Mass Effect - A Hero Rises Ch. 26

"She is. I ran into her on Freedom's Progress. She knows I'm back at least. Asked her to join me, gave me the same answer as you."

I noticed the shuttle appear over the horizon so I knew I was going to have to end this soon. "Can I hug you at least?" I asked, feeling a little pathetic about asking for it.

She hugged me straight away, holding me tight as I did the same with her. "Just come home safe whenever you're done."

"Of course. I'll be cutting links as soon as the Collector threat is ended."

"Okay. Until then, I'm going to keep my distance. I'll be for the best."

"I understand." I leaned back and she met my eyes. A slight smile appeared as I caressed her face. I wanted to kiss her, but I wasn't sure how that would go down. "Stay safe, Ash."

"You too, Shepard. Despite that lot, it's good to have you back."

"Good to be back."

I let her go and walked past her towards the shuttle, glancing back to see her turn and watch me walk away. Boarding the shuttle, I stood in the doorway as it started to lift up and raised a hand. She waved back at least, so while it could have gone better, the reunion could have gone a whole lot worse at the same time. Shutting the door, I took a seat next to Garrus, a bottle of water passed down the line so I could quench my thirst. It remained quiet until we were back on the Normandy.

Walking towards the elevator, I ordered Joker take us out of the system in the direction of Omega. I'd make my mind up what we'd do next on the way. Nearly everyone was exhausted as we'd been fighting for hours, so I told everyone to go chill out, we'd meet for dinner then drown our sorrows in the lounge afterwards. The first thing I did back in my cabin was taken a shower, only now realising I was bleeding from more than one wound, watching the blood wash down the drain as I leaned forward, both hands against the wall, feeling the exhaustion sweep over me. Being a vanguard was hard bloody work.

I could have done with a nap but I dried and dressed, heading down to the CIC. Kelly noticed me arrive and knew not to ask any question, I guess my face providing answer. But she disappeared and returned a couple of minutes later with a coffee. I turned and hugged her tight as thanks. "Here if you need me, Shepard," she whispered before she headed back to her own workstation.

I kept my mind occupied until it was time for dinner, heading down to the mess with everyone else. The mood was sombre compared to earlier. We'd already received reports that there were survivors from Horizon but the majority of colonists had been taken. For the moment, our presence hadn't been reported but I knew it would leak eventually. God knows what the outcome of that would be, particularly if my name was inextricably linked to Cerberus.

After dinner, most of us needed a drink or two to wind down. I had a feeling quite a few wanted to get plastered and just forget about the day but everyone behaved themselves. I chatted quietly with nearly everyone, generally avoiding the topic of Horizon, feeling that would be a topic better discussed at a later date when emotions were not so raw. I wasn't sure about anyone else but I sure felt like a failure, and never more helpless when watching the Collector ship disappear into the skies above Horizon.

Even Kelly realised that I just wanted some alone time with my thoughts, kissing my cheek before she disappeared to bed, leaving me alone in the lounge. Heading out of the lounge, I stepped straight into the elevator, my finger hovering over the button for my cabin, instead lowering and pressing the button for engineering. Stepping out into the corridor, I rounded the corner into engineering itself, Gabby and Ken having disappear for the evening, a pair of engineer I didn't know well taking the graveyard shift. I headed downstairs to where Jack called home. She was relaxing on her cot, though was instantly wary when seeing me.

"The fuck do you want?" she asked, nothing but hostility in her tone.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Jack, I was actually coming down here to converse with you."

She immediately stood up, facing me like she wanted to fight. "Why the fuck would I want to talk to you? I did what you wanted today. Doesn't make us friends."

"I was actually going to compliment you on your performance, Jack. You worked well as part of a team."

She laughed at me, no doubt intending to mock me. "I was killing things, Shepard, that's what I enjoyed. Like I give a fuck if I'm part of your team or not."

I stepped forward a couple of paces. "What the fuck is your problem?" I growled, "I get you off Purgatory, I give you the information you want, I get you off the ship so you can go do what you do best, and all I get is hostility."

"What do you want, a thank you card?"

"I want you to stop acting like a childish little cunt and grow up."

She summoned her biotics and pushed me back. It wasn't a full attack but her intention was clear. I cracked my knuckles and glared at her. "You haven't got the balls, Shepard," she grunted in return, her eyes and face nothing but feral.

"I warned you before, Jack."

"What are you going to do, boy scout?"

I strode towards her, waiting for her to attack. For a moment, she looked unsure, before she summoned her biotics again. That's when I smirked and formed a barrier, the smirk turning into a smile as I moved much faster than she expected, basically tackling her as we collapsed to the ground, my hand around her neck. "What the fuck is your problem?" I yelled into her face. She squirmed under my grip, summoning her biotics, so I squeezed even harder. "You dare," I growled, "And I will make sure your last moments in the galaxy are one of pain."

"Pussy," she groaned. So I squeezed until she was definitely struggling to breath. Only when I knew I was about to cross the line did I relent. Both of us were breathing hard and that when I realised something about myself.

I was absolutely rock fucking hard. And she'd definitely it too. I definitely felt a grin form as I used my free hand to trail down her body and underneath her pants, her eyes watching mine as I slid them under the band of her trousers, then her underwear, and when I felt her pussy was soaking wet, my eyes questioned hers. So I slid a couple of fingers inside her and she gasped, immediately moving down to meet them. Holy shit, she's getting off on fighting me? Is that what all this is about?

Removing my fingers and hand out of her pants, I lifted myself up, taking her with me as I heaved her onto a nearby bench, practically ripping her trousers down to reveal her bald pussy which glistened in the low light. Unbuckling my belt, she watch me with mothing but hunger now on her face as I lowered my jeans and underwear, revealing my cock to her. "Fuck yes," she groaned.

Stepping forward, I pulled her towards me, lining up my cock and sliding it inside her in one movement, earning a grunt as I wasn't gently. She helped me take off my shirt as I immediately started to pound her, holding her legs wide as I really thrust into her hard. "Fuck yes, Shepard," she moaned.

I leaned forward, feigning to kiss her before I leaned down to her neck and simply bit her. She yelped at that but her hands immediately went to my back, feeling her dig her nails in on purpose, feeling her heels on my lower back as I really started to thrust into her harder. "Don't stop," she groaned.

I moved my mouth to the other side of her neck, biting there too before I leaned back to look at my work. The look in her eyes was something else entirely. I had a feeling this was exactly the reaction she wanted from me. Maybe she'd wanted it that morning by trying to provoke me. Wrapping a hand around each thigh. I upped my tempo further until she was crying out and I gave her no warning when I was about to cum, just burying myself over and over again until I finally erupted.

She laid back awkwardly on her elbows, her tattooed skin glistening with sweat as I pulled back, watching cum immediately start to leak from her pussy. I lifted my underwear and trousers, making sure they were done up, before I found my shirt and put that on. Jack looked at me quizzically, no doubt wondering about her. I stood before her and just looked at her. "Are you not going to get me off?"

"Don't be such a cunt next time and I'll think about it."

"Fuck you."

I shrugged. "I think you got what you wanted, Jack. You want to get off? Finish the job I started." I stepped forward, looming over her. "You ever think of attacking me again, I will end you in an instant. I get it, you think you're a psycho. You're evil incarnate. Blah, blah, blah. I'm not putting up with that shit. I will meet fire with fire if necessary. I'd give what you do in the coming days and weeks some serious thought. I'm not going to treat you with kid gloves, claim you're just misunderstood and all that bollocks, unless I am given evidence to back up that fact." I did run my hand down from her face all the way down to her pussy, giving her clit a gentle rub, earning a reaction. "You've got a great body though. Tight pussy. You're a good fuck, Jack. Definitely didn't expect that tonight."

And with those words, I turned and headed away, not even bothering to look back. Only when I entered the elevator did I lean back against the side and wonder what the fuck just happened. I headed for another shower, not because I felt dirty, but I had been sweating, and it gave me more time to ponder. I have no doubt she'd react poorly to what happened, though perhaps there was a chance I could fuck her again. No-one recently, meaning back on the old Normandy nor anyone such as Emily or Gianna, had shown any sort of inclination or interest in the sort of sex I'd just had with Jack. It wasn't anything I was interested in... but I did find myself liking it.

If anyone knew what happened, they certainly didn't mention anything the next morning at breakfast. It was still fairly quiet, no doubt thoughts still about the previous day. Kelly sat next to me as Miranda wandered out, offering some more datapads, stating she had received more information regarding recruitment. To my surprise, Jack appeared and you could have heard a pin drop as she grabbed a tray, got herself some food, then sat down at a table by herself, but at the end of the row of people. I received more than one surprised look but I simply shrugged my shoulders. Maybe last night had finally knocked some sense into her.

But that was for later. As I glanced over the datapads, the last one made the fork I was about to put into my mouth stop halfway there. There was definitely a look on my face as Garrus had to ask, "What's wrong, Shepard?"

"Son of a fucking bitch," I stated, yelling the last word loudly, all eyes now on me.

"I take it's not good news?"

"No, it's good news, but I bet the fucking arsehole has known the entire time." I glanced down the tables, looking for my pilot. "Joker, once you're back in your seat, I want you to take us towards a new destination that isn't Omega."

"Can do, Commander. I'll just finish my breakfast then take us there straight away once you've put it in the galaxy map."

"What is it? And where?" Garrus wondered.

"Liara. He knows where Liara is. The same planet as our next recruits. Illium."