Mass Effect: Memoirs

Chapter Two
Attican Traverse
Two weeks after the attack on Mindoir

Mikaela knew that her way of handling her grief of losing her parents and older brother was marking her as heartless by the crew of the battle cruiser but she honestly didn't care what they thought of her lack of crying and wailing. She just couldn't express her sadness over their loss the proper way. So she turned to the next best thing, by simply showing a devil-may-care facade.
Heck, Mikaela even bite some officers’ heads off when they came up to her to apologize over the loss of her family. She saw red at that and snapped at them, telling them that using fancy words such as apologies wouldn't give her her family back. And after that, no one ever spoke to her about her family or offered apologies or words of comfort, and she was lifted alone.
Not that Mikaela was complaining, she welcomed her alone-time and was thrilled that everyone gave her a wide berth. Even Admiral Lachlan Sinclair seems to be avoiding her.
Mikaela pursed her lips in thought at that. ‘You know for a guy who saved my colony and brought me onto his ship. He seemed to show little to no interest in my well-being. Geez, and they call me heartless’
Mikaela was too lost in her way thoughts in pay attention to where she was going, so she found herself, face first, slamming into someone’s rock hard chest. Instincts made Mikaela reached out and grabbed on tightly onto them, so that she wouldn't fall. Mikaela barely tensed up when she felt arms wrapping around her and pressing her against their front in order to keep her on her feet.
‘Hmm, at least they’re thoughtful enough to keep me from making a fool of myself.’  Mikaela thought as she sighed.
“Do you always make it a habit of bumping into me whenever you roam around places?”
At the sound of Saren’s voice above her head and the realization that it was him that she slammed into and him that was holding her in his arms that made Mikaela go stiff as a board.
‘Annnnd of all the million crew members on this accursed ship, I somehow manage to slam into the one person that absolutely can’t stand me because I am a human. Lovely!’ Mikaela thought bitterly as she tipped her head back and stared up at Saren, speaking out loud now.” Well, if you hadn't popped out of nowhere like that I wouldn't have bump into you.”
Saren looked around and behind them before looking back at her with a bemused expression on his face (well at least she hoped it was bemused because turians seem to have possessed the ultimate poker face from all the races in the known galaxy).” This corridor doesn’t have any doors and I rounded the corner just twenty minutes ago, girl.”
Mikaela felt a blush forming, starting from her cheeks and down to the top mounds of her breasts, embarrassed at his words and her own attempt to blame him.” Er….right…so I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going, so sue me.”
Saren cocked his head to the side (which was eerily similar to that of a bird of prey and that may be creepy to others but to Mikaela thought it was cute) and his mandibles barely moved as he stared down at Mikaela through hooded lids.
If Saren was completely honest with himself, then he found Mikaela Shepard to be very beautiful. He had noticed her beauty back on Mindoir but she was dirty, covered in dirt and scratches during her ran through the forest. But now that she was clean, Mikaela was even more beautiful and he noticed that she had light freckles that dusted her cheekbones and her nose, given her a mischievous-like beauty, even more childlike then when he first examined her.
Saren asked, drawing his thoughts back to the present.” How are you handling your new environment, Ms. Shepard?”
Mikaela said as she looked around.” Great as long as getting dirty looks and being called a cold-hearted bitch when they think that one’s out of ear-shot is called handling it well.”
Saren cocked a brow-ridge at her.” Cold-hearted bitch?”
Mikaela shrugged, nonchalant.” Yeah, apparently how I handled expressing my grief is highly frowned upon in human culture. What a shocker, right?”
Saren crossed his arms as he continued to stare down at the human girl.” Human culture? Are you not a human, Ms. Shepard?”
Mikaela stepped up to Saren and whispered to him,” Yeah, but I kind of this habit of expressing my deep dislike and disregard towards humans from my grandmother.”
“Ah, I heard about the famous Admiral Regina Shepard and her deep hatred for humanity.” Saren said, thinking back about the raven-haired human woman.
Mikaela placed her hands on her hips as she rocked back on her heels.” She didn’t hate humanity, she just hated the stupid stuff that humanity does” Mikaela thought as she recalled the numerous times her father had complained about the stunt that his mother had pulled during her time in the Alliance, ‘Then again, my grandmother has done pretty stupid stuff as well so she really didn’t have any room to make comments about humanity’s stupidity when she was doing stupid stuff as well.’
Saren asked, drawing Mikaela from her thoughts and looked up at the turian Spectre.” Besides begin called cold-hearted bitch, how are you doing up?”
Mikaela sighed as she leaned against the wall.” Tired.”
Saren asked, coming to stand before her.” Not sleeping?”
Mikaela shook her head.” No, not that. I’m sleeping fine.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“I’m just tired of hearing people telling how sorry they are that my parents are dead and my brother’s body has disappeared.” Mikaela mumbled, before sighing and leaning her head back against the wall.” As if saying sorry and expressing sympathy can ever bring my parents back.”
Saren asked, looking away from her exposed neck.” Do you know what will happen to you?”
Mikaela blinked opened her eyes and looked at him.” Yeah, apparently the Alliance brass has agreed that I would be under the care and guardianship of an Alliance Lieutenant named David Anderson.
“I see.” Saren said, not even betraying his true emotions as he appeared nonchalant of the news.’ So the Alliance decided to have Anderson care for the human girl. That means they must have realized that there’s more going on behind this raid.’
Mikaela turned her head when she heard footsteps coming towards them and spotted Admiral Sinclair coming towards them. She pushed off the wall and came to stand near Saren. Saren blinked his eyes at her sudden appearance in his space and followed her gaze to see Admiral Sinclair coming towards them.
Lachlan stopped before them and looked at Mikaela, addressing her.” Lieutenant Anderson will be arriving within the hour, Ms. Shepard. I suggest you return to the clinic.”
Mikaela was tempted to tell this guy where to shove that commanding tone but the thought of getting shoot out of the airlock had, barely, kept her tongue to herself.
Mikaela sighed and turned around, not before inclining her head in farewell to the turian Spectre who returned her gesture with one of his own.
Saren and Lachlan watched Mikaela disappear around the corner before facing each other, but Saren was the first to look away and continued to walk down the corridor. It wasn't because he was intimidated by the Admiral, it was more of the fact that he didn't want to deal with the human man. Saren turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder to see that Admiral Sinclair had continued his walk but he then saw Mikaela poked her head from around a corner of a corridor and watched as she watched the Admiral disappear into his quarters before looking back at Saren and blew him a kiss, before she ducked back into the corridor, disappearing from his sight.
Saren's eyes widen in shock at the boldness of the human girl but he just shook his head and looked back ahead, moving away from the humans who he so despises. He didn't understand why a human girl would do that and he actually didn't want to know, but Saren knew he had to keep a close eye on this girl and try to unravel the secrets that surrounds her.

Lieutenant David Anderson aboard the battle cruiser, the Retribution, and looked around for the Commanding officer, Admiral Lachlan Sinclair, a man known for his dislike for unwanted personal on his ship. But this time, Admiral Sinclair had made contact with the board of the Alliance Military and asked to send someone to his location, which was in the Attican Traverse, above Mindoir.
According to his report a large group of slavers raid the human colony stationed there and killed some of the farmers and escape with some of them, and some were lifted behind thanks to his arrival, when he was on patrol with the turian Spectre, Saren Arterius. Her life was saved by the timely arrival of Admiral Lachlan Sinclair, who took her on board his ship and had immediately contacted the Board of the situation.
But he didn't call to give his report to the board.
The real reason behind his willingness to call in was because of a sixteen-year-old girl. She had lost her family, consist of her parents and an older brother, during the attack and she has no living family, leaving her truly alone in the world.
According to Lachlan report, Saren had saved her from slavers and was taking her back to the ship when she had taken a sniper shoot that was meant for Saren and she survived the wound as the bullet had nearly missed her heart.
That part of the report had David frowning in puzzlement. A human, a girl at that, had enough courage and daring to step between Saren and a bullet and taking the pain and wound of the bullet, instead of him. He was sure that Saren was bluffed by her selfless action; it didn't match to how humans and turians always treated each other after the First Contact War.
The brass believed that David would be the best choice to go and escort the girl back to the Citadel, where they requested that David to be her legal guardian until she turned eighteen. But there was a problem with that plan, even if it was a very good plan.
David didn't know the first thing about raising and taking care of children, especially sixteen-year-old girls who lost their entire family to slavers right before her eyes. He and his wife divorced without having any children, so he really lacked the skills at raising any child. And he also didn't even believe that if they would be a good match personality wise as, according to Admiral Sinclair, the girl has shown herself to be quite the smartass during her time living among his crew and his ship.
David found himself opening her file once again to reread it on his omni-tool. He’s been doing this ever since he received the report and mission.
It stated both the doctor's and therapist's report that she displayed an unusual calm and emotionless facade when she was rescued and when dealing with the loss of her families' death. It also stated on their report that she had fought back against her attackers, and by doing so that she had received bruises and cuts from them in retaliation at her sudden feistiness.
It wasn't her feistiness that got David's full attention back on the Citadel and it wasn't what made him agree to go get her and bring her back with him, so that he could be her guardian. It was her calm and uncaring nature towards her family deaths that had him agreeing with the brass.
Somehow David knew that it was all a false facade, just a teenager acting as if nothing fazed her. A front that she put up in order to keep the pain and loneliness that was caused by the sudden death of her entire family from getting to her and it was also a way to keep sympathy and pity directed away from her. And that could also explain why she was quite the smartass when she came on board, it was her way of putting up armor around her heart.
He snapped the folder closed when he saw a man walking towards him and David immediately recognized him as Admiral Lachlan Sinclair. Now, he never met the man in person but he knew him only by stories told to him from his old crew and from his file given to him by Admiral Hackett.
And the man before him certainly matched his description and the stories.
Admiral Lachlan Sinclair was an intimidating tall man with thick, unruly raven-black hair and vibrant green eyes with a nicely trimmed go-tee on his chin. He had solid muscles yet lean and he also wore a eyepatch over his right eye, giving him an even more dangerous appearance.
David turned to face Admiral Sinclair." I'm Lieutenant David Anderson. I have come to escort the girl back with me to the Citadel."
Lachlan crossed his arms as he stared Anderson up and down, which gave David the impression that the Scottish Admiral was actually sizing him up for a body bag,” I know who you are, Lieutenant Anderson, a damn shame about that mission back on Camala.”
David didn't react outwardly towards that comment, he knew that Lachlan was a hard man to get along with and he purposely will pick at wounds of those around him. And he also know that when it came to a fist-fight that Lachlan would win, the man was known for his ruthless and cunning in close-quarters combat.
So David didn't say anything as Lachlan stared at him for what felt like hours, until the Scottish Admiral finally decided to drop the tension between them after David didn't take the bait.
Lachlan spoke, “Alright. Follow me."
David followed after Admiral Sinclair, wondering about the girl he was about to meet and also wondered why no photo was taken of her. So he didn't know what she looked like, so an image of a petite, normal-looking girl wearing all black popped into his head as he and Lachlan entered a room and that image shattered when he finally got his first look at the sixteen-year-old girl.
Even though she had some cuts and bruises, which she obviously received when she fought back against the slavers, the sixteen-year-old was a stunning pretty girl. David could tell that when she loses that girl prettiness, she would be quite a stunningly beautiful woman, almost ethereal like an asari.
She has an exquisite, delicate, heart-shaped face. The eyes were disturbing, with an exotic slant. Such vibrant green eyes in that fair face, so green and clear, like colored crystal. The lips were soft and full and the nose straight and slender. A thick fringe of flame lashes framed those extraordinary eyes, while red brows arched gently above them. Her hair was fiery red, too, in tight little ringlets surrounding her face, giving her fair skin a glow like polished ivory.
She wore red bodysuit that has no covering on her legs and that is cut high on her hips, the bodysuit has a low-cut neckline and quarter-length sleeves peeking from the sleeves of the red jacket, and worn over the bodysuit but hangs low on her hips is black pants, and dark gray combat boots and the fingerless gloves. Her pants are worn over her combat boots.
David titled his head to the side as he examined her more closely and realized that her hair wasn't a normal red color. It was like the sunset back on earth, a red-gold color. A very beautiful color.
The girl was sitting on a medical bed with her legs were crossed over each other as she was toying with a diamond pendant that was latched around her neck by a thin chain. She obviously wasn't aware that David and Lachlan had entered the medical bay, and if she was aware of their presence, she didn't even let it known to them, which David found that very impressive yet also very disrespectful.
Lachlan headed towards the doctor but not before motioning David to go ahead and speak with the sixteen-year-old girl. David inclined his head towards him before taking a deep breath and let it out and made his way towards the girl.
David stopped before her and waited until the girl finally acknowledges his presence by looking up at him." Mikaela Shepard, I’m Lieutenant David Anderson of the Alliance Military.”
Mikaela gave him an once-over that was sarcastic.” Yeah, that uniform kind of shouted ‘I’m from the Alliance Military’, Captain Obvious.”
David thought as he felt his jaw clenched. ‘You can bottle that sarcasm and sell it on the shelf. I don’t think this is part of her grieving anymore.’
Mikaela looked away from him as she twisted the chain of the necklace between her index finger and thumb.” So what do you want?”
David sat down next to her, speaking to her patiently and kindly.” I've come to escort you to the Citadel.”
The word ‘Citadel’ caught her attention and she looked up at him with excitement filled eyes.” Really? I’m truly going to the Citadel?”
David smiled at her, happy that she could show excitement besides the emotionless facade that she wore on her face before. “Yes, you’re going to the Citadel.”
Something must have clicked in her brain because she asked,” So I’m going to be living with you on the Citadel.”
He was impressed by how quick she was at putting the situation together; she had a very sharp and fast mind. It allowed her to put things together a lot faster than most teenagers her age.
David said, confirming her thought and assumption.” Yes, you’ll be living with me until you reached eighteen and after that you can decide what you want to do with your life.”
Mikaela turned her head, tearing her eyes away from the Alliance Lieutenant to look out the window and found herself staring out at Mindoir. She released the chain of her mother’s pendant from her neck, so that it was now resting between her breasts as she stared at her home.
‘No….’ Mikaela thought as she tore her eyes away from it, ‘it’s no longer my home, and I lost everything back there. My home. My family and my innocence. So that’s no longer important to me, I have no reason to ever come back here.’
David was watching her and realized, with a sad expression appeared on his face, that this girl was slowly coming to the realization that she no longer has a place to call home, as it was destroyed by the batarian slavers.
David couldn't say sorry to her because he knew that she would lash out at him for that and she probably didn't want to hear it after hearing it constantly according to the small note that the Therapist had attach to the file.
Lachlan walked over, drawing their attention to him.” We’re ready to continue our patrol.”
David stood up, with Mikaela standing up as well.” Then we better leave as well. Come on, Mikaela.”
Lachlan watched as David and Mikaela walked out of the room and looked down at the medical report that the doctor had given to him. He didn't want to open it when they still here, despite the doctor’s advice to do so otherwise. But something told him that it was best that wait until they leave so that he could open it.
Lachlan tapped his password into the report and the file appeared on his omni-tool and read through the result of the blood test that was taken from both the woman and the girl.
He fell into a chair, finally finished reading the report and losing all the strength to stand. He cupped his mouth as he tossed the report on the table next to him, lost for words at what it meant.
It revealed his suspicion of the woman, something he was scared of.
She was his sister.
His mother must have been pregnant with her when she was taken by Cerberus and his sister had fallen into their hands after her birth, and that Mikaela Shepard was his niece. But it didn't explain how his sister escapes from Cerberus and appeared to Mindoir.
But there was something else in the report that bluffed him, something that shouldn’t be there, and he’s going have to go directly to his outside sources, people that the Alliance would never trust, in order to get information about this, and he didn't want the Alliance to know about.

Widow system
Citadel 
Four weeks in space

David was delighted to find out that, once Mikaela had opened up to him during their trip to the Citadel, she was showing more of her real self before the tragedy on Mindoir. She wasn’t only sarcastic and rude, she was actually very outgoing and upbeat sixteen-year-old girl who always seemed to look on the bright side of things and bring light to the darkness in situations. So, it was amazing to watch her open up towards him and his crew, she still possesses her sharp sense of humor, which made her seem like a bitch and she was also stubborn and short-tempered to the point of aggression but her natural character of wanting to cheer people up and help lighten the mood in times of crisis.
David could feel that Mikaela was already forming some type of bond with him, that she was already done grieving for her family and now honoring them by being her usual self. And he had to say, he liked this Mikaela. She was easy to like and impossible to hate. Dislike? Maybe. But even then, those ones are immediately charmed by her.
David was watching Mikaela stand before the Hastings’s primary viewport, as they entered into the Widow system, where the Citadel is located.
The magnificent space station served as the cultural, economic, and political center of the galaxy. From here, several thousand kilometers away, it resembled a five-pointed star: a quintet if long, thick arms extending out from a hollow central ring.
Even though he’d seen it many times before, David knew that Mikaela was marveled by its sheer size. The middle ring was ten kilometers in diameters; each arm was twenty-five kilometers long and five kilometers in breadth. In the twenty-seven hundred years since the Council was established on the Citadel, great cosmopolitan metropolises known as the wards had been constructed along each arm, entire cities built into the station’s multi-level interior. Forty million people from every species and sector across the known galaxy now made their homes here.
Mikaela let out a low whistle as she turned her head to look at David.” Wow! I’ve seen vids of it back home but I never knew it was this impressive in person!”
David walked over to her, laughing, as he placed his hand on her shoulder.” Yeah, that was my reaction when I first saw it as well.”
Mikaela asked,” do you grow tired of it?”
David shook his head,” No, this station will always impress me no matter how many times I see it.”
Mikaela grinned as she looked back to the impressive view before her.” I’ll like that.”

When they landed at the designated docking bay and made their way towards the custom office, David was slowly beginning to realize something about Mikaela Juliet Shepard and that was she had this ability to draw attention to her immediately and keep the attention on her. He was suspicious of it when the custom officer was flirting with her when he was getting her pass ready for her as soon as they entered the custom office. The custom officer was a human, so he just shrugged it off as a one-time thing, not something to worry about.
But ever since they lifted the office and started to make their way towards the elevators, that David was beginning to notice that turians, asaris and salarians were stopping whatever they were doing at the time and turning to look at David and Mikaela.
At first David wasn’t sure if they were looking at them as he caught them staring at him and the teenage girl walking alongside him, and had looked around them to see where they were looking at but he finally followed their line of vision to find that they were, indeed, looking at Mikaela.
David looked down at Mikaela and realized that it wasn’t only her attractiveness that was drawn all this attention. She was like a live wire, full of verve and pulsing with electric energy, that it practically radiated from her, and that is what attracted a lot of attention, and maybe admirers, to her.
David placed his hand on her shoulder and quickly hurried towards the open elevator and they stepped in. He noticed that Mikaela was looking at him as the doors closed with a confused expression on her face but she didn’t ask him anything, she’ll probably figured out the reason out on her own. She was a smart girl, as she had numerously times told him before.
When they stepped out of the elevator and into the pandemonium, Mikaela was greeted by light and sound that was the ward. Throngs of people filled the pedways, individuals of every species coming and going in all directions.
Mikaela looked above her to see rapid-transit cars zooming by overhead on the monorail.” Wow, this place can give New York City a run for its money.”
David smiled down at her.” Yes, this is impressive.”
Mikaela looked up at him, asking.” Where do you live?”
David gestured ahead of them.” My place is only twenty minutes away by foot.”
Mikaela smiled as he started to walk ahead of her.” Then I guess we’re walking.”

Twenty minutes later
Mikaela entered his apartment before him, in order to explore her new home. David smiled as he was immediately reminded of a cat exploring her new home, by how Mikaela was acting.
David asked, as he gestured up- and downstairs.” There are two rooms, one upstairs and the other downstairs. Which one do you want?”
Mikaela looked over towards the upstairs one.” Upstairs. I’ll give you downstairs as you’re probably dead tired when you get home when you get off-shore leave from the Alliance, right?”
David smiled down at her as he ruffled her hair.” Yeah, you’re right, Mikaela.”
Mikaela shook her head, causing her ringlets to fall over or rest on her shoulders.” Aye, aye, Cap!”
Mikaela hurried to her new room, anxious and excited to start exploring her room.
David smiled as he watch her ran to her new room, pleased that she’s accepting her new life here on the Citadel. Now he just needs to enroll her to the local high school here on the Citadel, so that she could finish high school. David may not have any experience with handling kids but he felt that he and Mikaela are doing okay for the first time since she and he had met back on Mindoir.
His omni tool suddenly chimed and he opened it up to see a message from Admiral Hackett, telling him to meet with him and the new Ambassador of Humanity to tell them about Mindoir.
David sighed as he shouted upstairs towards Mikaela.” Kaela! I have to step out for a minute. Can you hold the fort while I’m gone?!”
Mikaela ran out of the railing of the balcony and leaned over it,” Yeah, I got this. I’ll hold it down until you get back.”
David saluted her as he smiled.” Thanks, Private Shepard. I’m counting on you.”
Mikaela waved at him as she watched him leave the apartment. She pushed away from the railing and headed back to her room. Mikaela entered her new room and spun around in a small circle as she looked around. It was a lot bigger than her old room back on the farm at Mindoir but she could get used to it and make it into her room. But all it needs is items suitable for the comfort and joy for a sixteen-year-old girl.
Mikaela patted her pockets to remember that David had given her credits in order to buy the things that she needs, ‘I better get shopping for myself. I need clothes, products and among other things in order to settle here.’
Mikaela walked out of her room and grabbed the rail as she took the turn fast and sharp, to prevent herself from falling, and ran down the stairs. She walked out of the apartment, locking the door behind her.
Unaware that someone was watching her from across the way, watching her leave the apartment building and head into the wards.

Wards
Mikaela was overwhelmed by the sound and lights of the ads that flashed across the vids around her, outside of shops. She looked around, watching the vids in order to get what they are selling inside.
Mikaela finally stopped in front of a shop and looked up at the vid above it, ‘finally…undergarments, I need those.’
Mikaela stepped inside and started to look around the store to search for undergarments to her liking. She stopped before a display and eyes the set on the doll.
It was a two-piece lace set and as Mikaela examined the set, she found that it suited her perfectly. It was a lace boyshort panty and strait bandeau top. Mikaela grabbed six sets of it, one in red, hot pink, purple, blue, black and white, and her favorite colors. She walked over to the cashier and paid for them with the credits. She looked around as the cashier bagged her items, frowning now, as she got the sudden sense that someone was watching her.
Mikaela turned back towards the cashier and took the bag from them and walked away, acting as if nothing is wrong. She walked among the crowd of shoppers and visitors, bumping and jostling into them as she tried to find a way to shake whoever is following her.
Mikaela was too focus on whoever was watching her to notice that there was someone in front of her and she slammed right into them, striking the right side of her face into their armor.
She was knocked backwards but would have been fallen to the ground if she hadn't had the arms of the person she bump into wrapped themselves around her back. Mikaela rubbed the right side of her face as she turned her head and found herself looking up at a blue-tattooed carapace turian male.
Blue avian eyes meet green mammal eyes as they stood face-to-face, when he straightened up with her leaning backwards on his arms.
Mikaela stared up at the turian male before her and started to feel a blush slowly warming her cheeks, neck and the tips of her ears. He was handsome, well to her, with a tall and slender body frame and a crest on the back of his skull, with his light carapace marked with a blue strip going horizontally across his cheeks and nose.
Mikaela thought as she had a tight hold of his armor. ’I really need to start paying attention to where I am going, I keep slamming into hot turian guys…..Then again, it’s not that bad.’
And by his blue armor, Mikaela knew that he was a C-Sec officer and she felt herself go limp with relief as she straightened up as well, realizing that she stands to his chest, as he stands to six feet above her five foot seven inches frame.
C-Sec officer asked as he slowly released her, as if he didn't want too.” Are you okay?”
'Wow, turians certainly do have sexy voices, I can listen to his voice as day...wait, Mikaela, he asked you a question. Answer him before you embarrass yourself even further.' Mikaela slowly nodded her head, regaining her hormones firmly under her control.” Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, about that. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
C-Sec asked as he examined her more closely.” I don’t think I've ever seen you around here before.”
Mikaela smiled as she slowly shook her head.” That’s because I just moved here. I was on Mindoir.”
C-Sec stared at her as he asked.” The colony that was attacked by batarians slavers?”
Mikaela inclined her head towards him, praising him for his correct assumption.
C-Sec officer winced,” I’m sorr-“
But his apology was halted when Mikaela reached up and placed her fingers on his mouth, preventing it from coming out. She knew that she surprised him by her action, because his eyes widen but she noticed that his mandibles also twitched as soon as she put her fingers on his mouth.
Mikaela glanced down at the mandibles, ‘so I have to pay attention to the mandibles to get a good read on his emotions. I don’t think he can control that.’
Mikaela looked back at the C-Sec officer and shook her head as her lids drifted close over her eyes,” Don’t apologize to me. I've been hearing that ever since I tell them about being from Mindoir and apologizes can’t bring anyone back from the dead or change things to how they were before.”
Mikaela removed her fingers from his mouth and smiled up at him as she titled her head to the side.” Bye and thanks for saving me from that massive fail.”
Mikaela stepped to the side of him and walked passed him, heading towards a shop that sells bathroom products and items. The C-Sec officer turned to watch her disappear when his partner and friend walked out of a small shop to stand by him.
Chellick asked when he noticed that his partner was watching a human girl walking through the crowd, away from them.” What’s wrong, Garrus?”
Garrus Vakarian looked at his partner before turning back to watch the girl but found that she had vanished in the crowd.”….It’s nothing. Let’s continue with our patrol.”
Garrus and Chellick turned and walked away, but Garrus looked over his shoulder, hoping for another glimpse of a human girl with red-gold hair and flashing green eyes.
Mikaela spotted the turian C-Sec officer from her spot on the balcony, that was looking over head, looking over his shoulder as he and his partner walked away, as if he was trying to catch a glimpse of her through the crowd and that made her surprisingly very happy.
Mikaela pumped her fists in the air in excitement as she thought. ’Yes! I am worth of a double-take from a turian!’
Then she remembered that she didn't stick around to get his name or tell him her name, causing the happy teenager to slump over the rail in depression.
Mikaela slapped a hand on her forehead as she angrily scolded herself. ‘Smooth move there, Mikaela. You were too busy ogling the guy and wanting to continue shopping that you totally forgot to get his name and tell him your name.’
Mikaela continued to silently scold herself, unaware that someone was watching her from a safe and hidden section of the wards.
She sighed and pushed herself away from the rails, looking around for more clothing shops. ’Now, is there any shops that sells dance wear, dancing rails and poles.’
Mikaela quickly spotted her target and hurried down the stairs, almost knocking into two asari on the way.
Mikaela shouted an apology over her shoulder but didn't stop as she continued down the stairs. The taller and curvier of the two followed Mikaela with her eyes before looking down at the younger one next to her and gestured with her chin, telling her to go after the human girl.
The younger one bowed her head and gracefully walked down the stairs, following the human inside the dance shop.
Mikaela looked around the shop, grabbing clothing and shoes to replace the ones she had lost in the fire. She walked along the walls of the store, looking at the dance rails and poles. Mikaela reached out to touch one standing rail but went rigid when she felt someone standing behind her. She straightened up and turned around to find herself face to face with a being that she had never considered being so close to.
An asari.
The asari are a race that more closely resemble humans. Human women, that is; tall and slender, with well-proportioned figures. The asari were an asexual species—the concept of gender didn't really apply. But to what Mikaela can tell by looking at the asari before her that they were female. Even their facial features were human…..although they had an angelic, almost ethereal quality to them. Their complexion was tinged with a blue or greenish hue. Only the backs of their heads betrayed their alien origins. Instead of hair, they had wavy folds of sculpted skin….not entirely unattractive, but a disconcertingly alien feature on a species that was otherwise so human in appearance.
Mikaela admired the asari as they work as consorts and dancers due to their natural sex appeal but they are also respected and admired for being the most powerful race by the other races despite this image.
Mikaela thought as she inwardly sighed. 'I never understood why the boys back on Mindoir saw me as pretty when there were pictures of the asari in our history pad. Now, that I see one in person, I feel average.'
The asari smiled at Mikaela, saying.” Hi, my name is Talil Muraus.”
Mikaela mentally bitch-slapped herself and introduced herself.” Hi, my name is Mikaela Shepard.”
Talil smiled at her once again.” I know, I heard about you.”
Mikaela felt her excitement immediately died away as her face returned to the cold expression she had on when someone was going to express their sympathies. ‘When is the day that I don’t have to say my name and get immediately recognized for losing my family and surviving the raid is going to come?’
Mikaela turned on her heel and started to walk away, towards the counter.” And good-bye.”
Talil was surprised by the sudden yet elegant movement for a moment before she got over it and turned her head to see her paying for her things and then leaving.
Talil hurried after Mikaela.” Wait! Why are you leaving?”
Mikaela shot the asari a dirty look over her shoulder.” Why? Because you’re going to say how sorry you are for my lose and give them those big pity eyes as you look at me, that’s why I’m leaving.”
Talil blinked at the human girl, realizing that this human girl was able to perfectly guessed her action when she first introduced herself. ‘So that’s why madam wanted me to go after her. She was able to see what I didn't and knew that this human girl needs her help before it gets even worse.’
Talil hurried over to Mikaela, grabbing her arm once she caught up to the fast-walking girl. The asari maiden knew she surprised the human girl when she was able to catch up to her and grab her arm in order to stop her.
“Listen, Mikaela.” Talil hurriedly explained herself once she saw the angry and annoyance in the human girl’s glowing green eyes and clenched teeth.” I was sent to you by my mistress. She wants to meet you and teach you how to control your biotics properly.”
Talil felt Mikaela’s muscles tensed underneath her grasp and immediately realized that she was taken aback that someone was able to figure out that she have biotic abilities but it also made her realize in surprisement that the human girl was keeping it a secret by the nervous and agitated shifting of her stance.
Talil asked, her eyes blinking owlishly at the human girl before her.” No one knew that you have biotic abilities?”
Mikaela chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous habit, before she explained.” My paternal grandmother didn't want me to go through the trouble of being a biotic child. She didn't want the Alliance to decide my future for me. She made me promise never to reveal it to anyone, except for the people back in Mindoir.”
Talil nodded her head and grabbed her other arm and gave both arms an reassuring squeeze.” Mikaela, please come to The Red Lotus Lounge, you need to properly control and use your biotic. It’s dangerous for you and everyone around you for you to continue doing this without being properly trained.”
Mikaela was silent for a moment and Talil was almost worried that the human girl wouldn't agree to it but the asari maiden was relieved when she smiled and nodded her head, accepting Talil’s mistress’s teaching.
Talil quickly gave Mikaela the direction to The Red Lotus Lounge and bid the human girl a fond farewell, promising to keep in contact with Mikaela, wanting to be friends with her as Talil was genuinely interest in her apparent acceptance of the human girl towards Talil.
Talil hurried up the stairs where her mistress was waiting and stopped before her, bowing her head towards the older asari before her.
“Seems like you were completely charmed by the woman-child, Talil, even though she really hadn't done anything else.” The older asari said with a smile on her lips.
Talil looked up at the asari before her and smiled at her.” Yes, I could tell that she was quite different than most humans. She’s honest and genuine in her emotions and thoughts, Mistress Iselra.”
Iselra T'raovius looked over to see Mikaela heading towards the apartment that she was living in with Lieutenant David Anderson. “Yes, it’s probably due to her grandmother. She was a role model for her granddaughter when she was a child and she was still considered one after her death and as the girl matured.”
Talil looked at Iselra, puzzled by how familiar her voice was.” It sounds like you knew Admiral Regina Shepard.”
Iselra smiled at her student.” I did know the Admiral, she was an beautiful woman with an equally beautiful heart and she had won the heart of a certain turian general to the point that that said general will never forget her, even in death.”
“How romantic.” Always all the wistful Talil said as she and Iselra walked away, heading towards the Red Lotus Lounge.

Mikaela glanced down at the card that the asari had given to her before she had lifted her and tapped it to her chin as she thought about going there. 
'Should I go or shouldn't I go?' Mikaela thought as she slipped the card into her back pocket and continued walking through the crowd. 'Maybe not, I don't really want anyone to know about my biotics. Don't want to be ship off somewhere to be turn into a weapon.'
Mikaela let out a sigh as she effortlessly moved among the crowd and becoming lost in her own thoughts, so she wasn't expecting to be knocked down by a twelve-year-old Asian girl until she was knocked down by a twelve-year-old Asian girl.
Mikaela found herself blinking owlishly at the little Asian girl who was sitting on her stomach, innocently. The older girl and the younger girl continued to stare at each other before both girls looked over to see a two big guys walking towards them. Mikaela stood up and stepped to the side as the twelve-year-old girl ran passed her with the two thugs chasing after her.
Mikaela rubbed the back of her head as she watched them. 'Maybe I should have saved that kid?'  Suddenly she heard a loud ruckus coming from where the little girl and the thugs had gone and noticed that both guys were cupping themselves with the twelve-year-old standing over them with a metal pipe in her hands. 'Nah, looks like she got things under control.'
Mikaela turned and walked away, with the twelve-year-old Asian girl watching her departing back.