Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 1
anonymous
January 18 2015, 19:42:26 UTC
Cantankerous - bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
Silver turian. High-grade armour. Optical cybernetics. 2 assault rifles attached to his back and 2 pistols on his hip. Wait. Are those fins on his face?.. Handles?
All Jane could think to herself was no sudden movements.
At least he's not a thresher maw she mused to herself.
She smiled brightly.
"How can I help you sir?"
His mandibles flared with what she could only assume to be contempt. At her suspected competence or maybe at the fact she was human? Well if it was her competence he should prepare to be surprised. That C-Sec turian, Garrus, had started making horrible puns about heat sinks in an attempt to flirt with her after tasting her kava. It was a mix between flattering and "oh-my-god-please-stop-talking-you're-embarrassing-yourself-thanks". Nilia, her turian boss, had never let her live it down and Nilia later told her that his sub-vocals had been full of suppressed laughter.
Her kava was amazing. Thank you.
"Large kava. 1 sugar."
She couldn't help but find the idea of a scary ass turian like him taking his kava with sugar adorable.
Jane would have at least smirked if she didn't have the feeling the turian was looking for the slightest sign of ineptitude so he could complain to her manager.
She should really stop calling him the turian. Maybe Handlebars would be better? Even thinking of him as that made her uneasy or maybe it was the fact he was staring at her like he expected her to disintegrate on the spot. Maybe Turian Sir would be better.
"Anything else tuh-... sir?"
That was a mistake.
"Human. Maybe I can assist you here. This is the point where you begin to make my kava. Your kind seems to enjoy finding new ways every time I meet one of you to bring my opinion of you lower and lower."
She couldn't help but blush but as she turned around to make his kava she couldn't stop the small stab of vindictive pleasure that came with turning her back on him without responding. Cultural nuances could be awesome.
Judging by the light grunting and what sounded like "Nihlus" being mumbled under his breath, he'd noticed the slight and was not pleased.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 2
anonymous
January 18 2015, 23:35:28 UTC
Abnormal - deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying.
The Citadel was a welcome diversion.
His last mission in the Traverse had been a nightmare. Say what you want about the elcor, but their capabilities in ground based warfare were excellent and more importantly unprecedented. He could still recall the endless shouts of "with unabated fury" and "with murderous rage" prefacing their commands in battle. Their skill at bunkering down and utilizing chokepoints was almost savant-like. The Blue Suns had started recruiting them en masse for Spirits knows what reason. The Council would be interested in that tidbit.
He'd debriefed only an hour ago and immediately after he'd received a ping on his omni-tool from Nihlus who was tracking his ship ID again, he'd have to correct that behaviour and change his ID for the fifth time. Damn Nihlus. He was asking to meet at a coffee lounge on the Presidium.
Nihlus despite his tendency for being cosmopolitan had great taste.
As much as it pained him to admit it.
The place, Nilia's (a proper turian name, Nihlus seemed to be moving up in the world) Lounge, catered to all races but specialized in dextro beverages. It'd been decades since he'd had a decent cup of kava. Asari generally came the closest of non-turians to making a good cup, but it did not compare to the luxuries of a cup made in an inner turian colony. Rich, nutty, mildly sweet with a pleasant spreading warmth once drunk.
A cup of kava now would be nice.
The place was nicely decorated in the style of a turian simulation bar. The sims were currently occupied by a group of turian cadets, likely their first time on the Citadel. Humans littered around the place. There was a group of human males on one of the couches. He listened, not out of interest of course, he couldn't help his hearing. They were talking about... a firecracker? Humans. Nonsensical and destructive.
He saw the barista. The only barista currently at the bar.
A human female. Wasn't this place owned by a turian? If her name is Nilia... are the humans hoping to get a place on the Council by stealing our names too?
Was it on fire? Its fur (yes fur, not hair) was... red? Most of the humans' fur he saw came in various shades of brown and black (it was just another piece of evidence in his mind that explained their special occupation with their own faeces). Was it a genetic defect? And what were those dots on its face?
He liked to think that he approached their exchange as a superior might do when faced with a lesser. The fact that that sounded vaguely like a Batarian rationalising their caste system didn't phase him. He was an agent of the Council after all.
When she turned her back on him it took a large amount of effort to not do anything rash. Turning your back was a way that commanding officers would dismiss their subordinates. Her insinuation of him being a subordinate boiled his blood.
Human. Do you not know who I am? I've killed your kind for less.
"Nihlus... where the hell are you.."
He could smell the kava. It... smelled good? The human was probably reheating it. Wait. There's a dispenser full of fresh rovale nuts and... she had used an authentic tisane blend?
Saren. You could teach a pyjak to follow instructions if you beat the instructions into it enough times. The human knowing how to make REAL kava is no sign of real competence. But it was admittedly abnormal.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 3
anonymous
January 19 2015, 08:10:40 UTC
Ambrosia: something very pleasing to taste or smell.
It was ready.
He couldn't help the slight relaxation in his features, the aromas wafting around his nasal plates were glorious.
The barista quirked her mouth again. A smile? It looked more like a sly human look of satisfaction to him. Expressing your victory, pyjak?
He didn't even know her name and he hated her but then not knowing a human's name had never stopped him.
She passed the large cup to him.
"Here you are sir. Enjoy!"
She quirked her mouth again and took his credit chit which he'd placed on the counter. She was watching him intently.
He'd originally been planning on drinking the cup in one of the recliners in the alcoves near the sims to wait for Nihlus but he'd never been one to walk away from a challenge. He wasn't going to start now.
Kava is meant to be sipped due to its richness but if it turned out the aroma was not indicative of its quality he was fully prepared to gulp it. Failing that, there was a disposal unit near the entrance. It could always be used.
He took a sip.
SPIRITS!
What is this?!
It's like... what... ?!!
He could recall the cup he'd had at Palaven all those years ago. It didn't even come anywhere near to this heavenly concoction. It was like heaven in his mouth. And his throat. And his stomach. The warmth spreading through him. Impeccable.
Then he remembered who had made it.
A human made this??!!
He couldn't help slowly sitting down at the counter. He didn't even dare to look the barista in the eye. It was merely out of distaste of seeing her human features he rationalised to himself. Not any expression of his disbelief and he didn't want to see her typical human smugness. Though... he thought he could accept her victory if she made him another kava. Two more maybe. Three?
No. Her victory wouldn't be that complete. Two more, max... with one to go.
It was so... perfect... no wonder it was so expensive. He almost sighed but managed to stifle it and turn it into a groan.
Fuck. That wasn't any better.
"Are you alright sir?" He looked up into her green eyed, red-fringed face with those bizarre small brown dots littering her nose. The smile was gone and her concern seemed to be genuine.
"I am fine... the kava.. it is... acceptable."
"Oh...?"
The smile was back and she looked positively smug at that. It wasn't particularly hard to hate her in that moment but then he remembered the kava she had made for him.
He'd have to find out her name.
Purely for research reasons of course. She's likely dangerous to have this level of competence in making turian beverages. She'd probably assassinated several good turians learning how to make it. That made sense.
He took another sip.
"Executor Pallin comes here regularly and he says my kava is the best he's had outside of the turian system. You would deem that as only acceptable?"
Her smile was wickedly sharp but his wit was sharper.
Naturally.
"I would say that it is less a matter of your skill at making kava and more a highlight of the wide gap between turian made kava and the kava that others attempt to make. This is passable."
The lie was delicious. Or maybe it was the kava.
Then the devil appeared, his knowledge of that entity only arose from humanity's ubiquitous presence on the Citadel. Not out of any religious research into humans for better understanding of their psyches (it hadn't worked in the slightest). No.
He approached clad in turian civvies and a pistol at his hip and decided to be a little shit and help the human achieve a flawless victory. One of these days he'd end up killing his mentee. Regardless of his renown and worth to the Council. The devil's mandibles quirked in an imitation of the human's smile. His voice dripped with humour, the human could probably pick it up.
"Now, Saren. Do not lie. I can hear your subvocals rumbling with pleasure. This is the best kava you've had in your life."
I'm glad you like it so much. I have so many plans for this AU it's unreal. Pretty excited.
I'd be more if I could get past their first meeting that is... Livejournal is really weird for me. Takes hours for comments to show up on the updated pages.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 4
anonymous
January 19 2015, 18:02:14 UTC
Affinity: a natural liking for and understanding of someone or something.
Jane had known he was lying. She'd served enough turians to recognise the vibrations she could feel through the counter as being something akin to satisfaction. But pleasure?
She felt a little dirty.
She recognised the newcomer, and the name of her customer, but thinking about the possible consequences of her disrespect made her feel queasy. So she focussed on the newcomer.
The newcomer came irregularly but generally ordered at least 3 cups of kava. He'd tried to have some delivered to his ship in bulk but Nilia had drew the line. She'd said if he wanted some more he could come here like everyone else and buy it.
He seemed in appearance to be Saren's opposite. Red where he was silver, a long largely symmetrical fringe to Saren's long mostly asymmetrical one and bulky to Saren's almost unnatural leanness. Judging by his opening salvo, possibly in personality too.
She already liked him based on that opening comment. It was no small surprise that she found herself deep in conversation with him after Saren had refused to acknowledge his greetings. A bit of an old bastard he was as her dad would say.
Nihlus sipped his kava and hummed quietly to himself. Saren shot him another one of his disparaging glares. It was rather nice to have a fellow target.
"Nilia isn't here right?"
She could already feel like this was going somewhere silly but she'd humour him. He'd probably buy more kava that way. Her studies at Huerta Memorial didn't pay for themselves, no matter how much the Alliance had paid her upon her retirement following Akuze and how generously Nilia paid her.
"No. She's not. She's usually at C-Sec at these hours. Likely arguing with Executor Pallin about improving patrol patterns on the Presidium. She's getting tired of C-Sec treating the Lounge like a guesthouse."
He nodded in acknowledgement and gazed for a second at Saren, who still had a face of stone and the personality to match with all the attention he gave back. Likely subvocalisations she can't hear.
Lovely.
He turned back to her with a slight smile.
"I'm not surprised. Your kava is legendary amongst the turian population on the Citadel. I imagine you're aware that the C-Sec officers call you 'The Firecracker' after the way you turned down Officer Harkin's advances."
He'd included air quotes when naming the title. The image was only comical and she couldn't help laughing. His mandibles twitched slightly. Any humour from the situation ended when Saren started tapping the counter. Rather menacingly.
We'd come so far, why stop now?
"I'm well aware and I'd like to think that Harkin and I have a purely business focussed relationship. One where I take his money of course and he gets his sissy drinks in exchange. What 'real man' drinks appletinis? But what is your point?"
It only felt right to respond with air quotes. He laughed before leaning forward solicitously and mocking a secretive look at Saren.
He was still tapping and he was starting to mark the metal. Were his talons blades?
"My point is, no-one seems to know your name. Would you be up to putting a turian out of their misery?"
He was everything a turian was not. Why would Saren spend his time with Nihlus? It made no sense.
"Well, I'm sure your friend would put me out of my misery if I were to do such a thing. The name's Jane. Jane Shepard."
They both froze and looked at her intensely. Surprisingly, Saren was the one who responded after fixing her with his severe glare.
"Any relation to Commander Shepard?... Human."
He spat the word human like a curse. She'd have laughed if she didn't feel like her future health didn't depend on this answer.
"Yeah, he's my brother. Adopted."
Nihlus likely knew this was going somewhere bad very quickly for he jumped out of his seat and threw a small credit chit on the counter.
"Thank you for the kava, it was nice to meet you Jane. Saren, let's go to C-Sec, I received a message about new requisitions."
They left with little fanfare though the turians at the sims quieted upon their approach. She knew Saren was a Spectre, who didn't? It was likely Nihlus was one too.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 5
anonymous
January 20 2015, 06:04:25 UTC
Reconnaissance: preliminary surveying or research.
The Presidium was fairly quiet. Apart from a few gardeners scattered around and some C-Sec officers that were on patrol, the surrounding areas around Nilia's Lounge were quiet. It was deep into the night cycle.
Saren wasn't as angry as he thought he'd be. More annoyed really that Nihlus was playing games. It was a rather human thing for him to be doing. He didn't like it.
Nihlus was being unnaturally quiet on their walk to C-Sec. Textbook odd behaviour from Nihlus.
"You were aware all along who she was. Weren't you?"
Nihlus shrugged minutely and looked at him with mild curiosity.
"Yes. I know more about Commander Shepard than most. His sister from what I have learnt, has an interesting history. Daughter of Admiral Hannah Shepard of the SSV Kilimanjaro and Dr William Shepard, a big name in human trauma surgery. Sole survivor of a black ops operation in Akuze, N6 designation, an engineer with extensive medic training. Honourably discharged and currently studying applications of cybernetics in reconstructive surgery at Huerta Memorial. Her and her adopted brother have had a healthy relationship ever since his rescue on Mindoir by the platoon under Admiral Shepard following the Batarian attack. They correspond regularly."
Despite having been in a mild kava daze for the last couple of hours, Saren had been able to identify the following about Jane Shepard: She was very tall for a human woman, likely at least 5"10. Rather muscular for a civilian and she moved very quietly and with great control. At the time he'd just guessed ex-military or a merc. He didn't expect this level, of well... competence from a human barista? Who would?
It made him feel slightly better though, the human responsible for the best kava in his life wasn't a typical example of her race. Slightly better.
Baby steps, Saren.
Nihlus laughed. Likely at the thoughts that he could only assume were running through Saren's mind. Sometimes he thought that training Nihlus was a mistake. He'd never liked the idea of being considered... predictable. More reasons to destroy Nihlus on a sparring mat in C-Sec he supposed. Nihlus was only adding to the stress he was feeling after all.
He never did get that extra kava. Fucking Nihlus and his games.
It was fucking on.
"In another galaxy, I can see myself training her to be a Spectre rather than her brother if she had continued in the military. I can see that look on your face Saren. He is perfectly worthy of receiving Spectre status. Think what you will of humans but his exploits in the Skyllian Blitz were incredible."
"Your pet human is a topic that will likely take several hours to explore, no, what I am more interested in is why you were so interested in her telling me her name."
Nihlus's voice was full of amusement and hidden secrets. He hated Nihlus. Maybe it was time to go back to his previous social circle. Purely business partners and acquaintances. Friends like Nihlus were too much work.
Councillor Quentius gave Nihlus far too much leeway, it was a sad day when Sparatus was passed over for being too much of a traditionalist. Which nowadays in turian politics was synonymous for human hater.
Tevos played politics well. Though it was likely a wise decision to more easily facilitate the integration of humans into the fold. They had their uses.
Mostly cannon fodder.
"Really? I was under the impression she was speaking solely to me. I mean it was pretty obvious that she couldn't stand you."
Saren ignored the way his own mandibles clenched and the stab of unease that ran through his stomach. He'd drunk his kava too fast obviously. It couldn't POSSIBLY be anything else.
He didn't think of making any attempt to suppress his subvocals. The unease he'd voiced couldn't possibly mean what Nihlus thought it did. He refused to think about that.
Nihlus leaned forward with glee in his eyes and a smirk lifting his face.
Maybe he'd break his mandibles when they sparred. Remove that ability. It would be for the best they weren't needed for his missions. Spectres worked alone after all. Speech was secondary to the mission.
"Oh.. Saren... are you smitten with the human? Oh isn't this-"
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 6
anonymous
January 20 2015, 21:14:06 UTC
Contemplate: think deeply and at length.
Jane had just finished kicking out the last turian Blue Suns mercenary. They were like an infestation. Everywhere. They had ended up leaving together after asking for her specific hours. But not before leaving with one final message from the leader of their squad.
"Nilia's kava is good and all, but yours human... May the Spirits forgive me for saying this but it is the best I've ever had. Never thought a human would be the best at anything other than resembling pyjaks..."
He was rather drunk.
She'd remember him though, Mr Palaven Distilled with a corae filter. I'll remember you and your drink.
Next time.
It was closing time. The Lounge usually closed for about 2 and a half hours for cleaning and resupplying. It would open again at the lunch hour and Trela and Nilia would handle the day shift.
Her hours were pretty odd for a student, the Earth equivalent of a graveyard shift, but then all her classes were from the early day cycle to the mid day cycle. Plenty of time for sleep and any required reading and placements before her shifts after her classes. It was a shame Nilia wasn't here, she usually let her nap for a little and she'd watch the bar in her place for a couple of hours. She never did come back from C-Sec. Odd. She was usually here before closing time.
Jane finished wiping down the counter and looked outside the windows. The artificial lighting was starting to turn on. The Presidium looked rather magnificent at night, it was almost a shame to see the lights turn on. She gazed at the lakes in appreciation. The reflection of the light on the lakes reminded her a little of silver.
Silver. Saren.
She couldn't help bursting into raucous laughter. It had been a long trying shift with Saren and Nihlus having been there for at least an hour.
Saren. Something in her gut told her he would be back. And soon. Her instincts were good, it was why she survived Akuze.
They never did find Major Toombs' body...
Splintered bone, dissolving flesh...
Let's not think about that.
Let's think of your primary problem Jane. Saren. Should she play it cool if he ever comes again? Ask for forgiveness?
She didn't know him that well. However, what she did know was that Nilia did not bow to anyone's wishes but her own. If he wanted kava, he'd have to come to the Lounge in person and order it.
Perks of being Primarch Fedorian's youngest daughter she supposed. She had a feeling there was a story behind her presence on the Citadel.
Not her place to ask though. She'd done enough for her by giving her this job.
Her somewhat absent-minded musing whilst she reordered the seats the Blue Sun mercs had been sitting in was interrupted by the door opening. Ah, Nilia.
She was striking. Even she could see it, being a human after all. Likely part of the popularity of this place. Female turians were extremely rare outside of turian space after all.
She was all statuesque angles, light brown plates and white markings.
"Jane. You're still here?"
She sounded honestly surprised but still as forthright as ever.
Typical Nilia.
"Yeah, you never came back so I thought I'd hold the fort till you came back."
Nilia walked towards her with a slightly concerned expression but she was distracted. That was odd, she usually had a laser-like focus on whatever had her attention. She'd ask about C-Sec next shift. When she didn't feel so tired.
"Right. You can go now. I'll reimburse you for your time. Get some sleep, you look terrible."
Well. Sorry. Not all of us have the luxury of having a face of plates. Jane threw out a lazy salute.
"Yes. Ma'am."
She had a class in less than an hour and she was exhausted. She'd stop at a café near the Hospital. A cup of tea would help. Preferably green. She was feeling a little stressed out. Akuze and Saren weren't particularly healthy topics for her to think about.
And she'd been looking forward to a cup of Earl Grey after work...
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 7
anonymous
January 21 2015, 17:32:20 UTC
Fantasy: the faculty or activity of imagining impossible or improbable things.
Saren had left Nihlus with a broken mandible as he'd promised himself. It was only fair with the filth he was spewing during their spar. Unfortunately he retained his ability to speak. He should have knocked out some teeth for good measure.
Next time.
Thank the Spirits the room they had used was soundproofed and had no audience. It wouldn't be proper for him to be seen being insulted to the point of embarrassment.
No.
Wrong word.
Incited into righteous fury, yes much better, by a fool. He might have to get those jaw implants added, his intimidation factor clearly wasn't up to his lofty standards if a human and Nihlus for all their denseness couldn't properly summon their survival instincts.
He wasn't the most decorated Spectre alive for no reason. He'd have to put serious consideration into having those jaw implants fitted. They'd serve him well in close quarters combat as well.
His mind couldn't help drifting back to what Nihlus had been saying during their spar. Some of the things he had said were so ridiculous he didn't know where he was finding the energy to both think of them and keep up with him.
"They are not unlike asari, you know? Softer in the places that matter too. Like silk."
"She's rather beautiful for a human, you know? The red in her hair is quite exotic, she's likely popular with the asari too as well as with humans. If you weren't so in to her I might make a move. The kava would be a welcome bonus."
"Aim for my throat again and I'll tell Jane that you're irrevocably in love with her."
All of this was said with the most subtle smirk. It made him furious. It wasn't much of a surprise that he'd cracked Nihlus's mandible shortly after that. The satisfaction was fleeting at best.
Thinking objectively, he did have a bit of an unhealthy interest in that human. After all, thinking of humans in any context other than their death wasn't particularly healthy in his opinion.
Calling it attraction or any similar word was just severe delusion. Nihlus was probably just being Nihlus, riling a reaction out of him.
He was very good at that he'd admit. Nihlus knew him too well.
Regardless of what Nihlus thought, harbouring any form of thought about a human, female or not, was not something Saren was interested in keeping.
It was only logical that when he went to get kava the following evening, he never did get his extra kava after all) before he left for his
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 7 cont
anonymous
January 21 2015, 17:38:59 UTC
Accidently clicked post comment (oops!)
___________________
It was only logical that when he went to get kava the following evening he'd examine the human to see what was so interesting about her. From a purely objective stance of course, nothing to do with her fundamental similarity to an asari.
Damn Nihlus for planting that idea in his mind.
He never did get his extra kava after all, he was perfectly justified returning to the Lounge the following evening.
He had yet to receive an assignment from the Council. Councillor Quentius probably foolishly thinking he required some form of reprieve after working more or less non-stop for the last year.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 8
anonymous
January 21 2015, 21:55:44 UTC
Embarrass: cause (someone) to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.
Jane wanted to curl up and die at this point. Her lecturer for Advanced Electromagnetism in Organic Bodies, a young salarian by the name of Orus Inoste, had decided it was a good idea to go out of his way to embarrass her in front of her classmates.
"Ms Shepard. You seem exhausted. Incredibly inefficient for learning. Humans have most variable memory retention rates of Citadel species. Worsened by lack of alertness. Rest and good hydration, key to success in all endeavours for humans, in fact for all sapient beings. Especially hanar. Die otherwise."
He paused at that point likely to take a breath. She didn't know. She was staring at the wall hoping that through sheer force of will she'd somehow teleport to the other side of it.
"Alcohol?"
Nope. He'd stopped to analyse her scent and pheromones. Salarians...
"Your clothing has likely been in the presence of it for more than 12 Citadel hours. You do not seem to be hungover. Bar work? Ah, large amount of both alcohol vapour and blended rovale nuts on fingertips. Bartending, yes? Good to see students working hard outside of learning hours. Carry on."
And he walked off like he didn't just embarrass her in front of everyone.
Ah well. She was too tired to give a fuck. Sleep was more important.
Better check her omnitool though. See if John hadn't sent her a message.
Nope. He'd better be ready for an interrogation next time she saw him. It had been a while.
Ah, a message. From Nilia. Sent 15 minutes ago.
Jane.
I would really appreciate it if you would come to the Lounge as soon as you can. Executor Pallin is here and it seems my kava isn't good enough for his tastes by the slight disappointment that seems to undertone everything he says. Such a miserable man.
Anyway, if you're not up to it, you are more than welcome to come in and just sleep until your shift. I'll move one of the recliners next to the counter and kick out anyone who even dares to disturb you. Trela will likely have some cosmetics on her (she always does), you can use those to freshen up if you need to.
You're a real asset, but then again, of course you know that.
Nilia
Options. Walk for 30 minutes to your apartment in the Zakera Ward or walk for 10 minutes and sleep in an extremely comfortable chair under the protection of an extremely authoritative turian.
Was there any doubt as to what she'd choose?
Hell no.
She plodded on resolutely out of the lecture theatre and from there out into the Huerta Memorial Hospital Learning Area and from there to the Presidium. Bright lights hurt. Everything hurt in fact. The asari receptionist had looked like a blurry blue rectangle.
She hadn't slept in more than 2 days. She had to meet the Alliance sanctioned therapist for a yearly assessment prior to her last shift.
A waste of time if anything, the therapist. The only reason she had the therapist to begin with was because of her mother's insistence. It had been a good idea to begin with. But as far as the Alliance was concerned, she was alive and mentally sound, until she'd made it clear she was leaving and they couldn't stop her, then the therapist thought she was batshit crazy.
In her last meeting, they'd changed their tune back to her being the picture of mental health and she'd received several messages from various Alliance officials encouraging her to re-enlist. Their IDs had been added to her rather elaborate spam filter.
She was done with the Alliance.
Ah. Nilia's is only about 50 metres away. You can do it Jane. Just a little further. Keep on going Jane. The faster you get there, the faster you can make yourself a cup of Earl Grey and go to sleep.
The door opened automatically and she'd never been more thankful for the existence of automatic doors. If she could go back in time and kiss whomever made that innovation she'd do so.
With lots of tongue and maybe a little grinding thrown in. She was that thankful.
She just about fell through the door and collided with an extremely tall silver turian who had been standing in the threshold.
Saren Arterius. Judging by what little she could read from his expression he was not pleased. At all.
Well. Look on the bright side Jane, your day can't get any worse from here on.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) Interlude 1
anonymous
January 22 2015, 06:50:08 UTC
Paragon: a person or thing viewed as a model of excellence.
John Shepard. Vanguard. Humanity's finest. Current Spectre-in-training. The light at the end of the tunnel.
Whoever had decided to call him that was a bit too poetic for his tastes. Though he really was flattered deep down.
He'd been doing missions on and off with Nihlus for the last year and a half and he still couldn't tell when Nihlus was being sarcastic or not at times. The turian was extremely impassive and any lowering of what he could only assume to be an elaborate mask was short-lived at best. He'd usually lighten up after reading his omni-tool messages. Possible lover or close friend likely. But then he could just be suffering from "chronic gigantic phallic object in backside" syndrome like all turians, as William would put it. He was his stepfather and all but the man had little to no filter. He called stab wounds to the abdomen a "New York Special with extra agony" for Christ's sake...
Though regardless he supposed he could understand the need to snark when the Council had delayed the Normandy project for a year for fine-tuning. Even coming from a turian.
He was about to send a message to Jane when Nihlus had came into the room on Nihlus's ship, The Velcus. She generally got worried if she didn't hear from him. It'd been nearly three months since they'd last spoke. He'd have to remember to send a message afterwards.
"Shepard. We need to speak, I have word from the Council regarding the status of the Normandy."
He nodded and sat up and gave Nihlus his attention. He seemed worried. That was never good for the both of them.
"You are aware that the Normandy is a turian-human project to better foster good will in our people to each other," there were traces of amusement in his voice there, he was pretty sure he could hear it, but then it was gone, "Well, the Council have decided otherwise, this will be a multiracial endeavour. The Normandy has gone through a great amount of expansion to facilitate this and a bigger stealth drive has been added. It is now a stealth frigate... Never thought I'd live to see one of those not being used by the Geth. The crew will mainly be human and turian but the asari and salarians will be sending a variety of specialists to aid with missions. Also, you will be acting as Commanding Officer. I will merely supervise and aid you where needed."
Shock. Disbelief. This sounded like dirty politics to him.
Surely, the turians, let alone the Council, wouldn't allow a human officer command of such a hi-tech vessel.
"You can not be serious... the Council are willing to entrust such an investment to humanity?
Nihlus if anything looked more serious than usual. This was generally a prefacer to potentially extremely bad news. Like a geth warship in orbit of a planet they were needed at.
Really really really bad.
"Yes. However, do not see this as an act of goodwill."
He hadn't been. All he could think of was how enormous the catch must be.
"Humanity has integrated well with the Citadel, but with the rest of the galaxy the results have been less positive. Relations between our two species in particular remain volatile. It would be good to improve them. Regardless of that, this is really a way for the Council to assess humanity through examination of their best. You. To the wider galaxy following the Skyllian Blitz, you ARE humanity. You are probably the most recognizable human in both Citadel space and outside of it to other species."
He started pacing and his mandibles pulled further in to his face. Looked like a really uncomfortable way to hold them. Stress?
Looks like he was in this deep as well.
"It would be in your best interests to treat anyone who is invited aboard by the salarians and asari as a spy as we have little to no control over whom they are inviting. However, you will be given a vast number of dossiers for the human and turian crew that have been selected by a joint committee of human and turian intelligence. I will be willing to provide my assistance if you require it."
".. We're a little fucked aren't we?"
William had rubbed off him on him stronger than he'd thought. Who'd have thought?
To his surprise, Nihlus laughed. Maybe they would get along okay.
Silver turian. High-grade armour. Optical cybernetics. 2 assault rifles attached to his back and 2 pistols on his hip. Wait. Are those fins on his face?.. Handles?
All Jane could think to herself was no sudden movements.
At least he's not a thresher maw she mused to herself.
She smiled brightly.
"How can I help you sir?"
His mandibles flared with what she could only assume to be contempt. At her suspected competence or maybe at the fact she was human? Well if it was her competence he should prepare to be surprised. That C-Sec turian, Garrus, had started making horrible puns about heat sinks in an attempt to flirt with her after tasting her kava. It was a mix between flattering and "oh-my-god-please-stop-talking-you're-embarrassing-yourself-thanks". Nilia, her turian boss, had never let her live it down and Nilia later told her that his sub-vocals had been full of suppressed laughter.
Her kava was amazing. Thank you.
"Large kava. 1 sugar."
She couldn't help but find the idea of a scary ass turian like him taking his kava with sugar adorable.
Jane would have at least smirked if she didn't have the feeling the turian was looking for the slightest sign of ineptitude so he could complain to her manager.
She should really stop calling him the turian. Maybe Handlebars would be better? Even thinking of him as that made her uneasy or maybe it was the fact he was staring at her like he expected her to disintegrate on the spot. Maybe Turian Sir would be better.
"Anything else tuh-... sir?"
That was a mistake.
"Human. Maybe I can assist you here. This is the point where you begin to make my kava. Your kind seems to enjoy finding new ways every time I meet one of you to bring my opinion of you lower and lower."
She couldn't help but blush but as she turned around to make his kava she couldn't stop the small stab of vindictive pleasure that came with turning her back on him without responding. Cultural nuances could be awesome.
Judging by the light grunting and what sounded like "Nihlus" being mumbled under his breath, he'd noticed the slight and was not pleased.
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The Citadel was a welcome diversion.
His last mission in the Traverse had been a nightmare. Say what you want about the elcor, but their capabilities in ground based warfare were excellent and more importantly unprecedented. He could still recall the endless shouts of "with unabated fury" and "with murderous rage" prefacing their commands in battle. Their skill at bunkering down and utilizing chokepoints was almost savant-like. The Blue Suns had started recruiting them en masse for Spirits knows what reason. The Council would be interested in that tidbit.
He'd debriefed only an hour ago and immediately after he'd received a ping on his omni-tool from Nihlus who was tracking his ship ID again, he'd have to correct that behaviour and change his ID for the fifth time. Damn Nihlus. He was asking to meet at a coffee lounge on the Presidium.
Nihlus despite his tendency for being cosmopolitan had great taste.
As much as it pained him to admit it.
The place, Nilia's (a proper turian name, Nihlus seemed to be moving up in the world) Lounge, catered to all races but specialized in dextro beverages. It'd been decades since he'd had a decent cup of kava. Asari generally came the closest of non-turians to making a good cup, but it did not compare to the luxuries of a cup made in an inner turian colony. Rich, nutty, mildly sweet with a pleasant spreading warmth once drunk.
A cup of kava now would be nice.
The place was nicely decorated in the style of a turian simulation bar. The sims were currently occupied by a group of turian cadets, likely their first time on the Citadel. Humans littered around the place. There was a group of human males on one of the couches. He listened, not out of interest of course, he couldn't help his hearing. They were talking about... a firecracker? Humans. Nonsensical and destructive.
He saw the barista. The only barista currently at the bar.
A human female. Wasn't this place owned by a turian? If her name is Nilia... are the humans hoping to get a place on the Council by stealing our names too?
Was it on fire? Its fur (yes fur, not hair) was... red? Most of the humans' fur he saw came in various shades of brown and black (it was just another piece of evidence in his mind that explained their special occupation with their own faeces). Was it a genetic defect? And what were those dots on its face?
He liked to think that he approached their exchange as a superior might do when faced with a lesser. The fact that that sounded vaguely like a Batarian rationalising their caste system didn't phase him. He was an agent of the Council after all.
When she turned her back on him it took a large amount of effort to not do anything rash. Turning your back was a way that commanding officers would dismiss their subordinates. Her insinuation of him being a subordinate boiled his blood.
Human. Do you not know who I am? I've killed your kind for less.
"Nihlus... where the hell are you.."
He could smell the kava. It... smelled good? The human was probably reheating it. Wait. There's a dispenser full of fresh rovale nuts and... she had used an authentic tisane blend?
Saren. You could teach a pyjak to follow instructions if you beat the instructions into it enough times. The human knowing how to make REAL kava is no sign of real competence. But it was admittedly abnormal.
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It was ready.
He couldn't help the slight relaxation in his features, the aromas wafting around his nasal plates were glorious.
The barista quirked her mouth again. A smile? It looked more like a sly human look of satisfaction to him. Expressing your victory, pyjak?
He didn't even know her name and he hated her but then not knowing a human's name had never stopped him.
She passed the large cup to him.
"Here you are sir. Enjoy!"
She quirked her mouth again and took his credit chit which he'd placed on the counter. She was watching him intently.
He'd originally been planning on drinking the cup in one of the recliners in the alcoves near the sims to wait for Nihlus but he'd never been one to walk away from a challenge. He wasn't going to start now.
Kava is meant to be sipped due to its richness but if it turned out the aroma was not indicative of its quality he was fully prepared to gulp it. Failing that, there was a disposal unit near the entrance. It could always be used.
He took a sip.
SPIRITS!
What is this?!
It's like... what... ?!!
He could recall the cup he'd had at Palaven all those years ago. It didn't even come anywhere near to this heavenly concoction. It was like heaven in his mouth. And his throat. And his stomach. The warmth spreading through him. Impeccable.
Then he remembered who had made it.
A human made this??!!
He couldn't help slowly sitting down at the counter. He didn't even dare to look the barista in the eye. It was merely out of distaste of seeing her human features he rationalised to himself. Not any expression of his disbelief and he didn't want to see her typical human smugness. Though... he thought he could accept her victory if she made him another kava. Two more maybe. Three?
No. Her victory wouldn't be that complete. Two more, max... with one to go.
It was so... perfect... no wonder it was so expensive. He almost sighed but managed to stifle it and turn it into a groan.
Fuck. That wasn't any better.
"Are you alright sir?" He looked up into her green eyed, red-fringed face with those bizarre small brown dots littering her nose. The smile was gone and her concern seemed to be genuine.
"I am fine... the kava.. it is... acceptable."
"Oh...?"
The smile was back and she looked positively smug at that. It wasn't particularly hard to hate her in that moment but then he remembered the kava she had made for him.
He'd have to find out her name.
Purely for research reasons of course. She's likely dangerous to have this level of competence in making turian beverages. She'd probably assassinated several good turians learning how to make it. That made sense.
He took another sip.
"Executor Pallin comes here regularly and he says my kava is the best he's had outside of the turian system. You would deem that as only acceptable?"
Her smile was wickedly sharp but his wit was sharper.
Naturally.
"I would say that it is less a matter of your skill at making kava and more a highlight of the wide gap between turian made kava and the kava that others attempt to make. This is passable."
The lie was delicious. Or maybe it was the kava.
Then the devil appeared, his knowledge of that entity only arose from humanity's ubiquitous presence on the Citadel. Not out of any religious research into humans for better understanding of their psyches (it hadn't worked in the slightest). No.
He approached clad in turian civvies and a pistol at his hip and decided to be a little shit and help the human achieve a flawless victory. One of these days he'd end up killing his mentee. Regardless of his renown and worth to the Council. The devil's mandibles quirked in an imitation of the human's smile. His voice dripped with humour, the human could probably pick it up.
"Now, Saren. Do not lie. I can hear your subvocals rumbling with pleasure. This is the best kava you've had in your life."
Damn Nihlus.
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I'd be more if I could get past their first meeting that is... Livejournal is really weird for me. Takes hours for comments to show up on the updated pages.
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Jane had known he was lying. She'd served enough turians to recognise the vibrations she could feel through the counter as being something akin to satisfaction. But pleasure?
She felt a little dirty.
She recognised the newcomer, and the name of her customer, but thinking about the possible consequences of her disrespect made her feel queasy. So she focussed on the newcomer.
The newcomer came irregularly but generally ordered at least 3 cups of kava. He'd tried to have some delivered to his ship in bulk but Nilia had drew the line. She'd said if he wanted some more he could come here like everyone else and buy it.
He seemed in appearance to be Saren's opposite. Red where he was silver, a long largely symmetrical fringe to Saren's long mostly asymmetrical one and bulky to Saren's almost unnatural leanness. Judging by his opening salvo, possibly in personality too.
She already liked him based on that opening comment. It was no small surprise that she found herself deep in conversation with him after Saren had refused to acknowledge his greetings. A bit of an old bastard he was as her dad would say.
Nihlus sipped his kava and hummed quietly to himself. Saren shot him another one of his disparaging glares. It was rather nice to have a fellow target.
"Nilia isn't here right?"
She could already feel like this was going somewhere silly but she'd humour him. He'd probably buy more kava that way. Her studies at Huerta Memorial didn't pay for themselves, no matter how much the Alliance had paid her upon her retirement following Akuze and how generously Nilia paid her.
"No. She's not. She's usually at C-Sec at these hours. Likely arguing with Executor Pallin about improving patrol patterns on the Presidium. She's getting tired of C-Sec treating the Lounge like a guesthouse."
He nodded in acknowledgement and gazed for a second at Saren, who still had a face of stone and the personality to match with all the attention he gave back. Likely subvocalisations she can't hear.
Lovely.
He turned back to her with a slight smile.
"I'm not surprised. Your kava is legendary amongst the turian population on the Citadel. I imagine you're aware that the C-Sec officers call you 'The Firecracker' after the way you turned down Officer Harkin's advances."
He'd included air quotes when naming the title. The image was only comical and she couldn't help laughing. His mandibles twitched slightly. Any humour from the situation ended when Saren started tapping the counter. Rather menacingly.
We'd come so far, why stop now?
"I'm well aware and I'd like to think that Harkin and I have a purely business focussed relationship. One where I take his money of course and he gets his sissy drinks in exchange. What 'real man' drinks appletinis? But what is your point?"
It only felt right to respond with air quotes. He laughed before
leaning forward solicitously and mocking a secretive look at Saren.
He was still tapping and he was starting to mark the metal. Were his talons blades?
"My point is, no-one seems to know your name. Would you be up to putting a turian out of their misery?"
He was everything a turian was not. Why would Saren spend his time with Nihlus? It made no sense.
"Well, I'm sure your friend would put me out of my misery if I were to do such a thing. The name's Jane. Jane Shepard."
They both froze and looked at her intensely. Surprisingly, Saren was the one who responded after fixing her with his severe glare.
"Any relation to Commander Shepard?... Human."
He spat the word human like a curse. She'd have laughed if she didn't feel like her future health didn't depend on this answer.
"Yeah, he's my brother. Adopted."
Nihlus likely knew this was going somewhere bad very quickly for he jumped out of his seat and threw a small credit chit on the counter.
"Thank you for the kava, it was nice to meet you Jane. Saren, let's go to C-Sec, I received a message about new requisitions."
They left with little fanfare though the turians at the sims quieted upon their approach. She knew Saren was a Spectre, who didn't? It was likely Nihlus was one too.
This felt like the start of something terrible.
And that was how Jane Shepard met Saren Arterius.
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The Presidium was fairly quiet. Apart from a few gardeners scattered around and some C-Sec officers that were on patrol, the surrounding areas around Nilia's Lounge were quiet. It was deep into the night cycle.
Saren wasn't as angry as he thought he'd be. More annoyed really that Nihlus was playing games. It was a rather human thing for him to be doing. He didn't like it.
Nihlus was being unnaturally quiet on their walk to C-Sec. Textbook odd behaviour from Nihlus.
"You were aware all along who she was. Weren't you?"
Nihlus shrugged minutely and looked at him with mild curiosity.
"Yes. I know more about Commander Shepard than most. His sister from what I have learnt, has an interesting history. Daughter of Admiral Hannah Shepard of the SSV Kilimanjaro and Dr William Shepard, a big name in human trauma surgery. Sole survivor of a black ops operation in Akuze, N6 designation, an engineer with extensive medic training. Honourably discharged and currently studying applications of cybernetics in reconstructive surgery at Huerta Memorial. Her and her adopted brother have had a healthy relationship ever since his rescue on Mindoir by the platoon under Admiral Shepard following the Batarian attack. They correspond regularly."
Despite having been in a mild kava daze for the last couple of hours, Saren had been able to identify the following about Jane Shepard: She was very tall for a human woman, likely at least 5"10. Rather muscular for a civilian and she moved very quietly and with great control. At the time he'd just guessed ex-military or a merc. He didn't expect this level, of well... competence from a human barista? Who would?
It made him feel slightly better though, the human responsible for the best kava in his life wasn't a typical example of her race. Slightly better.
Baby steps, Saren.
Nihlus laughed. Likely at the thoughts that he could only assume were running through Saren's mind. Sometimes he thought that training Nihlus was a mistake. He'd never liked the idea of being considered... predictable. More reasons to destroy Nihlus on a sparring mat in C-Sec he supposed. Nihlus was only adding to the stress he was feeling after all.
He never did get that extra kava. Fucking Nihlus and his games.
It was fucking on.
"In another galaxy, I can see myself training her to be a Spectre rather than her brother if she had continued in the military. I can see that look on your face Saren. He is perfectly worthy of receiving Spectre status. Think what you will of humans but his exploits in the Skyllian Blitz were incredible."
"Your pet human is a topic that will likely take several hours to explore, no, what I am more interested in is why you were so interested in her telling me her name."
Nihlus's voice was full of amusement and hidden secrets. He hated Nihlus. Maybe it was time to go back to his previous social circle. Purely business partners and acquaintances. Friends like Nihlus were too much work.
Councillor Quentius gave Nihlus far too much leeway, it was a sad day when Sparatus was passed over for being too much of a traditionalist. Which nowadays in turian politics was synonymous for human hater.
Tevos played politics well. Though it was likely a wise decision to more easily facilitate the integration of humans into the fold. They had their uses.
Mostly cannon fodder.
"Really? I was under the impression she was speaking solely to me. I mean it was pretty obvious that she couldn't stand you."
Saren ignored the way his own mandibles clenched and the stab of unease that ran through his stomach. He'd drunk his kava too fast obviously. It couldn't POSSIBLY be anything else.
He didn't think of making any attempt to suppress his subvocals. The unease he'd voiced couldn't possibly mean what Nihlus thought it did. He refused to think about that.
Nihlus leaned forward with glee in his eyes and a smirk lifting his face.
Maybe he'd break his mandibles when they sparred. Remove that ability. It would be for the best they weren't needed for his missions. Spectres worked alone after all. Speech was secondary to the mission.
"Oh.. Saren... are you smitten with the human? Oh isn't this-"
"SPAR! NOW!"
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Jane had just finished kicking out the last turian Blue Suns mercenary. They were like an infestation. Everywhere. They had ended up leaving together after asking for her specific hours. But not before leaving with one final message from the leader of their squad.
"Nilia's kava is good and all, but yours human... May the Spirits forgive me for saying this but it is the best I've ever had. Never thought a human would be the best at anything other than resembling pyjaks..."
He was rather drunk.
She'd remember him though, Mr Palaven Distilled with a corae filter. I'll remember you and your drink.
Next time.
It was closing time. The Lounge usually closed for about 2 and a half hours for cleaning and resupplying. It would open again at the lunch hour and Trela and Nilia would handle the day shift.
Her hours were pretty odd for a student, the Earth equivalent of a graveyard shift, but then all her classes were from the early day cycle to the mid day cycle. Plenty of time for sleep and any required reading and placements before her shifts after her classes. It was a shame Nilia wasn't here, she usually let her nap for a little and she'd watch the bar in her place for a couple of hours. She never did come back from C-Sec. Odd. She was usually here before closing time.
Jane finished wiping down the counter and looked outside the windows. The artificial lighting was starting to turn on. The Presidium looked rather magnificent at night, it was almost a shame to see the lights turn on. She gazed at the lakes in appreciation. The reflection of the light on the lakes reminded her a little of silver.
Silver. Saren.
She couldn't help bursting into raucous laughter. It had been a long trying shift with Saren and Nihlus having been there for at least an hour.
Saren. Something in her gut told her he would be back. And soon. Her instincts were good, it was why she survived Akuze.
They never did find Major Toombs' body...
Splintered bone, dissolving flesh...
Let's not think about that.
Let's think of your primary problem Jane. Saren. Should she play it cool if he ever comes again? Ask for forgiveness?
She didn't know him that well. However, what she did know was that Nilia did not bow to anyone's wishes but her own. If he wanted kava, he'd have to come to the Lounge in person and order it.
Perks of being Primarch Fedorian's youngest daughter she supposed. She had a feeling there was a story behind her presence on the Citadel.
Not her place to ask though. She'd done enough for her by giving her this job.
Her somewhat absent-minded musing whilst she reordered the seats the Blue Sun mercs had been sitting in was interrupted by the door opening. Ah, Nilia.
She was striking. Even she could see it, being a human after all. Likely part of the popularity of this place. Female turians were extremely rare outside of turian space after all.
She was all statuesque angles, light brown plates and white markings.
"Jane. You're still here?"
She sounded honestly surprised but still as forthright as ever.
Typical Nilia.
"Yeah, you never came back so I thought I'd hold the fort till you came back."
Nilia walked towards her with a slightly concerned expression but she was distracted. That was odd, she usually had a laser-like focus on whatever had her attention. She'd ask about C-Sec next shift. When she didn't feel so tired.
"Right. You can go now. I'll reimburse you for your time. Get some sleep, you look terrible."
Well. Sorry. Not all of us have the luxury of having a face of plates. Jane threw out a lazy salute.
"Yes. Ma'am."
She had a class in less than an hour and she was exhausted. She'd stop at a café near the Hospital. A cup of tea would help. Preferably green. She was feeling a little stressed out. Akuze and Saren weren't particularly healthy topics for her to think about.
And she'd been looking forward to a cup of Earl Grey after work...
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Updates will be slower on Thursdays and Fridays. I'm busy all day. University.
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Saren had left Nihlus with a broken mandible as he'd promised himself. It was only fair with the filth he was spewing during their spar. Unfortunately he retained his ability to speak. He should have knocked out some teeth for good measure.
Next time.
Thank the Spirits the room they had used was soundproofed and had no audience. It wouldn't be proper for him to be seen being insulted to the point of embarrassment.
No.
Wrong word.
Incited into righteous fury, yes much better, by a fool. He might have to get those jaw implants added, his intimidation factor clearly wasn't up to his lofty standards if a human and Nihlus for all their denseness couldn't properly summon their survival instincts.
He wasn't the most decorated Spectre alive for no reason. He'd have to put serious consideration into having those jaw implants fitted. They'd serve him well in close quarters combat as well.
His mind couldn't help drifting back to what Nihlus had been saying during their spar. Some of the things he had said were so ridiculous he didn't know where he was finding the energy to both think of them and keep up with him.
"They are not unlike asari, you know? Softer in the places that matter too. Like silk."
"She's rather beautiful for a human, you know? The red in her hair is quite exotic, she's likely popular with the asari too as well as with humans. If you weren't so in to her I might make a move. The kava would be a welcome bonus."
"Aim for my throat again and I'll tell Jane that you're irrevocably in love with her."
All of this was said with the most subtle smirk. It made him furious. It wasn't much of a surprise that he'd cracked Nihlus's mandible shortly after that. The satisfaction was fleeting at best.
Thinking objectively, he did have a bit of an unhealthy interest in that human. After all, thinking of humans in any context other than their death wasn't particularly healthy in his opinion.
Calling it attraction or any similar word was just severe delusion. Nihlus was probably just being Nihlus, riling a reaction out of him.
He was very good at that he'd admit. Nihlus knew him too well.
Regardless of what Nihlus thought, harbouring any form of thought about a human, female or not, was not something Saren was interested in keeping.
It was only logical that when he went to get kava the following evening, he never did get his extra kava after all) before he left for his
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It was only logical that when he went to get kava the following evening he'd examine the human to see what was so interesting about her. From a purely objective stance of course, nothing to do with her fundamental similarity to an asari.
Damn Nihlus for planting that idea in his mind.
He never did get his extra kava after all, he was perfectly justified returning to the Lounge the following evening.
He had yet to receive an assignment from the Council. Councillor Quentius probably foolishly thinking he required some form of reprieve after working more or less non-stop for the last year.
He required no rest.
... only kava.
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Jane wanted to curl up and die at this point. Her lecturer for Advanced Electromagnetism in Organic Bodies, a young salarian by the name of Orus Inoste, had decided it was a good idea to go out of his way to embarrass her in front of her classmates.
"Ms Shepard. You seem exhausted. Incredibly inefficient for learning. Humans have most variable memory retention rates of Citadel species. Worsened by lack of alertness. Rest and good hydration, key to success in all endeavours for humans, in fact for all sapient beings. Especially hanar. Die otherwise."
He paused at that point likely to take a breath. She didn't know. She was staring at the wall hoping that through sheer force of will she'd somehow teleport to the other side of it.
"Alcohol?"
Nope. He'd stopped to analyse her scent and pheromones. Salarians...
"Your clothing has likely been in the presence of it for more than 12 Citadel hours. You do not seem to be hungover. Bar work? Ah, large amount of both alcohol vapour and blended rovale nuts on fingertips. Bartending, yes? Good to see students working hard outside of learning hours. Carry on."
And he walked off like he didn't just embarrass her in front of everyone.
Ah well. She was too tired to give a fuck. Sleep was more important.
Better check her omnitool though. See if John hadn't sent her a message.
Nope. He'd better be ready for an interrogation next time she saw him. It had been a while.
Ah, a message. From Nilia. Sent 15 minutes ago.
Jane.
I would really appreciate it if you would come to the Lounge as soon as you can. Executor Pallin is here and it seems my kava isn't good enough for his tastes by the slight disappointment that seems to undertone everything he says. Such a miserable man.
Anyway, if you're not up to it, you are more than welcome to come in and just sleep until your shift. I'll move one of the recliners next to the counter and kick out anyone who even dares to disturb you. Trela will likely have some cosmetics on her (she always does), you can use those to freshen up if you need to.
You're a real asset, but then again, of course you know that.
Nilia
Options. Walk for 30 minutes to your apartment in the Zakera Ward or walk for 10 minutes and sleep in an extremely comfortable chair under the protection of an extremely authoritative turian.
Was there any doubt as to what she'd choose?
Hell no.
She plodded on resolutely out of the lecture theatre and from there out into the Huerta Memorial Hospital Learning Area and from there to the Presidium. Bright lights hurt. Everything hurt in fact. The asari receptionist had looked like a blurry blue rectangle.
She hadn't slept in more than 2 days. She had to meet the Alliance sanctioned therapist for a yearly assessment prior to her last shift.
A waste of time if anything, the therapist. The only reason she had the therapist to begin with was because of her mother's insistence. It had been a good idea to begin with. But as far as the Alliance was concerned, she was alive and mentally sound, until she'd made it clear she was leaving and they couldn't stop her, then the therapist thought she was batshit crazy.
In her last meeting, they'd changed their tune back to her being the picture of mental health and she'd received several messages from various Alliance officials encouraging her to re-enlist. Their IDs had been added to her rather elaborate spam filter.
She was done with the Alliance.
Ah. Nilia's is only about 50 metres away. You can do it Jane. Just a little further. Keep on going Jane. The faster you get there, the faster you can make yourself a cup of Earl Grey and go to sleep.
The door opened automatically and she'd never been more thankful for the existence of automatic doors. If she could go back in time and kiss whomever made that innovation she'd do so.
With lots of tongue and maybe a little grinding thrown in. She was that thankful.
She just about fell through the door and collided with an extremely tall silver turian who had been standing in the threshold.
Saren Arterius. Judging by what little she could read from his expression he was not pleased. At all.
Well. Look on the bright side Jane, your day can't get any worse from here on.
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John Shepard. Vanguard. Humanity's finest. Current Spectre-in-training. The light at the end of the tunnel.
Whoever had decided to call him that was a bit too poetic for his tastes. Though he really was flattered deep down.
He'd been doing missions on and off with Nihlus for the last year and a half and he still couldn't tell when Nihlus was being sarcastic or not at times. The turian was extremely impassive and any lowering of what he could only assume to be an elaborate mask was short-lived at best. He'd usually lighten up after reading his omni-tool messages. Possible lover or close friend likely. But then he could just be suffering from "chronic gigantic phallic object in backside" syndrome like all turians, as William would put it. He was his stepfather and all but the man had little to no filter. He called stab wounds to the abdomen a "New York Special with extra agony" for Christ's sake...
Though regardless he supposed he could understand the need to snark when the Council had delayed the Normandy project for a year for fine-tuning. Even coming from a turian.
He was about to send a message to Jane when Nihlus had came into the room on Nihlus's ship, The Velcus. She generally got worried if she didn't hear from him. It'd been nearly three months since they'd last spoke. He'd have to remember to send a message afterwards.
"Shepard. We need to speak, I have word from the Council regarding the status of the Normandy."
He nodded and sat up and gave Nihlus his attention. He seemed worried. That was never good for the both of them.
"You are aware that the Normandy is a turian-human project to better foster good will in our people to each other," there were traces of amusement in his voice there, he was pretty sure he could hear it, but then it was gone, "Well, the Council have decided otherwise, this will be a multiracial endeavour. The Normandy has gone through a great amount of expansion to facilitate this and a bigger stealth drive has been added. It is now a stealth frigate... Never thought I'd live to see one of those not being used by the Geth. The crew will mainly be human and turian but the asari and salarians will be sending a variety of specialists to aid with missions. Also, you will be acting as Commanding Officer. I will merely supervise and aid you where needed."
Shock. Disbelief. This sounded like dirty politics to him.
Surely, the turians, let alone the Council, wouldn't allow a human officer command of such a hi-tech vessel.
"You can not be serious... the Council are willing to entrust such an investment to humanity?
Nihlus if anything looked more serious than usual. This was generally a prefacer to potentially extremely bad news. Like a geth warship in orbit of a planet they were needed at.
Really really really bad.
"Yes. However, do not see this as an act of goodwill."
He hadn't been. All he could think of was how enormous the catch must be.
"Humanity has integrated well with the Citadel, but with the rest of the galaxy the results have been less positive. Relations between our two species in particular remain volatile. It would be good to improve them. Regardless of that, this is really a way for the Council to assess humanity through examination of their best. You. To the wider galaxy following the Skyllian Blitz, you ARE humanity. You are probably the most recognizable human in both Citadel space and outside of it to other species."
He started pacing and his mandibles pulled further in to his face. Looked like a really uncomfortable way to hold them. Stress?
Looks like he was in this deep as well.
"It would be in your best interests to treat anyone who is invited aboard by the salarians and asari as a spy as we have little to no control over whom they are inviting. However, you will be given a vast number of dossiers for the human and turian crew that have been selected by a joint committee of human and turian intelligence. I will be willing to provide my assistance if you require it."
".. We're a little fucked aren't we?"
William had rubbed off him on him stronger than he'd thought. Who'd have thought?
To his surprise, Nihlus laughed. Maybe they would get along okay.
"A bit more than a little, Shepard."
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