In-transit Part 4: Pre-Vermine

Alliance-

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After the quick repairs and exchange of personnel, the Normandy was set to depart. Most onboard kept quiet about how shamed they were about being stopped. How defenseless they were against the enemy.

Making it even worse they didn't know who it was and the fact they didn't get killed was the biggest shame to some.

"Well, how are you feeling?" Jane looked at Kaiden who sat up in the medical bed. "Think you can push on?"

"Yeah, my biotics might not work anymore but I am still a marine." Standing up finally, he stretched to get rid of the soreness. The flesh and muscles were still tender but not enough to keep him down. "The medical stitches are touch and durable. Thanks a lot, Wrex."

"No problem kid, never have to use the old stuff myself. Regeneration takes most of it." Wrex came out ahead for most of the fight previously. Mostly because the boarding party members he dealt with kept him occupied with hit and run tactics. "Won't take long before you are better than before. Biotics be damned."

"Any leads on what happened?" Ashley finished her checkup as well wanting some answers. She kept it to herself that she felt better than ever. Even an increase in muscle mass and thinking. 'Jane has been up most days feeling in for the crew that is down, that can't be good for what are going to do next. If we get a pinpoint on it.'

"On what happened, nothing." Jane blinked a few times as she felt the very air was different. A sixth sense telling her who was ready and who was not. Kaiden would need a little more time but would do something foolish if he was kept away. "But Liara was able to decipher a location with the help of some Asari Commandos of her mothers."

"Can we trust that?" Tali was not that optimistic about it.

"We can." Liara had kept quiet behind Jane but spoke up at the doubt the other Xenos showed. "I know these Asari, I can vouch for the intel. Saren has done work with them closely. Whether they are Indoctrinated is a different story. We should be careful just in case."

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Before Landing on Vermine-

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Leo was currently looking overwork with Morinth in regards to the Ardat Yakshi. A revelation about residual cells passing during Melds with them beg the odd question on if it was done because of the changes done since his involvement or was it always something that was done know one paid attention to.

"So.. a little fun for us now." Morinth said as she ripped off his boxers. Leo usually slept in the nude but after visiting the others, he was to tired to take off all his clothes and was going to crash. "Time to get a reward." His erection hitting her in the face. "You are always erect lately, always hard when messing with you. Time to fix that."

"This had better not be a joke." Leo sat up a little and grabbed her ass. It felt really good in his hands. Both of their biotics fluctuating already. "Damn you feel good. Damn near perfect ass."

"Mmhm, that is defintely nice." Morinth could feel her blood throbbing in anticipation. "Damn near perfect huh... well see about your decision after I bounce up and down on you!" She pinned him backward, already kicking things up a notch.

*Boop!* The intercom came on.

"Commander, we are reaching Vermine soon." It was Falere. "Briefing will commence once you arrive." She said that and turned it off. She was antsy going to deal with the mission.

Considering the other Shepard would be there, it couldn't be anything good.

"Not a joke." Morinth said as she unzipped her bodysuit. A sports bra underneath to provide extra protection. "We have waited.." she threw it to the side with a flick. "..to damn long." She floated up taking off her panties via biotics. "Time to.."

*Boop!* The intercom came on again.

"Commander, we need you down in the hanger. We received an urgent distress signal for help." This time it was Rila. "Lots of transmissions came in from the Alliance. The highest-ranking from your mother."

Leo understands she wanted to get to the bottom of what her "son" was doping but he had bigger things to deal with. Discussions with the A.I. revealed the older Shepard was getting pressured to bring him in somehow.

Leo had his hand raised, getting ready to blow up the intercom. Morinth stopped it with a hard pull back toward her. An angry look that even for a single moment Leo's attention went away from her.

Leo grabbed his Ardat Yakshi and flipped her onto her back. He was not worried about the mission. They had more than enough capable people.

*Smooch!* He kissed her neck and licked her neck after sucking on it a little. Doing a very simple action of leaving a hickey in place. Morinth gave a small squeal that was so unlike her seeing the mark in the reflection.

"Ah! Dirty human! Bad Boss!" Morinth gave a smack to his butt and played offended. "Marking your property now?"

"Damn straight!" Leo smiled at her. Looking her over intently beneath him. Morinth was not modest while posing despite getting pinned. "Don't be surprised if I don't brand a mark on your skin! Right at the base of your throat!"

A second later she grabbed his hand and moved them down between them. "Think we.." Frowning seeing his Omni-tool light up with an urgent signal.

Maya: You should go now. If not you will miss the mission. Do not drag your ass at this juncture.

"Well guess we are skipping a mission for once." Leo looked down at Morinth who frowned a little at his statement. "Seriously, you want to go down there?" His brow arched slightly disappointed.

"Nope, not at all. However, you lost out a good bit with the Asari Matriarchs I hear. You still havent received any proper compensation from other places either." Her hands roamed all over his body, tracing over where scars used to be with glee. "Your healing is so much higher than before. Means you can fight more..."

She was right but Leo didnt care about that right now. "The others spent a good bit of prep for this one. I only need to deal with Saren while they take care of everything else. Unless you think they are not ready for a task like this?"

"Nope, they got this." Morinth would not dismiss those she trained with any lies. "Don't you want to observe them in action directly?"

"I am where I want to be." Leo tried to kiss her again but she stopped him. Reluctantly but the Ardat Yakshi still stopped him. "What?"

"We should go. A few more days won't hurt. The trip to Andromeda we have all the time in the world." Morinth said sitting up and pushing him back. She grabbed her clothes and got dressed slowly. "It is not like you havent waited before for me."

Part of her didn't like the growing hunger of the regular Asari who joined up. The Ardat Yakshi had a full understanding as long as they were able to meditate with Leo every month or so. But the concerns from the interest he showed the Commandos captured and Benezia raised a caution flag.

"Yeah sick of waiting everytime." Leo said as he already was dressed once she pushed him away. The good thing about the technological advancements, they were easy for him to move about. "Shit gets old real quick, no matter what race you are. Especially with my Cultivation advancing."

*Chish!* The door opened as Jack came in. The look on her face was somewhat urgent.

Maya: Also Jennifer is on her way to speak with you.

"Come on, the mission can help you break things." Morinth smacked her own ass before leaving. "See you in the briefing." She gave a look to Jack before the door closed. "You looked stressed out girl, try to get laid before it is to late."

Jack just blinked before getting ready to throw an insult her way. But the Ardat Yakshi was long gone by then.

"Yeah well not stressing about everything will get me killed even faster." Jack was a seemingly well-adjusted member compared to her original self. "Have time to talk?"

Leo gestured for her to walk and talk. The concerns she had were small ones and nothing that couldn't be handled. Work-wise anyway at this point. The problem was with her mother who defintely was concerned about Jack's safety.

"Jennifer, its a mother's worry, I wouldn't think anything of it besides not to dismiss her concerns. Just assure her you will be careful and that you are a tough one." Leo stopped at the bottom of the staircase. "Your armor could use some work, but you are healthy besides the fatigue."

"Your one to talk. I check the Awake time for you, you have been pushing it way past the recommended limits. Even Cultivators have to sleep Leo." The concern in her voice was genuine. "The attack against the Normandy... I checked and read it over, you did some shit to the entire crew, not just Kaiden and Ashley."

"Just increase in their bodies for the coming storm. Not enough to cause an issue I assure you. Well.. Kaiden won't have Biotics anymore. Which is a blessing since they gave him such headaches." Hand on the door, Leo watched a hand push it shut. Grateful they didn't break the control. "Anything else?"

"Just... don't cross the line with people who don't deserve it." Jack rubbed her arm doing some self consoling in memory. For a brief instance, the former wild biotic looked no different than a child in front of Leo. "I would hate to have to kill you, Leo. Don't end up like those who experimented on me."

"I am beyond what they have done as far as crimes go. Criminals and people who have tried to kill me are fair game. No matter age or circumstance. The Batarians.. other races that I deem ill-fit are also up for grabs. I can only say I will not do what some have done to colonies like Eden Prime. Or a colony and snatch innocent people up."

"If you cross the line, we will stop you." The we she mention was most likely the Paragon members.

"I know, that is why you are open to read those "Case" files. You and people like Samara, Kasumi, Zaed, Oriana, and Sarah are a type of Morality compass after all." Leo opened the door which pushed Jack back a bit. "I read every mission briefing and comment about the work we do Jennifer. Even the past work before people joined to limit mental distress to certain tasks."

Jack nodded and watched the door close behind him. Stuck at her position for some reason, she could only wonder what was the feeling growing in regards to those gathered on the ship.

Laughing and joking with them was bound to happen, but her overall concern was growing in regards to everyone's past. Enjoying the present and looking forward to the future in which they start over in the Andromeda Galaxy.

"Haaa, I am just gonna sleep this off. Damn kids have so many tests to grade anyway." Turning away from the door, she took the long trek back to clear thoughts. A quick tap on her omni-tool to send a message. "Maybe Sarah or Oriana want to have a drink?"

*Blink!* As Jack continued on her way, two people came out of stealth. Kasumi and Gianna gave each other a look before leaving the staircase. Keeping tabs and investigating behavior was something the two were good at.

Kasumi was worried about the overall crew. Gianna was worried about the effect the crew would have on the greater Galaxy.