Chapter 2: Close and Personal

Title: X Amount of Words, Chapter 2: Close and personal
Game: Mass Effect
Characters/pairing: Female Shepard/ Joker Moreau
Disclaimer: Mild violence, and what should probably be considered sexual harassment from Joker.


"Commander, hostiles at twelve o'clock!"

Stance shifting, hands gripping tighter to the weapon in my grasp, I wasted little time taking aim and immediately pulled the trigger. Sand-sized bullets sprayed from the barrel of my shotgun, ripping through the shields of the giant beast of a warrior storming towards me. I hardly noticed the recoil as I pumped the gun, shearing off more rounds for another shot. With the giant, menacing, frog-like alien charging towards me, bellowing a gut-wrenching battle cry, I didn't have much time or room to save my own ass. I'd have to rely on my comrades. My legs burned as they carried my backwards, trying to keep as much room between myself and the krogan. Were my ears not ringing from the barrage of exploding grenades and gunfire, I'd probably be able to hear the splash of water beneath me as my boots slammed down from each frenzied step.

"Alenko!" I barked, I couldn't look around to determine my Lieutenant's position, but it wasn't necessary. The man was quick to act, not needing me to tell him exactly what he needed to do. As soon as I had yelled his name, a surge of energy shot past me, hitting the krogan and enveloped it's body in a sheath of staggering blue light. Slowly, the krogan's feet lifted off the ground, his arms and legs completely useless to him as the Lieutenant's powers slowly stripped it of it's motor skills. I took the opportunity I had before me, pointing the shotgun's barrel at it's large head, with the pull of the trigger and a loud, deafening shot, the rounds ripped through it's head, the blue energy faded out and the krogan fell to the ground with a loud splash and thud.

I was beginning to think that the horde that was throwing themselves at us was beginning to subside, but as I motioned for my small team to move forward, the large, metallic doors began to open. The sound of gears and metal against concrete echoing throughout the breeding grounds we were advancing. Adrenaline pumped through my body, temporarily numbing me to any thoughts of doubt and panic. I gestured with two fingers, barking orders at my team, "Wrex! Take point! Alenko and I will cover you!" The large krogan grinned in a menacing manner, and I thanked God that he was on my side.

"Good. I like getting up close and personal."

Darting quickly to my right as the door drew to a halt, I took cover, returning my shotgun to the small of my back and pulling the pistol from my side. With a glance down, I noted a sizeable tear in my armor through my left greave, red paint blasted away to reveal the inner workings of the ceramic plate. Relief had washed over me for a second, any deeper and that shot would have gone straight through my thigh…With my back firmly against the tank I took cover behind, there was a brief moment of unnerving silence. Inching towards the edge, I chanced a peak only to quickly draw my head back into cover as a single round rushed past my head, nearly grazing my forehead. Within seconds of that shot, I could hear Wrex letting out a furious warcry, I assumed he began to charge forward, taking the horde of incoming synthetics and krogan head on. It was Alenko's and my cue to cover him. I leaned out from cover, hitting enemies with well placed shots as they tried to circle around our krogan ally whilst Alenko supported him with biotics, tossing a few here and there with a powerful thrust. I'd watch the krogan as he took his shotgun and bashed in the flashlight-like heads of the geth before him, pieces of organic-material and machinery ripping and shattering, sending sparks flying.

It was like watching a dance…one that was incredibly dangerous and brutal.

My shots were frequent and as I picked off another enemy I could feel it begin to heat in my hand. With a curse, the weapon over-heated, I could feel it even through the thick material of my armor. Once again I switched, back to my shotgun. "Alenko! Move forward!" He nodded, running forward without hesitation, throwing out another powerful surge of energy at the horde, sending them scattering through the are, clearing a bit of room for Wrex. Instead of getting into cover, I charged forward, gathering my biotics into my free hand. The first synthetic bastard that came into range got a full taste of what it was like to face a Vanguard, I reared my fist back and released the energy, fist making contact on it's shields, ripping through and caused the geth to explode in a brilliant display of electronics and sparks. From there it was shotgun blast after shotgun blast from Wrex and myself, Kaidan opening room around us with his biotics until finally, the last hostile was down, an unknown and unrecognizable look upon Wrex's face as he sent a single shot from his gun into the head of a fallen krogan warrior.

Just make sure it's worth it, Shepard…

"Wrex."

He shook his head, red eyes still upon the krogan at his feet, "Saren's going to pay for what he's done to my people." His voice lower than usual, hidden behind his words was a promise in a deep growl. Even though that shotgun of his had been right in my face not more than an hour ago, I knew he meant it, and I had his trust. I wasn't fond of his kind, but Wrex was my brother in arms, and I'd see to it that the bastard who had screwed us all, would get an extra bullet in the head just for Wrex.

"Commander, we should radio Joker, I believe we've reached our drop zone for the nuke."

Lieutenant Alenko came to my side as he spoke, I responded with a nod and began to move forward, "Let's check the area first, don't want Joker to land in the middle of a hot zone." I held my shotgun, ready for more hostiles to spring out of nowhere, as they liked to do. "Sweep the area, check every cranny, I want this place empty before I call in the Normandy."

"Aye aye, Commander."

My eyes flickered over every obstacle, and I couldn't help but cringe when I noted the several fuel tanks around, handy for when the nuke goes off…but if the those things were set off while we were still around…I didn't want to think about that. "This area's clear Commander!" Kaidan called from far to the left.

"I think we're good, Shepard." Wrex said as he made his way back towards me.

"Good, stay focused, in case they decide to spring up from the woodworks."

Wrex let out a smug laugh, "Don't need to tell me twice."

I turned away from the krogan, taking quick steps away from him and away from Kaidan. I don't know why, but for some reason I felt as if…they were invading my personal space, my time to talk to Joker. Fingertips rose to my right ear, seeking the small device connected to my suit radio. With a quick tap, I accessed the line between my radio and Joker's.

"Joker, site's clear, bring the Normandy in asap."

"What's this? No 'Hello Joker' or 'How was your time waiting around Joker?' or even better 'I missed the sexy sound of your voice in my ear Joker'?"

Any other time, I would have laughed at that, instead I answered his remark with silence and a roll of my eyes.

"The silent treatment, eh? I like that just so y'know, this way I can just imagine what your thinking, your undressing me with your mind right now aren't you? Why Commander, I believe that's highly inappropriate."

Instantly my palm went to my face, I could feel my face burning, despite how hard I tried to ignore it. "J-just bring the damn ship in, Lieutenant!" I heard him chuckle over the radio, knowing him, he surely caught my frustration over the connection.

"I just love sassing you. ETA…now."

The channel closed, which I was grateful for, I didn't need him flustering me right now. I had more important things to worry about than reprimanding my pilot for making passes at me over my suit radio. The familiar, and welcome sound of the Normandy's engine began to reach my ears and, true to Joker's word, he pulled the ship in quickly and with such grace…he really knew how to work the Normandy. As he had once said, he could make her dance…And I believed him.