I do not own characters from mass effect or the Normandy. All things original to mass effect belong Bioware.

Commander Shepard was making her rounds. The Normandy was a fine ship, but not the most convenient to get around in. Stairs and elevators? Seriously, who designed this thing? The ship was on it's way to several boarder colonies for 'routine' something or other. Sonya wasn't buying it. There was a turian Spectre on board. The Council didn't send Spectres on routine missions, or prototype ships for that matter. But Captain Anderson hadn't divulged any information to her beyond the story that they were doing repeated 'testing' on the Normandy's systems, like the stealth drive. The Spectre was there to observe.

She'd seen the turian running around the ship, giving orders, standing in that turian way that made her feel like they thought they were better than 'these humans'. But there was something different about Nihlus Kryik. She wasn't sure what it was. She'd caught him looking a her while she worked. His bright green eyes shining out from the white tattoo that covered his face. Secretly she found him strangely attractive.

He was highly decorated in the turian military before he became a Spectre. She had to respect that. She grew up in the military, following her parents around. The she'd joined as soon as she could. She'd learned to fight and work hard for what she wanted. He apparently had, too, though she got the feeling it was through different means. She didn't know much about him outside his military career and Spectre missions. She wanted to.

Nihlus seemed to be spending more time around her the closer they got to the first stop, Sunny Fields, so named for the garden worlds 32 hour day. He'd hover close by and watch her work. He scrutinized everything she did. What was up with this guy?

When they landed at the colony he'd gone with the team. She'd expected it, but hoped he'd wonder off somewhere. Instead he was never more than a few feet from her. She wanted to just punch him in the face and scream at him. It was really getting on her nerves. She wasn't some kind of raw cadet. She did her best to focus on the mission.

They checked systems, mostly defense related. Supplies, food rations and water... the basics. Nihlus seemed to be looking for something, though. He'd ask questions out of ear shot of the rest of the team. That was the furthest he was ever away from her. She didn't care what he was talking about if it got him off her back.

She saw him in the mess the next day when no one else was around. Apparently the annoying Alenko guy was helping Joker co-pilot today instead of tinkering with the console he seemed so attached to. He was always eyeing her too. At least he was human, and cute. But not really her type. Too... nice. Too polite. Hell, he was a damn pansy.

Sonya walked over to where Nihlus sat, eating something that looked like prawns. She took a seat across from him. He glanced up from a data pad he was reading to nod at her, then went back to the pad.

"Hey, so... why are you always up my ass?" She asked bluntly.

He stopped eating to look at her in something like shock.

"Excuse me."

"Why are you always following me around and checking my work behind my back?"

"I do whatever I feel I need to." He said flatly.

"Yeah, well... it's getting on my nerves. I can't do whatever I need to if you're doing whatever you're needing to is getting in my way."

She was trying to get a rise out of him. To make his spill the truth like cereal on a clean carpet. She wasn't sure it would work.

"I'm authorized by the Council to do things as I see fit. If that includes 'being up your ass', that is exactly what I'm going to do." He didn't even look up from the data pad.

"Oh, really." She said flatly. This guy had some quads. "Fine. You wanna be up my ass so bad, why don't you come to my quarters tonight." What the hell was she thinking? Was she flirting with a turian?

"Why would I need to go to your quarters to examine your work..."

He'd still been looking at the data pad when he trailed off to look at Shepard. He looked shocked at the sudden realization of what she was suggesting.

"Are you trying to bribe me? What are you hiding? You must be afraid I'll find out you're doing something illegal if you're so worried about my watching you."

"No, it's just irritating to have you hovering around all the time. Like I'm some kind of incapable rookie." She admitted.

"I don't think you're incapable, Shepard." He sighed before continuing. "I'm evaluating you. I can't say more than that."

"Evaluating me for what? I don't screw up. My yearly review isn't due for another six months. Why would they send a Spectre to evaluate me?"

"I really can't say more, Shepard. I'm sorry." He returned his attention to the data pad, and the 'prawns'.

"OK. Fine."

Sonya slammed her open palms on the table as she stood up and walked away. She was so pissed off right now. She took the elevator to her quarters.

As she'd walked away, Nihlus looked up from the data pad. Her hips swayed hypnotically even in her angry strut across the floor. He'd never considered human before, though he supposed they weren't too different from asari, physically. He was something of a out cast among his own kind. Saren Arterius was the only one who had befriended him since he was a child. Saren was the one who saw potential in him for the Spectres and mentored him. He'd also introduced him to his first lover. An asari. Nihlus had been with only a few women, only one of which was another turian. She had been exceedingly secretive about him, as if she were ashamed of him. He broke it off with her for that reason. The resulting hostilities from her prompted him to transfer to a different ship. That was in his turian military days. All the others had been asari dancers in some club or another. This human, she was different.

Sonya lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep. Why was she being evaluated? For what purpose? This was going to drive her crazy. She got up and took some sedatives out of her dresser dewar. Her head was barely on the pillow when sleep took her.

Two more colonies later and Kryik was still following her around, refusing to give her any more information. He didn't follow as closely though, that made her a little more at ease. He still watched her, but his gaze had changed somehow. It looked softer, not as harsh. He didn't seem to be judging her anymore. Was it because she'd called him out? Surely a turian wasn't afraid of a little human woman. He towered almost two feet over her. It was some what daunting, she had to admit, but sexy too. Sexy? What? But he's covered in plates and leathery... and strong with those hard... She shook her head. Kryik was staring at her. Great, now she looked like she was crazy. Then she realized she'd been staring at him. She turned away and ducked into the nearest supply shed to hide her embarrassment. She wasn't xenophobic, but she'd never been interested in anything that wasn't a human male before. Why was she attracted to this turian? She hated him, didn't she? He annoyed her, irritated her. He was a bloody alien! One of a species that tried to wipe hers out not long ago.

Nihlus stood a few paces off watching the team do it's job. No new or useful information had been found, so far. Shepard was examining some security systems near by. The early afternoon sun was on her back. Her blonde hair seemed to glow white. He stood with his arms crossed, quietly studying what curves could be seen with her armor on. Over all he liked her. Why was going the extra step so odd, just because she was human? Suddenly he realized she was staring at him in a side long gaze. Did she know he was looking at her... he was always looking at her. It was part of his job. He didn't look away. That would only make him look guilty. Shepard's face abruptly turned bright pink in the cheeks. She turned and almost ran to a storage shed. Amused, Nihlus stayed put to see how long she would hide in there. Eventually she came out, walking away from him and not looking back. Her behavior suggested, to him at least, that she'd been embarrassed about something. He held back a smile as he wondered what that embarrassment may have been about.

It was almost 0100 hours and Sonya Shepard was still awake. She'd spread out the pieces to her rifle on the gun cleaning table in the loading bay of the Normandy. She had a rag in hand and some gun oil cleaning her assault rifle muzzle in her military issue sleep-wear. Whatever she was thinking about, she was lost in the thought because she didn't hear the elevator doors open or the clicking of turian feet on the metal floor.

"Late for cleaning weapons, don't you think, Commander?" a rumbling voice echoed through the empty bay. She just about jumped out of her skin, pointing the un-attached muzzle in the direction of the voice.

"I almost shot you." She spat.

"I think not. That is just an empty tube of metal, though I'm sure you might have beaten the intruder with it." He was smiling at her in his turian way.

"What are you doing down here? What do you want?" She asked, annoyed. She crossed her arms with rag and muzzle still in hand.

"I could ask you the same question. It's not standard procedure to clean equipment at 0100 hours. Are you preparing an assault on the Normandy?"

She wasn't sure, but she thought he was teasing her. "It's not standard procedure to be spied on either." She shot back. She eyed him. He was wearing his own military issue pjs.

Nihlus uncrossed his arms. "Ok. Fine." He held out a taloned hand. "Truce?"

Sonya eyed him warily for a moment, then shook his hand.

"Truce." She released her grip immediately, but the turian did not. She looked at his talons then to his white painted face. "What gives?"

"Maybe I should take you in for interrogation. You've been acting strange lately."

"I have no idea what you're talking about . Let go." She tried to jerk her hand away, but his grip was strong. She narrowed her eyes at his teasing grin.

Nihlus pulled her toward him, bending slightly to touch the backs of her fingers to his mouth. The action clearly caught her off guard, because she didn't struggle or start screaming at him. He looked into her deep brown eyes with his bright green ones. His vision went blurry for a second after a loud smacking sound made contact with his right mandible. When he could focus again, Shepard was rubbing the palm of one hand, glowering at him. He laughed.

"What's so damn funny?"

"You are."

"Oh, really." She picked up the muzzle she'd dropped when she used it to slap him. "Well see how 'funny' you think I am when I shove this up whatever you call you ass!"

Before she could attempt to carry out her threat she found herself being thrown to the floor by a very powerful blow to the chest. It knocked the wind out of her. It took several moments for her to catch her breath. Her vision was dotted with bright spots of light.

"Do you want to rethink that threat, Commander?" It didn't really sound like a question.

"No..." she groaned, trying to get up. "I don't think I do."

The muzzle was kicked from her hand. She felt powerful claws drag her up from the floor and slam her into the wall. She could see his fiery green eyes boring into her. He still had a smile on is face.

"What are you gonna do, turian?" she seethed at him. She saw his eyes flash to her mouth.

In a blur of motion her mouth was on his. His long tapered tongue was exploring her mouth, liberally. There was the sound of tearing fabric and the sudden chill of the air on her bare skin. One of his talons grazed over the tender areas of her exposed breast. The other talon was pressed hard onto the other breast and his pelvis crushing hers, holding her to the wall.

He could feel the wetness of her arousal soaking through her panties and his sleep-wear bottoms. Her eyes were closed as he explored her mouth with his tongue. He watched her chest heaving in labored breaths while he molested her body. He tore the remaining fabric that blocked his entry. His own arousal quickly exposing itself from within his body, sliding hard and wet from it's protective folds.

"Have you ever been with a turian before?" He growled in his desire.

"No." she opened her eyes to glare at him. "And I don't plan to now!" She ignited in blue, biotic flame.

She tried to fight free of his grasp. To blast him into the wall, but it was a futile effort. He secured both her hands over her head with one clawed hand, stretching her body until she had no leverage. She hooked her thighs over his hips and tried to push off, but he quickly countered her actions, slamming her hips into the wall with his. Crippling pain shot through her, sending blinding light through her vision. She cried out.

"We won't try that, again, will we? Hummm...?" he clicked his tongue as he drug a free talon down her rib cage, drawing blood.

She drew in a sharp breath through gritted teeth. Her hips and thighs were already bruised and scratched from his plates. Something hard and hot was sliding into her body. Her breathing and heart beat quickened with anticipation. Then it drew back. She saw a wicked look in his eye. He was teasing her. In a little, out a little. Over and over.

"I know you want me, Shepard. I saw you before you hid your shame in the supply shed."

Her eyes grew wide. He laughed.

"Admit it, Shepard." He growled into her ear and slid his tongue along her neck. "I want to hear you say it. Tell me you want me."

"Never, you fucking ass hole!" she panted, her biotics flaring. He slammed her into the wall again.

"Say it."

"No." she groaned.

He took a bit of flesh in his teeth and nipped her hard enough to draw blood. New bruises were already forming on her body. He teased her again and again. He skillfully teased her nipples with his tongue. He could see the blush in her cheeks and smell her arousal dripping down her legs to splatter quietly on the metal floor. He took a free talon along her thigh, just scratching the surface. He held up the collected liquid up for her to see.

"Look at it. I know you want me. You're own body betrays you. All you have to do is say it... and I'll give you everything you're so longing for."

"No." her voice was trembling, like her body. The blue halo of light pulsing.

Nihlus knew this game well. Young asari sometimes liked to play it. He took the talon with her wetness on it and brought it down over her hips and buttocks. He let the skin catch on the claw as it rounded her curves to the back entry, as it was soon about to become.

"No! Please!" She tried to struggle.

"If you struggle, it will only hurt more."

He waited for her to stop and eased the talon into her. A moan escaped her.

"There, do you like that?" He asked in a low, taunting tone.

She didn't answer. He pushed his talon a little further in. She bit her lip. He moved it in and out, always further in than out.

"Answer the question, Shepard." He ordered in his Spectre voice.

"Yes," she shrieked.

"Yes', you'll answer the question or 'yes' you like it?" He applied more pressure.

"Yes, I like it! I like it. Oh god!" She moaned.

"Good. Good." He started to tease her other area again. "Now, tell me you want me."

She turned her face away from him. He sunk his teeth into her lower scalene muscle, low enough that the uniform would cover the wound. She cried out. He released her, savoring the taste of blood on his fangs.

"Look at me, and tell me you want me."

She slowly opened her eyes to look into his.

"I want you," She breathed. He smiled at her.

"Again."

"I want you." She said a little louder. "Please."

"No." He removed the talon that was penetrating her.

Her eyes looked panicked. "Please!"

He shook his head. "Beg me."

"Oh, god. Kryik..." She couldn't take much more of this. His grip on her wrists tightened. "Please. I beg you..."

"Please what?" He ran a taloned hand up her body to fondle her breasts. His erection was full and throbbing.

"Please, fuck me, Nihlus." She panted.

There was a wet sound, and a loud moan. She felt him plunge his enormity into her. He spread her wide and filled her beyond what she'd ever experienced. She could feel every engorged vein every rib? Turians were ribbed? "Oh, god!" she thought as wave after wave of ecstacy flooded her senses as he took her. Blue flames licked her skin. His growls vibrated through her.

A low grunt rumbled deep in his chest as he thrust himself deep into her body. A few quick pulses and then he slowed the rhythm. Gentle, but hard, relentless. He nipped a her nipples as they danced before him with each push. He slid his claws over her body and pushed a talon into the rear entry once again, more forceful. The satisfying sound of her cry intensified his need.

Each thrust produced an orgasm from her athletic frame. Sounds like water from a bucket sloshed to the floor. She was trying to hold back her screams. He was trying to force them from her. No one could hear them down here. Her smell was strong and intoxicating. He eased his talon out of her body in time with an orgasm, heightening it. Skillfully, he used his free hand to pull back the hood and delicately rub and pinch the tender, swollen clit hiding beneath.

She thought he was going to screw her to death. She could hardly breath, her body was tremoring so hard from the sheer number and intensity of her orgasms. If he hadn't been holding her up, she surely would collapse to the floor. She heard a growl building in his chest. It rumbled through her. Suddenly he trust himself deep and hard into her, causing her to scream. Another gush of fluid flooded to the floor. Biotic flames burst from her body. He was practically howling as she felt him climax inside her.

He released her hands. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. He swung an arm around her and used the other to knock the gun parts to the floor, setting her gently on the table. She put a hand on either side of his face and kissed him the best she could. He still throbbed inside her as his member slowly receded back into it's hiding place. His lower half was completely soaked with her juices.

They stole uniforms from some near by lockers and cleaned up the mess in silence. Sonya found all of the pieces to her gun and dumped them in her locker. She'd finish it up tomorrow. She was too exhausted to do it now. She could hardly stand. Nihlus seemed to be having only a fraction of the difficulty standing as she was.

"What stamina!" She thought. "I won't be satisfied with a human ever again. He's ruined me." and she smiled to herself.

They took the elevator together and parted ways in the empty hall with a brief, awkward kiss. Over the next few days they said nothing to the other out side of a sentence or two pertaining to work, but they didn't avoid eye contact. What was said with those glances was intense and complicated. When they went to a colony he still hovered over her. He did his job. Almost a week past before he broke the silence.