic, and I made sure to keep the Mako well away from the pools of lava. The air conditioning was blasting but even that was struggling to keep the heat at bay.

"I should have done this naked," Ashley stated, "I'm sweating up a storm right now."

"I won't say no if you did, Ash," I retorted as I heard the cannon fire again.

"Hit!" Garrus cried out, "Another one bites the dust."

"Calm down, Freddie," I stated, much to the confusion of our turian companion.

We were following a large energy source that we only assumed was where Liara was currently located. From the data we had, it was a mining complex. Nothing to suggest it was abandoned though if Liara was there, perhaps there were ruins that had been discovered and Liara had arrived to investigate.

The geth continued to slow our progress. Tali kept our shields up. Garrus made sure we didn't get lost. Ashley was accurate with the cannon while even Kaidan seemed to be enjoying himself firing the machine gun. Our progress was tempered as I was cautious with the lives in my hands. We annihilated the geth opposition, eventually reaching a pinch point.

"I'm not sure, Shepard," Garrus stated as I reversed the Mako and revved the engine.

"At the right moment, engage all power to the thrusters, Tali."

"No shields?"

"All power. We can get over this barricade."

I floored the throttle and engaged the thrusters at the correct time, the Mako sailing over the barricade before landing with a thud on the other side. We all rocked about for a couple of seconds before the cannon fired again, the geth waiting for us in considerable numbers near a mine entrance. Garrus shouted over the sound of the cannon and machine gun firing that his equipment suggested that Liara was likely in the mine shaft nearby.

The geth made a couple of airdrops of machines that provided one hell of a test. I had to move the Mako forward, backwards while using the thrusters to move from side to side. That helped avoid the missiles that were fired by the larger geth machines. Ashley called out whenever she took down one of the bigger machines, Kaidan focusing on the single geth units, some of them armed with rockets. Tali was working hard to keep our shields up as we did take continuous fire though I did my best to avoid the rockets and missiles.

"That's it!" Ashley finally cried out, "Last of those big fuckers on the deck, sir."

"Garrus? Any other signatures?"

He checked before looking at me. "We're clear, Commander. The only energy signature is from inside the mine. I can't get a fix on Doctor T'Soni though."

"That's fine. Everyone out, we'll remain cautious when we're in the mine. No idea if this place has been abandoned or the workers have simply left due to the ruins that were found."

Those of us who could sweat were clearly dripping with it. I had to wipe my brow once we checked to see that we were alone, taking off my helmet to wipe my brow dry. Ashley must have been soaking in her armour while Kaidan looked rather warm. He'd told me about the implant and the complications he faced.

"You okay?" I asked.

He looked grateful that I gave a shit. "I'm okay, Commander. It's not the heat that will bother me. It's using biotics that, um…"

"Fucks you up?" Ashley finished for him before she gave him a playful push, "You can curse, Kaidan. We're all soldiers here. And if you're worried about Tali…"

"You guys are funny," she said with humour, "I knew this was going to be dangerous but also a lot of fun."

"You were wonderful with those shields, Tali. Well done," I stated.

I think if I'd seen her face behind the face shield, she would have blushed but glowed with pride. "Thank you, Commander," she said softly.

"Everyone check your weapons. Ready?" Once everyone was affirmative, we moved into the mine. I was on point, Garrus was at the rear, covering us with his sniper rifle, and I knew distance was his friend.

The geth had infiltrated the mine though we crept up on them, catching a few of the units by surprise. After that, it was a balls to the wall sort of battle. I sensed that Ashley was taking delight in fighting them after the events on Eden Prime. Tali seemed to like using a shotgun on the battlefield though spent much of her time on her omni-tools, disabling shields and even overriding the occasional unit. Garrus found distance and I heard the crack of his rifle. Kaidan mixed biotics and skill with his omni-tool. As for Wrex…

Wrecking ball. I was almost laughing as geth went flying through the air, probably wondering what the fuck happened.

We eventually made it to where we found an asari behind a barrier. She was rather delirious as from her paleness, she may have been confined to whatever was holding her for some time. She seemed surprised to see us. A moment of fear crossed her features before she realised that most of us were human.

"Who are you?" she asked, a hint of nerves but that was it.

"Commander Shepard. This is my crew. Are you Doctor T'Soni?"

"I am. What are you doing here?"

"To be honest, we're looking for you. Before you ask, it's a long story and I think we should ask our questions later. Let's get to business. Can you get out of where you are?"

"No, I can't. These ruins are Prothean and I seem to have set off some sort of security device. You'll need to get inside this room and deactivate it with the console next to me."

"No dramas. We'll figure it out and get in there as quickly as possible. Do you need medical treatment?"

"I'm dehydrated, a little hungry and, um…" She trailed off and I noticed her blush. I could figure out why rather quickly. If she'd been trapped there for more than a day or two, nature does call.

"Okay, when we're back on my ship, we'll make sure that you're looked after. Hold tight, Doctor T'Soni."

Getting to Liara required firing a mining laser that caused one hell of an explosion. I heard more than one rumble which earned more than one comment from my colleagues. Wrex bluntly suggested that the whole place was going to collapse in on us if we weren't careful. I agreed and ordered everyone to move quickly. The geth were waiting for us in some sort of last stand. We took care of the bastards easily, Ashley once again taking delight whenever she killed one of them. Tali called them 'bosh'tets'. I figured it was a quarian word that meant 'bastards' or something more vulgar.

Liara was almost tearful when we entered the room. Tali worked the console and disabled the biotic field that kept the asari suspended. She fell to the ground, and I stepped forward to help her. When she hugged me tightly, I sensed it was from pure relief that someone was there to rescue her.

"I probably smell and…"

"Hush. You're okay and that's what matters," I assured her. Picking her up easily in my arms had her blushing again. It was easy to see that she was weak. Her pale skin was a sign of how long she'd been without water, food and sleep.

Making our way to a nearby elevator that would take us back towards the surface, any chance that we'd make an easy getaway ended when a krogan and more geth appeared to stop us. After gently laying Liara down on the ground, we made short work of those trying to stop us. Wrex seemed to take joy in fighting his fellow krogan, the pair wielding blades. We'd long wiped out the geth and watched the two krogan fight. I kept my weapon trained on the other krogan, Wrex warning me not to fire.

The centuries of experience were evident as Wrex was almost teasing his opponent. Death by a thousand cuts. When he finally plunged his blade home, although Wrex had taken joy in the battle, I could see that killing a fellow krogan only saddened him. I figured that I'd find out later as to why.

Thoughts ended when there was a rumble. I picked up Liara and I moved as quickly as possible as the entire ruin was on the verge of collapsing in on itself. It was a close run thing, Ashley calling in the Normandy to pick us up upon our exit from the mine shaft. We made it out just in time, hearing the entire shaft collapse in on itself as we exited into fresh air again. Liara was resting her head against my shoulder as I came to a stop.

"Thank you," she whispered.

I carried her up onto the ship and into the med-bay, Chakwas stepping forward once I'd laid Liara down on one of the beds. She took her vitals and made a few noises. Liara's eyes were only for me while the good doctor was checking her over.

"She needs bed rest, Commander," Chakwas reported, "I'll give her an IV of fluids to help with the dehydration. Some sleep, a couple of good meals, and I'm sure she'll be up and about in a couple of days."

"Doctor T'Soni…"

"Call me Liara," she said softly, noticing that she was already struggling to keep her eyes open. I didn't blame her at all.

"Liara, I need to ask you a lot of questions. Some of them are about your mother, Benezia. When you're ready, can you help me?" She tried to sit up, but I gently pushed her back down. "Trust me, you're not well right now."

"I need a bath."

I chuckled at the blunt remark. "I'll admit that you do, but we'll worry about that later. I don't want to interview or interrogate you right now. Once you're a little better, I'll come back in here and we can talk."

"Commander Shepard? That's who you are?"

"That's me."

"And what ship are we on?"

"It's called the Normandy."

She yawned as her eyes slowly closed. "Never been on a human ship before. I don't… deal with humans… Or anyone…"

I watched her fall asleep and it was only when she drifted off that I realised that she was still holding my hand. I gave it a gentle squeeze before I let it go.

"Did you find her down that mine shaft, Commander?" Chakwas asked.

"Yeah…"

"I think she was down there for a long time, Commander. A long time. She's lucky to be alive. It'll be a couple of days before she should even be up and around. I'll monitor her condition and keep you updated."

Walking out to join the others in the mess, Ashley had the top part of her armour off, sitting back in just a sports bra, six water bottles in front of her. Kaidan looked weary after his use of biotics in the mine. Tali and Garrus were inscrutable while Wrex was likely down in the cargo bay. I grabbed a bottle of water and joined my crew.

"Well done," I stated, "Well fucking done. We completed the mission with barely a scratch and rescued Doctor T'Soni at the same time. She's going to need rest before I can find out what she knows." I could see my words pleased everyone around me. "I know we've just left the Citadel, so my plan isn't to return there. However, that is dependent on what Doctor T'Soni tells me. Councillor Tevos told me that she was a close friend of Matriarch Benezia. I'm not sure if Doctor T'Soni will have any sort of relationship, but it might be an avenue worth exploring. If not, then we will move to another objective."

"I'll get working on the Mako, make sure she's in top shape for the next mission, Commander," Garrus said.

Tali returned to engineering as I knew that she'd already found a home there. Ashley would take care of the weapons and armour as I trusted her skill with that. I noticed Kaidan rubbing his temples, so I told him to take it easy. He nodded his appreciation. Doctor Chakwas told me about the almost debilitating migraines that he could suffer. As long as he was in the right shape when it came to mission time, I would give him all the time he needed when we were back on the ship. Despite what people thought, I cared about the people under my command.

The next morning, I received a communication from Admiral Hackett. He'd already congratulated me for my inclusion as a Spectre, so I knew this was a business call.

"Commander, I have an assignment that I'm hoping you can help me with. Admiral Kahoku has approached me in the past forty-eight hours about a missing recon team in the Artemis Tau cluster. Are you still in the region?"

"I am, sir. We've rescued Doctor T'Soni. She was in bad shape. I'm waiting for her to recover sufficiently enough that I can interview her. Hopefully within the next twenty-four hours. I have time to spare if you have an urgent matter."

"Excellent, Commander. I need you to reconnoitre the Sparta system and the planet of Edolus. Admiral Kahoku explained that the last transmission he had from his team came from that planet. The hope is that you can either rescue them or at least find evidence of their demise."

"We'll head there immediately, sir."

"Thank you, Commander. Please contact me as soon as you have details. Hackett out."

Joker had us heading towards the Sparta system minutes later. It wouldn't take all that long to get there in the grand scheme of things, notifying everyone that we would head to the surface if it was daylight. If not, we will delay until the morning. I kept myself busy writing a report for the Council and eventually walked to the communications room. I was aware that Councillor Tevos would have preferred a face-to-face meeting, but she would understand once I explained.

They were full of questions about the mission and the condition of Doctor T'Soni. Councillor Tevos was interested in meeting her in person to ask her own questions. I thought that was fair though asked for permission from Doctor T'Soni. Councillor Tevos agreed though hoped we would return to the Citadel. Otherwise, they were satisfied to hear that Doctor T'Soni was safe and that we had eliminated such a large force of geth. Knowing they were spreading so far was a concern for every species.

Arriving in the orbit of Edolus while the sun was still providing light on the surface, Joker was able to pick up a signal coming from the ground. The same team that was with me on Therum joined me, armed and armoured Joker swooped in low to drop the Mako. We were dropped a couple of kilometres away from the signal, but it was better than landing in a trap.

"Something doesn't sit right about this, Commander," Kaidan stated as he manned the machine gun, "This is a nothing planet. No one is interested in it. There's nothing here. Why was a team of Alliance Marines sent here?"

"That's why we're here to find out, Lieutenant. But I hear you."

Garrus had the coordinates, and I was cautious as we made our way in that direction. The planet was desolate. I'd read up on the planet after the request from Admiral Hackett and although it was in Alliance space, there had been little to no interest in the planet except for the occasional probe, hoping that minerals would be found. But so far, nothing of worth had been found.

The Mako crested a slight rise and a vast plateau lay in front of us. I knew it was a trap. Garrus muttered the same thing. So did Ashley.

"Chief, stay loose on that cannon. Lieutenant, same thing with that machine gun. This smells wrong."

"Sorry," Wrex joked though he knew the situation was serious.

I inched the Mako forward as I recognised the charred remains of an M29 Grizzly. It was only when we were closer that I saw the charred bodies of an Alliance recon team. There was also a tower nearby that I could only guess was a transmitter. Before I could begin to issue orders, the ground below us started to rumble.

"The fuck is that?" Ashley wondered.

Wrex started to laugh. "I don't believe it! Tresher Maw!"

"What?" I shouted.

"Commander, I need to get out and fight it."

I knew saying no wasn't worth it so I looked back and simply nodded. Wrex was out, slamming the hatch behind him as I threw the Mako into reverse and waited for this thresher maw to appear. It did and it was big, it was ugly, and it immediately spat something in our direction. The shields almost failed entirely as it hit, and I knew it was acid.

"Supressing fire!" I shouted as the cannon and machine gun erupted at the same time, "Keep it in your sights."

"It's gone underground," Ashley shouted back, "Wrex is chasing after it, Commander."

"Keep him safe… Crazy bloody krogan…"

Fuck thresher maws. That's all I'll say right now. Taking it down was a bitch of a task. It could take numerous hits from the cannon while Kaidan was constantly peppering it with machine gun fire. As for Wrex, he was getting up close and personal, noticing the blast of his shotgun. Garrus was shaking his head in disbelief as he kept an eye on our krogan friend.

Tali kept our shields up for the rest of the fight. But when Ashley reported in that the tresher maw was down, I think we all sagged with relief. I opened the door and slipped out as Wrex staggered back in our direction. His armour was scarred, and it was obvious that he was carrying wounds. He stopped short and gave me a big toothy grin.

"You're fucking insane, Wrex," I said.

"You're a soldier, Shepard. A warrior. You understand, right?"

I glanced back at the Mako before I returned my eyes to his. I nodded. "Yeah, I get it. I've often though that dying in battle would be better than living and dying on the streets."

It was a difficult call to make back on the Normandy an hour or so later. Admiral Hackett would take it in his stride, but I knew Admiral Kahoku would take it rough. I knew the man by reputation as he had been part of the force that had helped during the Skyllian Blitz. Those under his command were fiercely loyal to him. To know that some of them had been lost…

Admiral Hackett told me that he would inform Admiral Kahoku of the outcome of the investigation. He otherwise wished me and the crew well on our search for Saren.

We remained in the Artemis Tau cluster for another twenty-four hours as I waited for Doctor T'Soni to recover. Once Doctor Chakwas approached me and said that she was well and truly on the mend, I felt comfortable enough to interview her. She was lying back on her bed, looking far better than she had when I brought her on board. She smiled at me, her eyes looking far better, bright and sparkling with life, as I took a seat next to her bed.

"How are you feeling, Liara?"

"Much better, Commander… I mean… um… I've been told that I should call you Shepard."

"That's right. Those wearing the blue will call me by my title. Non-Alliance can just call me Shepard. Glad to know you're okay. How long had you been trapped?"

"Over three days if memory serves me correctly. You literally came at the perfect time."

"Good. I'm glad we could help. Now I'm going to get right to it as these questions are important. Your mother is Matriarch Benezia?" Liara nodded. "When did you last see her?"

"It's been over a decade since we last talked, Shepard. We're not close. She was disappointed that I preferred to spend time alone on a dig site than, well, whatever she wanted me to do."

"So you're not aware of what she's been doing in the time you haven't spoken?"

"I've received pieces of news from time to time from family friends, but even that news has dried up in recent years. Why do you ask?"

"Ever heard of someone called Saren Arterius?"

"Never heard of him. Is he close to my mother?"

"In a manner of speaking. Look, Liara…" I then explained everything we'd found out. I didn't expect her to break down in tears or anything. If anything, it was a look of disappointment that eventually crossed her face. I eventually took a deep breath. "The end point is that your mother is allied with Saren to bring back the Reapers, whatever they are."

"They destroyed the Protheans, Shepard," Liara replied, "From my investigations, I believe the Protheans were merely the latest in a long line of civilisations that have risen to an apex before they simply disappeared. Every fifty thousand years. It seems to be a cycle of annihilation."

"Do you think your mother can be saved?"

"I have no idea, Shepard. The only reason I could imagine as to why she would be with this Saren is that perhaps she hopes to influence him in some way."

"Okay. Would you like to remain on board for the time being?"

That's when her face lit up. "You mean that?"

"Sure. I think having a Prothean expert on board wouldn't do us any harm. Do you have any military training?"

"None at all. But I'm capable with a sidearm and I'm asari so biotics come naturally."

"Councillor Tevos suggested a close friendship with your mother…"

"Kira? Oh, she's lovely. I've always liked her. She was a fantastic choice to be our representative on the Citadel Council. Why do you mention her?"

"Kira mentioned that you may like to speak to her about this situation."

"If we're in the area, I'd be happy to speak to her. I'm not sure what I can share… I'll admit that I was always sad that my relationship with Benezia is like it is, but she expected something from me that I simply wasn't willing to give. She wanted me to be some sort of leader. I prefer the life I lead. I like being alone."

"If you need privacy, I'm sure that I can find you that on our ship."

"I don't mean… I mean, you don't… um…" She trailed off and blushed, and her cheeks only grew brighter when I chuckled. "Shepard, I've spent more time alone than around people the last couple of decades. I like getting my hands dirty on a dig site. I love investigating the past. There is so much out there to find. I know what others think about my people. It was never me and I know that disappointed my mother. I'm sure she would have preferred me to become some sort of mercenary or go and shake my arse at some club rather than do what I've been doing."

"Was it a bitter parting?"

"No. I just left and never went home."

I turned my chair around. "Doctor Chakwas, the room at the back. Can Liara use that as her own personal quarters? I'm thinking it'll be quiet and there'd be no through traffic."

"Minimal storage, Commander. I think we can make it somewhere that Liara will feel comfortable."

Turning back to Liara, the smile on her face was something else. "There we go. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful. Thank you, Shepard. I've not really had much to do with humans before."

"Let me know if there is anything you need. I think we'll return to the Citadel. I'll report into the Council and liaise with a few other people. You can speak to Councillor Tevos and gain an understanding of your mother's ambitions, or that's the hope anyway."

I ordered the Normandy to return to the Citadel for a brief visit. No major R&R for the staff as it would hopefully be a brief stop. Liara was up and out of bed the next morning, joining us at breakfast as I made introductions. We got to know each other and when she admitted to only being 'only' one hundred and six, I thought that was impressive considering her considerable knowledge. She made a couple of us chuckle when she admitted such an age for an asari was an adult but a very young adult.

"Like a human just out of their teenage years?" Ashley wondered.

"I think that would be something similar. Asari live long lives. I'm barely a tenth of the way through my life, all being well."

What I realised rather quickly was Liara's interest in me, mostly for my interaction with the Prothean beacon. That led to some good-natured teasing on my part that left her flustered and incredibly tongue-tied which simply made her cuter in my eyes. There was no missing her inexperience in dealing with other species, particularly humans. Given that we were still new on the galactic scene, it came as no real surprise. The one thing I did suggest is that she read up on my past. I had nothing to hide but figured that she should read up on me before approaching me with questions.

The rest of the crew seemed to like her though. Officer Pressly had already spoken to me privately about his concerns about other species on the ship. He understood their offers to help, but worried about their allegiance. If push came to shove, who would they support? I did my best to see his point of view, suggesting that he talk to each of them and come to an understanding. I knew Ashley had her reservations though they were mostly aimed towards Garrus. The only suggestion I made to Ashley was to speak to Garrus, get to know each other, and see how things went. Garrus probably didn't even realise given that he seemed oblivious to a lot of things.

Docking at the Citadel, most of the crew would remain on the ship, small groups allowed off to let their hair down. I escorted Liara towards the Citadel Tower and up to the chambers. I'd contacted Tevos upon docking to let her know that I was arriving with Liara. She was waiting for us in her office.

"Give us some time, Shepard," Tevos requested, "We have a lot of catching up to do. I'll send you a message when I'm done. I'm thinking we enjoy dinner together, Liara."

I was nursing a beer at a small bar on the Presidium when my omni-tool lit up. It was a message from Jane asking where I was. I let her know that I was on the Citadel when she asked for my precise location. I looked around and wondered if she was nearby before I replied, giving her the name of the bar. I sipped at my beer for the next few minutes before I felt a pair of arms around me and soft lips on my cheek. I turned my head to see a pair of sparkling green eyes light up with humour before she kissed me hard, making her squeal when I pulled her onto my lap.

"Someone slipped me word that you were on your way here. I practically packed up my things and got the first flight here," she told me before taking my beer and taking a swig, "How long are you here for?"

"We'll depart tomorrow morning, Citadel time."

"There are Alliance apartments that we could use for an evening… You eaten?"

"Not particularly."

"Want to grab a bite to eat then fuck my brains out?"

I couldn't help smiling at her. "You seriously flew here just to get a few hours with me?"

That earned another kiss and she ended up facing towards me, her feet on the ground as she straddled my lap. I ran my hands down her back towards her arse as she felt the growing tent in my trousers. I was ready to tear off her top and everything else and just fuck her there and then. I broke the kiss and drained my bottle of beer.

"Something quick and simple to eat before we go to the apartment?"

"The quicker, the better."

Fast food was the best option, finding the sort of popular place that sold cheap burgers and fries. We polished those off rather quickly before Jane took my hand and led me towards a nearby taxi rank. She explained the apartments were located on a ward. I didn't really care where they were as we resumed making out during the journey. By the time the taxi stopped, I think we were ready to just start fucking on the sidewalk. I followed her towards the door leading into the apartment block, a concierge asked for the reservation before we were given a passcode for the apartment. As soon as we were inside it and the door was locked, I was practically ripping off her clothes while she was doing her best to me in return. She was wearing simply black underwear though I was more interested in what was underneath. Once we were naked, she quickly fell to her knees before me.

"Warn me when you cum," she told me, "I don't know if I want to swallow it or take it on my face."

"And when we fuck?"

"You're getting both holes, Shepard. I'm organised. There's lube on the nightstand next to the bed and I'm prepared. You're fucking me solidly all night." Then she licked up my shaft and earned a groan. "You fuck anyone last night?"

"No."

"Wouldn't care if you did. Tasting another girls' pussy on your cock would just turn me on more."

She swallowed my cock easily, her nose not quite touching my groin, and her eyes simply sparkled with delight as her head quickly started to bob up and down. I ran my fingers through her mahogany hair, groaning as she hummed and moaned while pleasuring me in return. I swore a couple of times that seemed to make her happier.

"I should recruit you onto my ship and then fuck you solidly every day," I growled, "Though you might be in rotation with some other girls."

"I've eaten pussy before," she told me quickly before resuming her blowjob.

"Even better. Reckon you'd like asari pussy?" She nodded eagerly as her head continued to bob. "Still can't believe you flew here just for this."

She winked at me as she was determined to make me cum quickly. I held the back of her head lightly as I did my best not to start fucking her face, wondering if it might be something she'd want to try later. When I warned her that my orgasm was imminent, she seemed to be in two minds about what to do before I felt her lips tighten around my shaft and she audibly gulped down what I had to give her.

"Your sister just swallowed your cum," she teased.

"You know it would be totally fucked up but also really fucking kinky if that was true," I replied as I helped her to her feet.

"I was surprised you went with it that first night. I'm glad you did as it did add a whole level of kink that was a hell of a lot of fun. It kind of turned me on."

"Well, we share the same surname. I think people would assume that we were somehow related."

Lying her back on the bed, she spread her legs as I kissed up her torso and between her breasts, earning moans as I kissed up her neck before our lips met again. I rubbed the head of my cock against her pussy, feeling how hot and wet she already was for me. But I wanted to savour her this time, returning my lips to her breasts. Her nipples were bright pink, hard, and eager to be teased. She whimpered more than once as I played with her breasts while my fingers moved down to fondle her pussy. The heat from her core was incredible, feeling her hips gyrate as I gently played with her.

Kissing down her body, I inhaled her scent and growled without realising it. Her scent was exquisite and when I finally tasted her, I had to compliment her. That made her blush brightly which made her even more beautiful in my eyes. The way she looked at me as my tongue got to work…

"Fuck," she moaned softly, "Fuck, Shepard… Make me cum… I really want to cum with you…"

I slid a pair of fingers inside her, feeling her squeeze them immediately as I worked the more sensitive parts of her pussy. She pulled her legs back to give me full access, moaning loudly as I found that special spot. The orgasm must have caught her by surprise as she cried out rather loudly. I'm sure those in apartments next to us figured out rather quickly what was going on.

"Don't stop, Shepard. Make me cum again," she exclaimed.

I wasn't going to stop as I loved her taste. I hadn't lied to any of my recent lovers. I enjoyed going down on a woman and would happily do so before we spent a couple of hours fucking the night away. I didn't miss that Jane was pushing down into my mouth, my tongue running up and down her lips before I teased her clit. She cried out more than once before she told me that she was close.

"Right there," she moaned, "Fingers… Right there…"

She enjoyed more than one before gently pushed my head away. Kissing up her body, I felt her shudder a couple of times as I met her eyes. She eagerly kissed me, not worried about the fact that my chin would have been glistening with her juices. She reached down between us, feeling her fingers wrap around my cock and guiding me towards her pussy. We groaned together as I slowly sank inside her.

"That's it, Shepard," she moaned, "Claim your girl again."

"You're my girl, are you?"

"Whenever I'm in a bedroom with you like this, I am." She waited until I was buried before she wrapped her legs around me, feeling her fingers press into my back. "Own my pussy, Shepard. It's yours… No other guys from now on. You've ruined them for me. Am I allowed pussy though?"

"Of course. I wouldn't mind…"

"You have the best dick, Shepard. The. Best. Dick. Trust me, it's absolutely perfect for me. No other man will satisfy me from now on. I'm going to get a mould and make a couple of dildos of your dick so I can fuck myself silly while you're away."

"Got it bad?"

"So bad, Shepard. So fucking bad. Fuck me, damn it. I want to be sore in the morning."

I fucked her hard, Jane holding on tightly as pumped her tight pussy for all I was worth. And given that she'd made me cum, she would have known that I was going to last quite a while. But her lips were by my ear and all she did was urge me on. I was soon hammering into her, surprised she could take such treatment. She would groan and even grunt, but she didn't ask me to stop, almost begging me to keep going for as long as possible.

Resting on my forearms so I could watch her face, she released her legs around me and bent them back, spreading them as wide as possible so I could change the angle.

"Fucking hell," I growled as I looked down between us, my cock a piston disappearing inside her.

"Feels good, Shepard?"

"So fucking tight, Jane. It's ridiculous."

"Told you my pussy was made for you. Going to fill it soon?"

"Fucking hope so. Want to see you dripping my cum later."

"Pussy and arse, Shepard. Don't forget that."

What pleased her was when I did take hold of her and rolled onto my back. Her hands ended up on my chest as she cried out, bouncing harder and harder on my cock as I grabbed her arse, bent my knees, and fucked her in return. She leaned down to try and kiss me though it was difficult considering our movements. I enjoyed watching her breasts jiggle with how her body moved.

Then she came again, feeling her pussy grip my cock ever so tightly though she refused to stop moving. "Cum in me," she whimpered, "I need to feel it, Shepard."

"I'm close. It's okay."

I rolled her over onto her back when I could feel my orgasm approaching, her legs around my hips again as I knew she wouldn't stand for me pulling out. I groaned when I did finally fill her pussy, kissing her softly as I felt spurt after spurt erupt inside her. I stopped moving once I was done, leaving my cock buried deep, and met her eyes. The look of utter bliss made me smile.

"Worth flying here for?"

"I'm a satisfied woman, at least for now."

Pulling out and lying next to her, she rolled onto her side, her fingers caressing my chest. I looked down as she looked up at me, the smile on her face was one I didn't see all the time. She looked genuinely happy. I'd had the occasional lover who would fuck me simply to get her own end away and I was just a hard dick. I didn't complain. That was the reality of things at times. It was recreational sex. I had a feeling it wasn't just that with Jane. Not if she flew halfway across the galaxy for a single night with me.

"Reckon you'd ever want to get away from your desk?"

She raised herself up onto an elbow, momentarily distracted by her perfect breasts. She noticed and laughed as my eyes quickly met hers. "You serious?"

"Probably can't happen now with everything going on. I'm a Spectre now and I'm sure that I could make a request. Maybe in the future?"

"I'd certainly consider it. I mean, I've gone through all the training, but I've never wielded a weapon in genuine anger at the enemy."

"There's a first time for everything."

She cuddled into my side as her fingers resumed caressing me while my fingers caressed her side. Her hand eventually ended up at my cock, and once it was relatively hard, her mouth got me as hard as I was before. Sliding onto my lap, she grabbed the base of my cock and positioned it so she could slide down it, her hands resting on my chest as she slowly started to rock herself.

"Grab the lube and finger my bum," she whispered, "When I feel ready… I want to be in charge for this…"

"Done it before?"

She blushed though met my eyes. "Never with a man. A couple of girls that I've fooled around with on Arcturus. Harness and a dildo… It's nothing like a real dick but it's better than nothing."

I grabbed the lube and applied some to her, Jane leaned forward as she was smaller than me, easily able to slide a finger inside her arse while she continued to ride my cock. She was eager to kiss me as I quickly added a second finger, earning more than one moan of appreciation. Her eyes gazed into mine as I applied more lube and managed to get a third inside her.

"I feel really full right now with your cock in my pussy and fingers in my arse," she whispered.

"Would be totally wrong if you were my sister, right?" She shuddered at the thought, closing her eyes for a few seconds and I wondered if she was holding back an orgasm. "Well, I did check and I know that I'd be your older brother if that was the case."

She kissed me softly before resting her forehead on my shoulder. "I feel about ready. Just keep going for a minute or so longer. After that, I'll take charge."

After I removed my fingers, she pressed her arse against my cock and she gasped as the thick head slowly slid inside her before it popped inside. The look in her eyes told me immediately that she was absolutely loving it, taking her time sliding up and down as she took an inch more each time before my cock was buried entirely inside her arse. It was so fucking tight that I wondered how long I would last.

She enjoyed herself for the next few minutes, her hands back on my chest and her eyes never averting from mine. Each slide down my cock was accompanied by a moan, and whenever she wasn't moaning, she was waxing lyrical about how wonderful my cock felt. I trailed my fingers over her body, feeling the goosebumps as I could almost sense how sensitive her entire body was.

The surprise was when she slid off me though I figured very quickly what she wanted as she positioned herself on her knees, grabbing a pillow to rest her head. On my knees behind her, I lowered her arse before sliding my cock back inside it, leaning forward so my chest was against her back.

"Big brother will look after you now," I growled into her ear.

"So fucking kinky, Shepard. We should keep doing that."

"Hard?"

"Fuck yes. I can handle it. Once you fill me up, we'll shower and sleep."

She had told me earlier that she wanted to return to Arcturus feeling sore. As I slowly started to slam my cock home, it earned the occasional grunt from Jane though all she did was turn her head and I'd feel her lips against my cheek before she'd whisper for me to keep going and give it to her even harder. By the time I erupted and filled her, I was genuinely worried that I'd hurt her as I hadn't been gentle.

Pulling out and lying down next to her, she rolled onto her side and cuddled into me. "Best night of sex ever," she whispered.

"I'll try and make time for you, Jane. I don't make promises, but I'll do what I can."

"Can you talk about what you're doing?"

"Looking for a turian that might want to end all life as we know it."

"So nothing particularly important then…"

We showered together before returning to bed. Checking the time, I knew that I'd barely get a couple of hours though I'd gone days with only a few minutes here and there. Jane was still asleep when my alarm started to chime a couple of hours later. I got up and dressed as Jane watched me from bed, the top half of her body visible. She rolled over so I could give her a kiss goodbye.

"I probably won't get back to Arcturus while I'm chasing down this turian."

"I'll probably stay in the Citadel for another day or so."

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"Giddy, Shepard. I'm sore, just like I wanted. You really nailed my arse last night."

I couldn't help laughing as she looked incredibly pleased by that fact. We shared one last steamy kiss before I had to leave her. Back outside of the apartment, I called a taxi and returned to the docking bay. The ship looked ready to depart though I noticed a group of people waiting for me. A human woman and a pair of asari. They noticed me and approached, all of them smiling, hips swaying, and I was left wondering who they were.

"Greeting, Commander," one of the asari said, "We are here on behalf of Sha'ira."

I'd heard of her before but still asked, "The Consort? Why?"

"She would like to meet you in person. The Consort is incredibly influential and would be a worthy person to have as an ally during your hunt for Saren," the asari replied.

I glanced back at my ship before replying. "I really need to get going because of Saren. Does she just want to meet or is it something else as well?"

The three of them smiled. "Yes, she does have something for you. It's a private matter that she feels cannot be trusted with anyone else on the Citadel. Should the news leak out… It would be disastrous for many people."

I looked away and gave it some thought. I wanted to get to Noveria as I'd been forwarded reports from the Alliance about the presence of geth around the planet and in the system. I knew little about the planet except that it was home to many of the massive conglomerates that used Noveria to get away with research that was outlawed elsewhere in Alliance space.

I'd heard of the Consort in whispers. The apparent power she wielded in the background. I knew that having the asari councillor as an ally and close friend would be of great benefit. If the Consort could provide other means of support in the future, would that be a bad thing?

And I'll admit to being a little curious about her.

"Give me a couple of minutes. I'll speak to my XO and delay our departure."

Striding onto the ship, Pressly was surprised to see me approaching him instead of going to speak to Joker or use the galaxy map. When I explained what was going on, I think he was doing his best not to start smirking. I had a feeling that he'd already heard whispers about my private life.

"Look, if I do this job for her, whatever it is, then it can't be a bad thing right?"

"Sure, Commander. Want me to spread the word that our departure is delayed?"

"Yes, but no R&R. I'll talk to the Consort, find out what she needs. If it's something small that I can do quickly, then I'll just get it over and done with. It's going to be a considerable task, I would prefer to go to Noveria first. We also have Feros to investigate after that."

"I'll spread the word, Commander."

Walking outside, only the lone asari was now waiting for me, the one who had spoken earlier. She smiled upon seeing me, her eyes looking me up and down. I'll be honest, I knew that I looked good when I was wearing my dress blues. Unlike many others, I liked wearing them.

"What's your name?" I asked her.

"Naira, Commander," she replied.

"Very well, Naira. Lead on. Hopefully this task won't be too strenuous and we can resolve the matter quickly."

"The Consort will be most pleased. Follow me, Commander."

I followed her. The asari had a way of walking that was simply mesmerising. I almost started laughing to myself as I was already starting to understand why some people thought the asari used their sexuality to their advantage.

Eh, there are worse things to complain about.