Chereads / Mass Effect: Cry Out For a Hero / Chapter 2 - Book 1, Chapter 2 - Shepard, the First Human Spectre

Chapter 2 - Book 1, Chapter 2 - Shepard, the First Human Spectre

My compatriots learned quickly that I didn't take any shit from scumbags. Three heavily armed Alliance soldiers approaching the doors of Chora's Den attracted some attention. There was a pair of krogan bouncers on the door. They looked the three of us up and down and almost started to laugh.

 

"You're not going to shoot up the place, are you?" one of them asked, their voice a deep rumble.

 

"Don't plan on it. We're just looking for someone. Ask him a few questions," I replied, "We free to enter?"

 

It was just my sort of place. Low light. Gorgeous women dancing on stage, some of them using poles, cavorting to some music. I'd had little to do with asari though I was more than aware of their reputation, and I certainly appreciated what I could see up on stage. Other asari were entertaining men who were sitting around the room. If I guessed correctly, there would be rooms out the back where they would entertain men in a more private setting. I wasn't surprised to see a few human women among the asari.

 

Walking towards the bar, I ordered a beer, my companions rather surprised before I asked what they wanted. "Look, we're on the job but we're mingling, fitting in, trying not to look out of place," I suggested.

 

"Despite being armoured and heavily armed," Ashely retorted, "But I won't say no to beer."

 

"LT?" I asked.

 

"Beer, please," Kaidan replied.

 

I was passed three bottles of beer by a rather cute young woman behind the bar. After paying, I leaned closer and gestured for her to get closer. "I'm looking for someone. C-Sec officer by the name of Harkin. Told he was a frequent visitor here." Her eyes darted to somewhere behind me and I nodded my head. "Don't worry, you didn't actually tell me anything. Go about your day."

 

I drained my beer quickly and walked towards where the young woman had looked. It was easy to pick out Harkin. He might have been suspended by C-Sec, but he was still wearing the uniform for some reason. Probably thought it would get him cheaper drinks and maybe a free dance or two. He looked up when we approached him, and I knew immediately that he was on his way to getting drunk even at this time in the morning.

 

"Got some questions for you, Harkin," I stated without bothering to introduce myself.

 

"Oh yeah? And just who are you?"

 

"Alliance Navy. Alliance Marine. Spectre candidate. Take your pick."

 

He snorted and took a sip of his drink. Looked like hard liquor. "Well, I don't answer to the likes of you. I'm suspended…"

 

"Where's Garrus Vakarian?"

 

The smirk suggested that I might not like the answer. "Tell you what… You do a little favour for me…"

 

He didn't get to finish his sentence as I leaned down and grabbed his hair. He tried to resist as I dragged him up off his chair and dragged him towards the rear of the place. I burst through a set of double doors into what looked like a kitchen. No one was in there, hearing Kaidan and Ashley behind me. I threw Harkin into a wall and as he stumbled towards me, I put a fist into his gut. I heard the air rush out of him as he gasped for breath.

 

"I'll tell you exactly who I fucking am," I growled as I leaned down to his ear, "Commander Shepard. Butcher of fucking Torfan. You think a punk like you is going to get in my way? Wrong. I step over shit like you as I move onto bigger problems. Now you're going to tell me where Garrus Vakarian is."

 

"Fuck you…"

 

I hit him again and that had him down on his knees. I was about to put a knee into his face when I figured that knocking him unconscious wouldn't actually help. I gave him a couple of seconds before I grabbed his hair again, lifted him to his feet and threw him back against the wall, placing my hand at his throat without squeezing. He tried the defiant look though he failed miserably.

 

"Harkin, I'll tell you right now. It won't take me very long to make sure that not only will you be run out of C-Sec, but you also won't be living on this station any longer. I have friends who will make your life a living hell. You don't want to fuck with me right now. Actually, you won't want to fuck with me ever. Now you tell me where Garrus Vakarian is, I will even escort you back to your seat and you can go about your day. You don't, and I get medieval."

 

His eyes widened as he knew I was serious. "Who sent you?"

 

"No one sent me. I was told you were a man in the know. Vakarian has gone to ground since I last saw him. I need to know where he is. I'll find out why from him."

 

"Fine… Fine… Look, I'll tell you. Just don't hit me again."

 

"Tell me what I want to know, and I won't."

 

He looked past me at my colleagues, and he swallowed. "I heard word he was looking into Saren. You know, that turian Spectre. There was no way that Saren would ever be caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. I know Vakarian has been after Fist. He's a local crime lord. The last I heard; he was looking into something for Doctor Michelle. She works on the Ward. Helps out the locals who can't get any treatment elsewhere."

 

I could have feigned hitting him again. I could have hit him again if I really wanted to. But I was right about one thing. People like Harkin were not worth my time dealing with. Without another word, I strode out of the kitchen and through the bar. The pair of krogan bouncers noted our departure and one of them quipped their disappointment at not hearing any gunfire from inside.

 

We had to consult a directory for Doctor Michelle's clinic. It wasn't too far away, the three of us breaking into a jog to get there quickly. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard shouting from inside. I immediately took my assault rifle out, Ashley carrying the same weapon, Kaidan with a pistol though I'd read his file and knew he had tremendous biotic abilities.

 

Although we stepped in carefully, I recognised Garrus in cover demanding the surrender of the turian and they were going to take the doctor. Doctor Michelle noticed our arrival, elbowed the man holding her and she dropped to the ground as gunfire erupted. We had thick armour and shields. They didn't.

 

"Thanks for the assist, Commander," Garrus stated before he walked towards the doctor, "Are you okay?"

 

I heard Ashley chuckle as it was obvious to anyone that the pair were nursing crushes on each other. The doctor couldn't stop blushing while the turian was just awkward. "What was all that about?" I asked after clearing my throat.

 

"They were sent by Fist," Doctor Michelle replied, "He's a local thug that most of us have the displeasure of dealing with from time to time. He's always asking me to help his thugs whenever they're injured and he never pays."

 

"Okay, but why were they sent here?"

 

"They wanted to know about this injured quarian girl that I treated recently."

 

"Quarian girl? Why would Fist be after someone like her?"

 

"I'm not sure except that when I was helping her, there was no missing that she was terrified… She mentioned something about the geth. Information that she wanted to get to someone."

 

"Shit," Garrus muttered, "If Fist wants her, then that's the link. Fist works for the Shadow Broker. The Shadow Broker is a known associate of Saren. The Broker has influence across the galaxy. No one knows who what he, she or they are." The turian turned towards me. "Commander, I've been looking to take Fist down for years, but I was always told that he was untouchable. He threw just enough information our way that I was told to look the other way when it came to his crimes. As for Saren, I know he's a traitor to the Council and the Hierarchy. I want to take that bastard down as much as anyone."

 

"Where's Fist located?" I asked.

 

"Chora's Den."

 

"What? We were just there!"

 

"He probably saw us on camera," Ashley suggested, "I reckon we won't be walking in there with ease this time, sir."

 

"If I call in reinforcements from C-Sec, the whole Ward could descend into anarchy. I think we do this alone, Commander," Garrus added.

 

"Alright. Fist will know we're coming now."

 

We were on our way to Chora's Den when Garrus received a call, stating that a krogan was also on his way. Apparently, a big fucker by the name of Urdnot Wrex. Garrus wasn't told to stop him but warned that we would be walking into a gunfight should the krogan get his way.

 

"Sounds like my type of guy," I muttered as we closed on Chora's Dan. The alleys on the approach were already being guarded and gunfire erupted quickly. The four of us made a good team, relying on hand gestures to move forward. And in an alley before we made it to Chora's Dan, we ran into a krogan who I assumed was Urdnot Wrex.

 

"You after Fist?" he asked without preamble.

 

"We just want to question him."

 

The krogan looked me up and down. "Alliance soldier. You'll do." He stepped forward and I had to crane my neck to meet his dark eyes. "He's mine. I'm going to kill Fist."

 

"I'm sure you'll be doing the Citadel a favour. But don't kill him until he's answered my questions."

 

He snorted but I think he grinned at me. "Wrex."

 

"Shepard."

 

"Good. Let's go kill some thugs."

 

I learned in the next few minutes that a krogan in a battle was definitely an advantage. And Wrex was, putting it bluntly, fucking nuts and lethal as hell. We fought our way towards Chora's Den and then inside. Thankfully, all the bar girls and dancers had fled along with the patrons. Only idiots with guns were slowing us down. While the three humans and turian remained careful, Wrex… Well, he didn't seem to give a shit about bullets.

 

We made our way into a back office that also had living quarters attached. And it was there we found Fist cowering behind a desk. Wrex grabbed him by his collar and dragged him out, the fear in Fist's eyes visible as he looked up into the eyes of five heavily armed people.

 

"Don't kill me," he pleaded.

 

"I won't kill you as long as you tell me what I want to know. I'm looking for a quarian. She approached you about information that she wanted to get to the Shadow Broker. Where is she?"

 

Wrex seemed to chuckle to himself. "Whatever he tells you is bullshit, Shepard. The Shadow Broker isn't on the Citadel. Fist here would have sent this quarian to one of the Shadow Broker's agents."

 

Fist looked around again and probably figured that lying wasn't a good option. "He's right. I did put her in touch with someone representing the Shadow Broker. But… Well… The orders were to kill her and retrieve the information she has."

 

"Where? I demanded.

 

"An alleyway. Not far from here. Perfect spot to kill her and get away without any hassle."

 

Knowing that I had the information I wanted, Wrex stepped forward and put a shotgun blast into Fist. It was a grisly scene as the shotgun made mincemeat of him. Without another word, we headed back into the alleyways where more of Fist's thugs were waiting for us. I tried telling them that Fist was dead, but it didn't help so we just mowed them down as we searched for the quarian.

 

We made it just in time, the quarian in cover as she was fending off half a dozen thugs. We made short work of them before we checked that the quarian was okay. She had a rather feisty attitude that impressed Wrex. Naturally cautious after what just happened, I introduced myself, surprised to learn that she'd heard my name.

 

The group made introductions as we made our way back to the Presidium. It required squeezing into a couple of taxis, made more difficult considering that Wrex was the passenger in the other. Udina was waiting for our return with Anderson and he wasn't a happy bunny.

 

"Why the hell am I receiving all of these reports, Commander?" he asked, "The Citadel isn't the place to take part in battles that you seem to thrive on."

 

Anderson gave me a pointed look that suggested I rein in my temper. To be honest, I would have just hit Udina and been happy about it. I took a deep breath and heard Ashley chuckle behind me. I think she would have liked to hit him as well.

 

"Ambassador, we rescued a quarian…"

 

"A quarian? A krogan? Are you going on a recruiting spree, Commander?"

 

I pinched the bridge of my nose and took another breath. "Ambassador, maybe if you allowed the Commander to explain the situation…" Anderson interjected.

 

"Very well. Commander, what the hell is going on?"

 

"As I was saying, we rescued this… What's your name, miss?"

 

"Tali. Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."

 

"Anyway, we were told that Tali has information that might implicate Saren. Would that be correct, Tali?"

 

"It is correct, Commander. I can play for you what I have if you'd like."

 

"How did you manage to get this?" Anderson asked.

 

"I managed to get it from a geth memory core before the machine wiped it. I was fortunate to get it, but once I heard the recording and had an idea of what I had, I knew that I would need to get this information to someone."

 

"Impressive," Anderson stated

 

She played a recording that was definitely Saren's voice as he spoke about the attack on Eden Prime. Udina's mood changed immediately as he knew we had the turian over a barrel and that the Council would now have to dismiss Saren and have him brought in. Tali then added that there was more, the voice of a woman talking about the return of the Reapers. No one recognised the voice, but everyone turned to me when I made a noise.

 

"That explains what I was seeing," I said, glancing around at everyone around me, "I told Doctor Chakwas that I was having a real nightmare while I was unconscious after my interaction with the beacon. These Reapers, whatever they are… Considering that it was a Prothean beacon, I can only surmise that it was the Reapers that perhaps contributed to their disappearance?"

 

"An interesting hypothesis, Shepard," Anderson noted, "Ambassador, should we approach the Council with this evidence?"

 

"Absolutely."

 

He looked me up and down. "Go and change into your dress blues. I think we now have a chance to make you a Spectre. Need to look your part. Your colleagues too. This is going to be a big day for the Alliance and humanity."

 

We hurried back to the Normandy and we three humans changed quickly into our dress blues. We left most of our weapons behind, only carrying our service pistols at our hips. I rifled through my belongings and found my Star of Terra, pinning that to my chest. I also pinned the various other medals that I'd received from my actions.

 

We certainly attracted plenty of attention as we made our way to the Citadel Tower. I could understand why. A group of humans with a turian, a krogan and a quarian in tow. I could understand the reaction to the krogan. Even though humanity was relatively new on the galactic scene, reading up on the history of the galaxy before our arrival made sense. I knew a little about the krogan and what happened between them and the rest of the galaxy thousands of years ago. As for the quarians, I only knew a bit about their war with the geth.

 

Udina and Anderson were waiting for us near the Citadel Tower, surprised they were waiting for us. I thought he would have entered to get in a few punches before I walked in. Before entering the tower, he stopped our group and looked at me. "Your words may carry weight in there, Commander, though I would rather you let me talk."

 

"Fair enough."

 

"Tevos is the asari councillor. She's a diplomat and skilled negotiator though I've learned that she's willing to compromise. Decades of experience, she's the figurehead. Sparatus is the turian councillor. A true politician, as slippery as any salarian. Valern is the one that I've never really been able to pick out except to say he's a typical salarian. He wants problems sorted before they become one."

 

"So, if we win over Tevos?" I wondered.

 

"The other two will fall in line."

 

Udina had obviously sent word as we were allowed into the Council Chamber without delay, the three councillors waiting for us. Udina presented the evidence without needing to say a word. I'm sure he had a rather smug look on his face. I found turians inscrutable in the few times that I'd met one, but the body language of the turian councillor told me everything that I needed to know.

 

Saren was immediately stripped of his Spectre status and was now considered a fugitive from the law. Fellow Spectres would now be informed that he was to be arrested on sight. The surprise was that Tevos admitted the feminine voice was that of an asari matriarch. Her tone suggested that this asari matriarch was someone she knew well.

 

"That is not enough!" Udina demanded, "As long as Saren is at large, with his hatred of humanity, all of our worlds are in danger. You know he now has an army of geth at his disposal. We must have a Citadel Fleet available to lock down the area and prevent Saren and his geth from attacking more human worlds."

 

"Impossible," Sparatus retorted, "A Citadel Fleet operating in the area will start an unnecessary war with the Terminus Systems. Humanity was warned about the dangers of establishing colonies in the area, Ambassador."

 

"This is outrageous!" Udina practically exploded, "You would send in a fleet if one of your worlds…"

 

Tevos held up a hand. "We do have options, Ambassador," she stated kindly, the sort of tone that would placate anyone on the verge of blowing up in anger.

 

"No! It's too soon. They are not ready," Sparatus replied before he practically glared at me, "He is not ready."

 

"I'm ready," I stated, "You say that you can't send in a fleet. I agree. What we don't need right now is a galactic war. But what you can do is send in a ship to track Saren down though that's only if I have everything that I need at my disposal. The best thing is that humanity gets its Spectre, and the Council won't have to get its hands dirty."

 

"Hard to argue with that logic," Valern suggested.

 

I looked at Sparatus and he returned my gaze. I have no doubt he had my file and knew about every dark, dirty little secret about my life. Anderson had told me what he could about Saren. The fact that he would do whatever was necessary, innocent lives be damned. I was the same except that I would try to avoid the deaths of innocents. On Elysium, I saved who I could. On Torfan, there were no innocent batarians. Not from what I saw.

 

He eventually turned to look at Tevos. "We have his record. There is probably no one better to go and catch him. I don't think they're ready, but if this is our only viable option, then it's up to him to get the job done."

 

"I agree," Valern added.

 

Tevos asked me to step forward. It was a rather simple induction ceremony as I was aware that Spectres operated in anonymity. But when she said that I was now a Spectre, I had to hold in the smile of satisfaction that I had been made one so quickly. I'd been taken by surprise when Anderson and Nihlus had told me about my candidacy. But I was also realistic. I knew that I was being fast-tracked into the position. Many would probably expect me to fail.

 

"Commander, after you speak to your colleagues, would you please join me in my personal chambers please?" Tevos asked.

 

I was a little surprised at the request though agreed to meet with her. I was surprised further when Udina shook my hand and seemed overjoyed at the fact that I was now a Spectre. Of course, he then walked off, suggesting that things would need to be organised. Anderson shook my hand, his other on my shoulder, and he had the look of what I would have assumed was of a proud father. We'd never really had that relationship. I was more his protégé than anything, but I could understand why he was proud. Hell, I knew that I was now a beacon of hope for humanity.

 

No pressure on the shoulders.

 

After a round of congratulations from Kaidan, Ashley, Wrex, Garrus and Tali, I asked the five of them to wait for me near the Alliance Embassy while I went and talked to the asari councillor. I was left thinking her chambers was more than just an office. I approached the asari sitting at a desk. She looked up and the smile that appeared on her face was so warm and friendly that I found myself smiling at her in return.

 

"You must be Commander Shepard," she said a voice that was pure silk.

 

"Am I that recognisable?"

 

"Councillor Tevos said that the first human Spectre would be coming to see her. And let's just say that you do have a certain presence."

 

"I think that's a compliment."

 

She looked me up and down and the smile broadened if it was possible. "Definitely a compliment, Commander. The human males that I'm used to dealing with are…"

 

I laughed. I couldn't help it. "Nothing like me?"

 

"No. But head on in. She's expecting you."

 

Strolling through the door as it opened automatically, Tevos had her back to me as she gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window. The dress she wore was figure-hugging, showing off her curves. My eyes immediately moved to her arse which was just perfect. Like humans, asari came in all shapes and sizes. Tevos wasn't as tall as me and her skin colour was a lighter shade of blue.

 

"Thank you for coming, Commander," she said, "Now that we're in private, I believe that I can speak more freely." She turned around and stepped around her desk towards me. I remained at ease just as if I was in front of a superior officer. She stepped closer and I took a moment to look over her face. Sparkling blue eyes. The white marks on her face suggested that she belonged to a particular sect in asari society. Generous bust that I took note of.

 

"What did you need to speak to me about?" I asked.

 

She stepped closer and rested her hand on my chest. I noticed her eyes widen slightly as my chest was firm. Years of honing my body had left it hard and muscular. Nothing particularly soft on me. She ran her fingers across my chest to my right shoulder and down one of my biceps.

 

"I know what you're doing, Councillor," I murmured, "I'm no fool. And I've been warned about… Well, asari in general…"

 

"You will need allies when it comes to dealing with Saren, Commander…"

 

"Call me Shepard, Councillor."

 

"Not your first name?"

 

"Nah, no one really calls me by that."

 

"Kira."

 

"So, what do you want from me, Kira?"

 

"I want to be honest from the start. I believed you the first time, but we were right in that you needed to provide evidence. I'm glad you found the evidence so you can get that bastard. I will do all that I can to support you in finding him. I'll admit one thing, Shepard. You don't have to bring him back alive. Eliminate him if necessary."

 

"The other voice on the recording? You seemed to recognise it?"

 

She lowered her head and I wasn't oblivious. "Her name is Benezia. Lady Benezia. She's an asari matriarch. She's also a good friend of mine. But if she's working alongside Saren then I can only fear that she's already lost. I don't know why she's fallen in alongside him." She lifted her eyes, and they were filled with determination. "Find Saren and kill him, Shepard. But Benezia… If there is any hope for her…"

 

I earned a gasp when I moved one of my hands to her back and slowly ran it down the back of her dress towards her arse. A slight smile formed as I gently pulled her towards me. "Have much experience with human men?"

 

"None whatsoever. My last partner was turian. Many years ago now." She lifted her hand and traced a finger across my jaw. "I've read up on your file, Shepard. Extensively. It's incredibly impressive considering your upbringing. What you've achieved from such a start. What you did on Elysium…"

 

I raised an eyebrow as I asked, "And Torfan?"

 

"You did what was necessary. I have no love for the batarians. They chose to walk away from the galactic family. And I've read reports about what happened there too. Sounds like you were lucky to survive."

 

"I just did what was necessary while saving human lives. The things I saw, Kira…" I met her eyes and asked, "So you approve?"

 

"In more ways than one…" Her hand moved back to my chest. "As I said, I can be a long-term ally for you. Not just about taking down Saren. We can work closely together for many years to come, Shepard."

 

"You work that closely with any other Spectres?"

 

"None of them impress me like you do."

 

I leaned in closer and smiled. "And just how impressed are you?" I asked quietly as I moved her back so that her arse was resting against her desk, "I mean, I can always use more allies. And the idea of working closely together is appealing."

 

"Ever been with an asari?" she whispered.

 

"I haven't had the pleasure yet."

 

"I've heard from so many about the thrill of being with a man."

 

I pressed against her and that's when she would have felt my erection as I was turned on by her. Her eyes widened as I ran both hands down towards her arse. I was surprised at how forward she was being, but I'd ended up in bed with a woman within half an hour of meeting them. In these modern times, sex was something to be enjoyed and savoured, and if people were attracted to each other, they happily fell into bed quickly.

 

"Do you know when you'll be departing?" she asked, her lips incredibly close to mine.

 

"I don't know the plan yet. I'll find out soon enough. Being a Spectre… I guess I now answer to you as well as the Alliance.

 

I pressed against her again and earned a soft whimper. I was as turned on as she was. "Maybe you would need to visit me as often as possible? We'd definitely need to liaise and plan. In private."

 

Our lips finally met, and it was one hell of a first kiss. I pulled her as tightly to me as possible and the whimper she made into my mouth made me even harder if possible. I knew that she was already doing her best to influence me, perhaps make sure that I agreed with her over the other councillors, perhaps even over the Alliance. But she was gorgeous, and I had a feeling her interest in me was genuine.

 

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily. "I've never done anything like this with a Spectre before. I keep them at arm's length. There's just something about you, Shepard. Something… dangerous. I find myself drawn to it. Saren is dangerous, but he's just an arsehole. You're dangerous but… I know that I can put my life in your hands and trust you with it."

 

"I'll find out what the plan is…. Maybe… If I'm here for a little longer…"

 

"Come back here. My quarters are over there. Do you enjoy recreational sex, Shepard?" I snorted and that made her giggle. The asari councillor giggled and then stopped, blushing brightly. "I'll take that as a yes then."

 

"I'll be honest. I don't do relationships. Like any red-blooded male, I definitely enjoy sex."

 

"Then you can come visit me from time to time. Keep my bed warm occasionally and I'll do all I can to support you. That might be difficult where you're working…"

 

"Sometimes all I'll need is information."

 

"I'll have plenty of that for you."

 

"I should probably go for now. Unless…"

 

We shared another kiss. I could feel the passion flowing from her. If I was immediately attracted to a woman, I didn't waste time. I'd had fun with women in my unit before and let them know rather quickly that I was interested and if they were in return. Most of the time, they were and we didn't wait too long until tumbling into bed together. It seemed that asari had the same thought process. I'd keep that in mind for the future.

 

Returning to the embassy a little later, I was told that things would be changing rather quickly now that I was a Spectre. The Normandy was being assigned to me as Captain Anderson would relinquish his command and remain on the Citadel for the time being. Udina admitted that he would help where he could but that having Anderson with him would help.

 

We sat down and discussed our options as reports had been flowing in of where I might find Saren. The first and best option would be tracking down an asari archaeologist by the name of Liara T'Soni. The reason? She was the only daughter of Matriarch Benezia. As for where we could find her, she was apparently at a dig site on the planet of Therum.

 

There were rumours of Saren's presence on the planet of Feros. It was home to a small colony by the name of Zhu's Hope and also an outpost of the ExoGeni company. Then there was the planet of Noveria, which already had a rather wild reputation as the place where companies could pretty much do what they pleased with little oversight.

 

While plans were made for the ship, we needed supplies and we would need to switch out some of the ship's crew as the Normandy would now be considered an independent ship though technically under the umbrella of the Alliance Navy. That was going to take at least a couple of days so R&R was extended for those who would be remaining. I was pleased that Joker would remain our pilot as I was aware of his reputation. Kaidan and Ashley requested to remain with me while I was told that Doctor Chakwas would remain as the Chief Medical Officer.

 

I wasn't surprised that Garrus Vakarian asked to join the crew and I agreed to that immediately. The surprise was when Wrex offered his services, admitting that he worked as a bounty hunter but had no work at the moment and he wouldn't mind going on an adventure. The real surprise was Tali, as she'd mentioned her Pilgrimage. She spoke passionately about helping me out, aware of the danger that Saren presented to the galaxy, admitting that it might also help with her Pilgrimage. I couldn't turn down her offer to help and she was ever so excited to join us. Ashley immediately took the young quarian under her wring as they returned to the shop together.

 

"Are you sure about this, sir?" I asked Anderson once we were alone as everyone else headed off to prepare for our eventual departure.

 

"You need a ship and a crew, Shepard. I'm disappointed to lose the command, but I've already spoken with the brass. They'll find a new command for me. For the time being, I'll remain here on the Citadel."

 

"What can you tell me about Saren?"

 

He glanced away for a few seconds before replying. "He's a ruthless bastard. I've seen what he's capable of with my own eyes. I would advise caution when dealing with him, Shepard, simply because he won't care who gets hurt or killed. He'll sacrifice anything, anyone, everyone, to achieve his aims."

 

"You know I won't do that, sir. At least in regards to the sacrifice of innocent lives."

 

"I know you only killed those who deserved it on Torfan, Shepard. Even if you've ever doubted yourself. I've read the reports from your superiors who were there. As far as I'm concerned, you're a hero twice over." He turned to meet my eyes. "What I'm going to say is very simple. Do whatever you can to take the bastard down. I don't know anything about these Reapers, but the name alone suggests they are something to be feared. And if he's trying to bring them back for whatever reason, then he must be stopped."

 

I was informed that the Normandy would be good to go in a minimum of twenty-four hours though likely closer to forty-eight as there was going to be a large turnover of staff. I was informed that Officer Pressly would remain and that he would be my Executive Officer going forward. I was content with that choice, aware that he'd been given a choice of to remain or not.

 

The crew remaining with the ship were pleased to spend more time ashore as I gathered everyone together to let them know the score. We would be hunting down Saren and it would likely lead to us traversing the galaxy. That would likely lead to plenty of time spent on the ship away from friends, family, and with few chances to get off. I made no promises but assured them that if we did have a chance to let our hair down that we'd take it, but the mission was priority above all.

 

There was no sign of the receptionist when I returned to the Citadel Chambers later that evening. I pressed the button next to the door, it opened within a few seconds to be greeted by an asari I didn't recognise. She immediately smiled and gestured for me to enter. Hearing the door close, she asked me to follow her, mesmerised by the sway of her hips as I walked through another door and down a short corridor before we walked into a large open area. It was an entertainment area with plush couches and a large screen on a wall. Off to the side was a large kitchen and I assumed a hallway leading to a bedroom or bedrooms.

 

Kira was reclining on one of the couches though rose to her feet, taking note that she was now barefoot and wearing a different dress. The hem was far higher above her knees, and it was low cut to show off some generous cleavage.

"I'm so glad you came, Shepard," she said, greeting me with a kiss on each cheek, "Have you eaten?"

 

"Not much since breakfast this morning."

 

"Good. As you can see, I have a couple of girls here to cook for us. Would you care for a drink?"

 

"I'd love one."

 

She kissed my cheek again. "Take off your jacket and make yourself comfortable," she said softly into my ear, "I'll make you something sweet and tasty."

 

I wore a blue shirt underneath my Alliance jacket, folding that and placing it on another couch as I sat near where Kira had been sitting. I watched her with the two other asari as they talked quietly, noticing all three glancing my way and the interest from the other two was obvious. I didn't think that I'd be getting that lucky this evening, but it's obvious they were very cute, and I figured that Kira would have a little fun with me at my expense. I wouldn't mind as long as we ended up in bed together.

 

She sashayed back towards me, my eyes drinking her in, as she handed me a blue-coloured drink. Folding her legs underneath her, I took a sip and made a noise of approval. It was one of the tastiest things that I'd ever drunk in my life.

 

"There isn't too much liquor in it," she assured me, "I wasn't sure if you'd appreciate a drink from the Asari Republics. I'm aware we likely have very different tastes."

 

"No, this is delicious. Thank you."

 

She shuffled a little closer as our eyes met. She wasn't shy in coming forward, kissing me softly on the lips for a few seconds. "I wasn't lying, Shepard. I never entertain Spectres like this."

 

"I wouldn't care if you did."

 

"What do you think of the other two with us?"

 

"Definitely cute."

 

"They'll be serving us dinner before they leave for the evening. Maybe one evening, if you're up to it, you could pleasure the three of us."

 

"Who are they to you?"

 

"Employees. I take numerous young asari under my wing if they wish to come to the Citadel to work."

 

"And do you… enjoy private time with them?"

 

"Of course. After my last husband, many decades ago now, I have spent time with my own species. I will likely continue to do so between your visits."

 

"I'll probably do the same with others."

 

"Good. So, there will be no need for jealousy from either of us."

 

"I don't get jealous. Any previous lover knew about my life. I've always been honest about that. I will enjoy time with them, but a long-term thing? It can work, though only in the sense that we can get together occasionally, have fun, but that will be it. Monogamy is boring anyway."

 

She kissed me again, her tongue sliding into my mouth. We only broke the kiss to rest our drinks down on the table before she pressed her body into mine, earning a moan as our tongues playfully duelled. I earned a whimper when she allowed me to take control as she ended up with her head on a cushion, her legs spread just enough for me to lie. When she felt my erection press into her, she moaned into my mouth and needed to break the kiss.

 

"We should eat first… Energy for later…"

 

"I always thought it wasn't good to fuck on a full stomach."

 

She laughed out loud, and it was a melody to my ears. Admittedly, I barely knew her at all, but I had a feeling that Councillor Kira Tevos in private was a very different woman from the one presented to the galaxy at large. "Well, maybe we could continue to talk after dinner before we make love…"

 

"Make love?"

 

"Shepard… There is one thing I want to do when we're intimate. Have you heard of melding?"

 

"I have…"

 

"It is how asari have conceived children long before we found other species. It will allow us to share our thoughts, feelings and memories."

 

"Ah… Well…"

 

She kissed me hard and I returned that kiss. She moaned again as I pressed into her. I heard the other two asari nearby giggling to themselves as we made out again for a couple of minutes before I pulled back slightly to meet her eyes. "I don't care what I see, Shepard. It will simply allow me to understand you better. Better than any words that I'll read on a datapad," she assured me.

 

"And we'll do this while making love?"

 

"It will make it even better. Trust me on this."

 

"Um… How do you conceive if not with another asari?"

 

She kissed me softly before she whispered, "Wouldn't you like to know, Shepard…"

 

One of her employees announced dinner would be ready shortly and that we should make our way to the dining room. Thankfully, the table wasn't ridiculously large with places set so that we were close together. We were making further small talk about nothing of particular consequence when one of the asari walked in. And I almost started chuckling as she had removed the clothes she had been wearing to leave her in a white lacey bra, white panties with the rear showing that two blue cheeks were exposed, suspenders, stockings and heels.

 

She walked around to serve Kira first though her eyes remained on me before she placed a small plate in front of me. Her neck was close enough to my nose that I inhaled a rather fruity scent.

 

"I wasn't sure if you'd appreciate some nice underwear or nudity," Kira stated, "But Tara here was very eager to please."

 

"What colour is the other girl wearing?" I wondered.

 

"You'll find out soon enough," Tara whispered into my ear, "We'll be both serving you dessert naked though."

 

Kira chuckled before she said, "Get out of here, you troublemaker." She waited until Tara was out of sight before adding, "I don't know much about human cuisine, Shepard. But I'm confident that you'll enjoy some simple asari dishes."

 

"I'm always willing to try different things."

 

The starter was delicious. Tara walked in to take the empty plates and placed down fresh drinks, stating that they would accompany the main meal perfectly. She definitely placed her body in a way that I could get a good look at her before she turned away though not without looking back and winking at me before she disappeared.

 

"Getting them to leave is going to be difficult tonight," Kira said with a chuckle.

 

Her other employee appeared a few minutes later carrying two large plates. She wore the same underwear and stockings as Tara though the colour was black. "I'm Ariana," she said by way of introduction after placing down the second plate in front of me, "We've never had a human here for dinner before. Is it true that some of you have large… um…"

 

"Adriana! Not right now!" Kira exclaimed though she was doing her best not to laugh.

 

"If I don't ask, I'll never know, ma'am," Ariana replied, "Will you tell me all about it tomorrow?"

 

"Shepard?"

 

"Well, I mean, I don't mind you telling Tara and Ariana at least. I'm figuring they'd want to know all the details."

 

"We've never been with a human either. I've seen human men in porn though."

 

"As I've seen asari,' I said, "Though I'm sure being with an asari in real life will be far more pleasurable."

 

I think Ariana wanted to sit with us though Kira gestured with her head. Ariana giggled and quickly kissed my cheek before walking out of the room. The meal was exquisite. Every bite was to be savoured. I had no idea what any of it was, but I knew that I'd endeavour to try more asari dishes in the future. We continued to chat away about our lives without getting too personal. If we did end up melding later, I figured that's when Kira would learn everything about me.

 

Once the main meal was completed, Kira took my hand and led me to the living room again. She sat me down as she sat on one of the other couches. Before I could ask why, she gestured with her head. Tara and Ariana were now naked, each carrying two bowls. Tara handed a bowl to Kira before the two sat to either side of me.

 

"I will allow them a little bit of fun though you're not fucking either of them tonight, Shepard," Kira told me, "But I figured enjoying dessert with two beautiful, naked and rather young asari would appeal."

 

The dessert was a sorbet of some kind, each taking a turn to slip a spoon into my mouth before they kissed me. It didn't take long until I was licking sorbet from other areas, mostly from their breasts. I glanced to see Kira watching me with interest, the rising arousal evident on her face though she motioned for me not to stop. My hands did wander across soft bodies, and when fingers ended up between the legs of Tara, she eagerly spread them and moaned loudly as I fondled her.

 

"Don't make her orgasm," Kira told me, "Make them squirm and want more. They can pleasure each other later in bed."

 

I turned my attention to Ariana and her attraction to me was evident in her eyes. I almost felt sorry for her as it was obvious that she wanted to be in Kira's place that very night. We enjoyed ourselves for the next few minutes but when Tara's hands moved to the obvious bulge in my trousers, Kira cleared her throat, much to the disappointment of the others.

 

Tara and Ariana gave me one last, lingering kiss each before they gathered up the bowls and spoons before wishing us goodnight. Kira slid off the couch she was on and moved over to stand in front of me. Without a word, she lifted up the dress she was wearing to reveal her naked body. And it was an absolute work of art. Sitting down to straddle me, a knee to either side, my hands were immediately caressing her back down to her arse as we shared such a passionate kiss, feeling her grinding on my erection, that I had to break the kiss to control myself.

 

I then made her squeal as I easily stood up and with her legs wrapped around my hips, I carried her towards her bedroom, hearing giggling from another bedroom as we entered the master. It was tastefully decorated in what I assumed was an asari style. Placing her gently down on the bed, I quickly kicked off my shoes and socks and almost tore off my shirt as she worked on taking off my trousers. When she lowered my underwear and my cock popped free, the sheer look of satisfaction made me grin.

 

"Very different from a turian," she told me, "When you cum, you won't stay stuck in me, will you?"

 

"No. If you're lucky, I'll stay hard and keep fucking you."

 

I have no idea what species other than asari and turian she'd been with before. It was none of my business. But as her mouth surrounded my cock and I felt her tongue working the shaft, I had a feeling that this wasn't her first rodeo. As her eyes gazed up into mine, one hand working my shaft and the other caressing my chest, I ran my fingers over the crest of her head and her eyes widened slightly.

 

"Do that," she whispered, "It feels really good when making love. The senses are heightened even more."

 

"Want me to warn you when I'm about to cum?"

 

"Please though I wish to taste you this first time."

 

The Asari Councillor, one of the most powerful asari in the galaxy, was soon bobbing up and down on my cock. Her eye contact was constant, and she almost cooed as I caressed the crest on her head. It had been a while since my last blowjob. The last few lovers that I'd been with, Jane included, had been more about the act of intercourse itself than a full-blown smorgasbord of sexual acts. And the sheer enthusiasm that Kira was showing at the moment…

 

"Fuck," I grunted.

 

She slid down off the bed onto her knees on the floor and that was just a bigger turn-on. Her eyes were almost desperate to please me. I found it a little surprising and managed a smile. Her eyes lit up in the moment after as she removed her mouth.

 

"I really want to sit on that face of yours, Shepard…"

 

"Think I'd say no to that?"

 

"Good. I think we're going to have a long and wonderful night together."

 

She swallowed my cock to the base, her eyes never averting from mine as inch after inch disappeared into her mouth, feeling the tight confines of her throat. She'd either done this before or simply had natural talent. Her head was bobbing up and down quickly again, her right hand working my shaft and balls. And I could feel my orgasm approaching rapidly.

 

"Fuck… Kira…"

 

The hum she made sent a shiver up my spine. I gripped the back of her head a little tighter. Her eyes lit up again as she knew that I was close to orgasm. When I was about to erupt, she pulled back just enough so that my cum would hit her tongue.

 

"Kira…" I groaned, "Fucking hell… Kira…"

 

The Asari Councillor happily took spurt after spurt of my cum in her mouth, seeming to enjoy tasting it, before she swallowed it down. Once my cock stopped throbbing from spurting cum, her tongue worked my shaft to clean me up, her hand moving up and down to keep me hard.

 

"Get up on the bed," I growled.

 

She smiled demurely as she lifted herself up on the bed and scooted backwards, spreading her legs provocatively. I knew asari anatomy was similar to ours. The fact her pussy glistened with excitement was all I needed to see. I didn't go straight for her pussy. I surprised her by kissing her first.

 

"That was one fucking awesome blowjob," I stated, my eyes gazing into hers, "I would ask where you learned… But I don't care."

 

She cooed as I suckled at her breasts, her nipples as sensitive as any woman I'd been with. She watched me intently as I slowly made my way down her body. She seemed to have a natural scent about her, and when I made it to her pussy, that scent was heightened. Almost reminded me of certain fruits back on Earth. I took a moment to gaze at her pussy. It was almost perfect in appearance.

 

Then I dove in and tasted her. She was so turned on that she was babbling within a couple of minutes. I felt her fingers run over my short hair before latching onto the back and holding me in place.

 

"Yes, Shepard!" she cried, grinding her pussy into my mouth, "Oh fuck… Oh fuck… Too long, Shepard. Too long since I was with any sort of male…"

 

When I made her cum, I think she nearly started to sob. Her eyes gazed at me with a mixture of emotions. Then I slid a finger inside her, her back arched considerably, and the next orgasm tore through her body.

 

"Fuck me," she murmured, "I need it, Shepard. Fuck me. Please fuck me."

 

I kissed up her body until our mouths met, rubbing the head of my cock against her pussy. I waited until she'd calmed down before I gently slid inside her. That made her smile as I'm sure she was a little worried that I'd just slam it home. Depending on the person, I would have done if it was just a no holds-barred sweaty and hard fuck session. I knew that this wasn't it with Kira that night.

 

It was while I was making love to Kira that I realised my night with Jane had almost been the same. We might have leapt straight into fucking, but it hadn't been hard and nasty to begin with. There'd been a connection, and I was feeling it with Kira at that moment. Her hips moved in time to my thrusts. Her lips constantly searched out mine. Her soft hands caressed my back, taking note of fingers running along the many scars.

 

I rolled over eventually to see her ride me, my hands moving around her body in return. She was a goddess while riding me, and when she enjoyed another orgasm while grinding on my cock, that's when the Asari Councillor couldn't hold back her emotions. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she leaned down to kiss me. Her eyes opened and I knew what she was asking without saying a word.

 

"Let's give it a go, shall we?"

 

"Embrace eternity," she whispered.

 

I hid nothing from her during our meld. She was exploring my mind, my memories, and my feelings about all that happened in my life up until that moment. She also took note of my night with Jane, and then she explored until that very moment and I sensed she was blushing. She figured out that I was already very fond of her, but I also let her know that I had never loved or fallen in love. I simply didn't allow myself to.

 

Breaking the meld, her eyes returned to their normal colour. "I think that you are a good man at heart, Shepard," she whispered, "But you have lived a hard life. I will be here for you going forward." She kissed me softly. "Now roll me over, fuck me, and I want to feel my human lover cum inside me."

 

Rolling her over and pumping her hard, she spread her legs and pulled them back, hands under her knees, as she urged me to keep fucking her. "Think I'm the luckiest Spectre, that's for sure," I grunted.

 

"We'll finish debriefs with your dick inside me."

 

"Think I'd say no to ending meetings like this?"

 

"Bend me over my desk and we can look over the Citadel together while the first human Spectre pleases his Asari Councillor lover."

 

I was glad she blew me as we fucked for another few minutes before I finally felt my orgasm approaching. She sensed when it was closer as her legs ended up around me again, making sure that I didn't pull out when I finally groaned, resting my head next to hers on the pillow as I erupted inside her. I heard her sniffle before she whispered that it was a wonderful feeling to know her lover was enjoying himself inside her.

 

We made love three more times that night, enjoying a couple of positions, though missionary was our favourite simply as it was more intimate. And I couldn't help a slight surge of feelings that I felt for her every time we made love. I knew what she was doing, and I didn't really care. She was a beautiful asari, and if was influencing me by using her charms, then good on her.

 

I woke the next morning with Kira moulded into the side of my body. She opened her eyes and blushed, which was a bit of a surprise. "I think I got a little carried away last night…"

 

Placing a finger at her lips, I kissed her forehead. "No. I think we both needed that. We had a connection straight away and simply enjoyed it." I paused for a moment as I cuddled her tighter. "Kira, what happens if anyone finds out?"

 

"Frankly, what I do in private is nobody's business but mine. If anyone finds out, I will be honest to stop the interest."

 

"What will people back on Thessia say?"

 

She lifted herself up and smiled. "You know the name of our homeworld?"

 

"Of course. I knew that I'd need to educate myself once I was serving in space. No idea where I could have ended up. Hell, the idea of Thessia was rather appealing. A planet of asari like you? I'd never leave!"

 

She kissed me hard and slid down my erection, making love for the morning though there was eventually a knock at the door. "We'll join you once he's cum inside me!" Kira called out, hearing a pair of asari giggling on the other side of the door.

 

"You are so fucking naughty, Kira," I stated.

 

"I feel free right now. It's been a long time, Shepard. A long time."

 

She wore a dressing down while I headed out in my underwear and shirt to join Tara and Ariana for breakfast. Conversation flowed easily as we ate breakfast before Kira suggested that we should shower before heading out for the day. Making love in the shower was an experience, Kira clutching me tightly as her arms and legs were wrapped around me. When I came inside her again, I felt her body shudder and I knew it wasn't from an orgasm.

 

"Been a while?" I whispered into her ear.

 

"I've been married four times in my life so far, Shepard." I held her easily in my arms as she wasn't particularly heavy. "I said after my last marriage that I'd only take on lovers. I want you to be him, Shepard. I want to be upfront and blunt. Will you be my lover?"

 

"Absolutely. As long as you can share."

 

"I can as I will still have fun on the side. But you're my first human. I know you now live longer but… I know… I know that I still have centuries…"

 

"So we enjoy the time we have together."

 

I knew that we couldn't leave together. I dressed and readied myself for the day, expecting to leave on the Normandy within the next twenty-four hours should everything go to plan. I hugged Tara and Ariana before Kira showed me off at the door leading into her office. I wasn't sure if we should part with a somewhat public kiss. She did hug me to start before we gave into temptation and shared one hell of a passionate kiss. The sort that had both of us breathing heavily. Her hand rested on my chest as she gazed up into my eyes.

 

"Get him for us, Shepard," she said softly, "For all of us. He's dangerous. But I know you're better. I can see it in you. Your heart and your mind. You'll save us."

 

"If not, I'll die trying."

 

Walking into the Alliance embassy a little later, Udina wasn't anywhere to be seen. I found Anderson gazing over the Presidium as I stood next to him. We remained silent before he started to chuckle.

 

"Jesus, Shepard. The Asari Councillor?"

 

"How the fuck…"

 

"More than a few people saw you enter her chambers last night and you were not seen departing. So I can only assume that you left this morning."

 

"It was a very long debrief about the mission ahead."

 

He glanced my way and smirked. "Bullshit. But I'm guessing she's offered help and sealed an agreement with her charms. I don't blame you."

 

I wasn't going to get all mushy with Anderson. "You're right, I won't bullshit you, but I also won't go into private details. She merely suggested that as the somewhat figurehead, it would be good for me if we did work closely. I'm not sure what to think of the other two councillors now. And I'm not completely blind to what Kira…"

 

"Kira?" Anderson laughed out loud for a few seconds. "Well, I guess being on first-name terms with her can't hurt."

 

"Hell, she even admitted that sex between us would come with a little self-interest on both our parts." Clearing my throat, I asked, "When will the Normandy be ready to go?"

 

"We're waiting for the last few crew members to arrive from Arcturus. All being well, you'll be away by this evening, Citadel time. Put any thoughts into what you'll do first?"

 

"I'm thinking I look for Benezia's daughter first. Maybe she can give me an insight into her mother and why the hell she'd be helping Saren?"

 

"It would have been my suggestion. The rumours of Saren on Feros and Noveria are just that. Rumours."

 

"Do you know anything about her daughter?"

 

"Nothing that's not already on her dossier."

 

I returned to the ship, changed into some gym gear, and headed to the cargo bay to give myself a serious workout. I was building up one hell of a sweat when Ashely joined me, wearing a sports bra and a pair of shorts that showed off her long, toned legs. She noticed my occasional glance and smiled at me.

 

"You can look, Shepard. I'm not going to take offence."

 

"Sorry, Ash. I just wasn't expecting it."

 

"What? The knockout body or the legs that might lead to heaven?"

 

I met her eyes and we both burst into laughter. "Well, I knew you'd be fit but your body is something else. Toned and firm torso. Your arms have perfect definition. And your legs…" I met her eyes before adding, "Well, I do wonder how tightly you'd squeeze me if they were around my hips…"

 

"You fuck the Asari Councillor last night, Shepard?"

 

"I did."

 

"The one thing I wasn't sure to believe was your reputation. I won't say that you're a ladies man. I won't say you're charming. It's… It's difficult to put my finger on, but…"

 

"Ash, I'm not expecting anything from anyone. What happened with Kira was unexpected though I'm not going to say we didn't have a wonderful night."

 

"And you'll keep doing it?"

 

"If I can."

 

We resumed working out, keeping my eye on Ashley as her body glistened with sweat as she put her body through its paces. When she wanted to do some weights, she asked my help regarding a couple of things, not missing how she moulded her body back against mine in certain positions.

 

"You know fraternisation won't matter because I'm now a Spectre," I suggested quietly as I helped her retain form. She pressed her arse back against my crotch though her eyes remained forward while she continued her set, "Just putting it out there, Ash. So we know where we stand."

 

"I love fucking to blow off steam, Shepard. It's a modern galaxy. Sex is fun. The only thing I don't do is leap into it too quickly. I know who you are but… It's not your reputation with women that cautions me. It's because of who you are. First human Spectre. That's some deep shit."

 

I spun her around so she could face me. "Ash, I'll level with you. I don't exactly know who I am. Am I the man that was on Elysium? Am I the bastard that I was on Torfan? Or am I still that kid on the streets who had nowhere else to turn?" I paused as her eyes searched my face. "I melded with Kira last night while we made love. She said I was a good man at heart. I'm not sure that I believe her. I've done a lot of things…"

 

"We all have a past, Shepard. And I guess she saw all that. If she did, and she still says that you're a good man then I'd choose to believe her."

 

She turned around as she continued her sets. She would have felt my erection when her perfect arse was pressed against me again. I heard the gasp before she pushed back against me again, my hands ending on her hips as she needed to stop for a few seconds. It was obvious that she was struggling to concentrate.

 

We worked out for another hour, both of us nearly dropping to the floor from exhaustion as we sucked down cold water from bottles that were waiting nearby. We talked about nothing of consequence before we headed to the showers. There wasn't enough space for separate showers. Given the ship was still relatively new, Anderson hadn't instituted any sort of shower policy though co-ed showering wasn't unusual.

 

Ashley didn't hesitate in stripping down in front of me, turning towards me to show off a spectacular pair of breasts, the sort of toned body that many men would desire, and there was a triangle of dark pubic hair above her pussy. I slid off my clothing and her eyes widened as I was still hard from how close we'd been.

 

"Fuck," she murmured as we stepped under hot water.

 

"I won't apologise for the fact that you arouse me, Ash. Shit, even down on Eden Prime…"

 

"I need time, Shepard…"

 

"Take all the time you need, Ash. I mean, erections happen regardless, but take this one as a sign that you attract me. Your no-nonsense, no bullshit… But I get the feeling there is a softer woman underneath the armour."

 

She leaned against the wall and allowed the hot water to cascade down her head and back. "We should talk, Shepard. A lot more talking. Once I'm comfortable… God, I'm going to be a fucking mess that first time. I'm so careful when it comes to partners. The fact that you're interested though. You have any idea what you mean to most of us in the service?"

 

"I try not to think about it."

 

"And now you're the first human Spectre. And you're here with me in a shower, with a…" She looked again and I could see her interest. "A raging fucking hard-on because of me, and there's a large part of me that wants nothing more in this moment than to feel it inside me. And that scares the life out of me."

 

I finished my shower and grabbed a nearby towel. I grabbed one for her and waited until she was ready. Once the towel was wrapped around her, I pulled her closer and simply met her eyes for a few seconds.

 

"Take your time, Ash. Don't rush it. Now I'll be honest with you. I don't do long-term relationships. I don't fall in love. But I love sex. It's the best thing ever. And I enjoy variety. If you get jealous easily, this won't work. But if you can handle that, I think we'll have a lot of fun together."

 

She smiled, a soft smile that lit up her face. "Thanks, Shepard. For not pushing. Making it my decision."

 

"It's the right thing to do."

 

We dressed and went our separate ways. I was on the bridge near the galaxy map when a call came in from Anderson that the last crew members had arrived and that the last provisions would be loaded within the next couple of hours. We would not be full to bursting as I'd agreed to report to the Council in person. It made sense as I knew that we would need new weapons, ammunition (grenades and the like, not for our weapons) and armour every so often. Far more than we could ever carry.

 

It was late in the day when the new crew members were aboard. Once everything was ready, I met with Anderson and Udina in the docking bay. There were last words of encouragement from the former. The latter was surprisingly gracious considering our already rather fractious relationship. Both wished me good luck before I stepped on board.

 

While Joker had the ship moving towards the nearest mass relay, I made a short speech to the assembled crew that were gathered around the galaxy map. I let them know the score. We were now alone on our search for Saren. He posed an imminent threat to humanity and the galaxy. No expense would be spared in our efforts to locate him and bring him to justice. It might mean many weeks spent travelling or off-world in our efforts to nab the bastard. But failure could mean the arrival of the Reapers, an as-yet-unknown enemy.

 

As the crew returned to their station, with Tali down in engineering, Ashley and Kaidan in the armoury, Garrus looking after our Mako, and Wrex… Well, he was with us, I inputted our first destination into the galaxy map.

 

It was time to find that turian bastard and bring him down.