John let go of Ashley's hands as they stepped into the Normandy's airlock and the decontamination began.

Inside the Normandy, Ashley walked past him and went immediately down the stairs towards the Engineering Bay Elevator. John caught a glimpse of her as she dissappeared behind the door of his own cabin.

When he went in himself, she pressed herself against him, pinning him to the closed door. As she leaned in for a kiss, he pushed her away and walked further into the room.

"When I said I wanted to talk about this, I meant Ash. I want to talk about it."

She didn't seem disappointed as she sat down on his bed. He offered her a drink, and she took it.

"Look Ash. Before we get serious or anything, we have to have some ground rules."

She took on a look of amused disbelief.

"Ground rules? Are we in High School or something?" She asked. "We're both adults John. We both know the rules."

He looked down at the floor. A silent moment passed, and stretched on for awhile.

"So.... what?" He asked. He wasn't quite sure what to do.

"I don't know. I mean it always seems like you're supposed to know how everything works so nothing is ever awkward."

John hadn't realized it, but he had slowly laid his head down on his desk. Ashley started talking again, but he didn't hear her as he drifted off to sleep.

((Continued from C-Sec HQ))

"Damnit, this is a mistake..." Limerus muttered to himself, standing in front of the Normandy's airlock. He scratched his head, thinking about his options. However, that was the problem. He had no options. He sighed, opening his com channel straight to the Normandy itself.

"Pilot of the Normandy, this is Harther Jones. If it isn't too much to ask, I would like access to your ship to talk to Commander Shepard," he said, unknowing of who the pilot was. He had heard that in its glory days it was Joker, the famous Alliance pilot, but was unsure at this point.

"Captain, there's some guy in the airlock. Says he wants to talk to you. Making a ton of noise, banging on the door, all that. Real crazy. Sounds like a friend of yours."

John awoke to the sound of Joker's disembodied voice over the PA. He got up from the desk and wiped some drool from his mouth. He grabbed his pistol while mumbling under his breath.

"This had better be important, Joker." he said as he approached the Cockpit. There, on the main screen, he could make out the outline of a Turian. It looked strikingly familiar.

He recognized the Turian as soon as he leaned in to use the intercom. It was the man who had tried to kill him the day before.

"What the hell do you want?" John said into the small speaker.

"I don't mean any harm, Shepard. I'm just calling in for a favor," the Turian explained. He stood impatiently by the airlock, waiting to be called in. He casually looked around every few seconds, making sure C-Sec hadn't tracked him.

"I need to hitch a ride to Earth. My ship is on lockdown, and Citadel Control will probably blast me out of the sky as soon as I hack through the main-frame, and lift off." Limerus took a moment to use his hand usefully, removing his mask and stroking his nose, feeling the blood running down it. He placed his mask back on, cursing.

"Add medical attention to that list of things I need."

John was amazed. He had never asked favors from people he had tried to kill. On second thought he might have done just that before, but he would have waited for more than a day if he had.

"Oh, I get it. You didn't kill me, so now I owe you one?" He said, his voice thick with disdain for the Turian waiting impatiently outside.

"Yeah, basically." Limerus waited several seconds after saying the statement, but soon waved his arms, knowing he wasn't going to get a response.

"Listen, it isn't just that. If I would have killed you, I would have lived out the rest of my life filthy rich, living in some outer colony with no worries of working ever again." The Turian paused, sighing as he thought of what would have happened, had he killed the Spectre. "When I let you live, I condemned myself to a life as a mercenary. If I had killed you, I wouldn't even be here, in any perspective."

"Ah, hell." John said, sighing. He could see the shadows of the C-Sec agents approaching. He could just let them get here and take the Turian. Or, more likely, paint the airlock blue with his blood.

But he couldn't shake the feeling that he had to at least let him in.

"Joker, open the door." he said, grabbing his pistol and aiming it at the closed Airlock door.

"Are you serious sir? He tried to kill you. That's-"

"OPEN the door." John interrupted, keeping his eyes focused on the door.

The door slid open with a hiss and John saw the Turian, standing, his face hard to see because of the tribal mask he wore.

"Off with the mask." John said, ready to shoot him when he inevitably declined to show his face.

"I appreciate the warm welcome, but I'm sure your girlfriend won't appreciate us making out on the ship," Limerus mused, taking off his mask and tossing it towards Shepard. "But I'll take it off anyways, because I don't feel like having a Kodak Moment with an entire Citadel firing squad."

Limerus took a moment to look behind him, hoping that Shepard would forget about his assault rifle, so that he could just get inside and leave. "So how about it, am I allowed in your fortress?"

John saw the Turian's backward glance. He wasn't going to approach him while he was armed. Bensen, had wandered up, curious at the sight of his CO aiming a pistol at some unseen foe.

"Bensen. Secure his weapon." he said, gesturing toward the Turian. While Bensen walked cautiously towards him, he saw it was, indeed, the Turian who was 'executed'. Limerus Almore, a traitor.

"Why did you come back? Wanted to finish the job? I have half a mind to hog tie you and leave you alone with Williams for a half hour. Then let C-Sec have you." He said, as Bensen grew closer.

"And for the record, she's not my girlfriend. There's regs against that kind of thing."

"You Humans... you're all so aggressive about everything," Limerus commented, throwing his hands up in the air. "Hurry up about it. I wouldn't want C-Sec to arrive just in time to give your floor a new paint job."

"And for the record, she's not my girlfriend. There's regs against that kind of thing."

"Oh, I apologize, Shepard," Limerus said, rolling his eyes. "I suppose she is what you Humans call a... booty call? That's it, right? You have so many rediculous sayings, I can't recall."

"Oh, I apologize, Shepard," Limerus said, rolling his eyes. "I suppose she is what you Humans call a... booty call? That's it, right? You have so many rediculous sayings, I can't recall."

John heard the Turian say as Bensen secured his Assault rifle and nudged him inside. The Airlock finally closed, having no occupants. His arm was sore from laying on it, but he kept a firm aim at the Turian's head.

"I don't know who your source of information is, but they're fairly innaccurate." he said. "I know you didn't come here just to talk about my sex life, Limerus. So why did you come back?"

Limerus ignored the guns pointed in his direction, making himself at home in the ship. "I might have shot at a Spectre and killed a few guards. Nothing major," he called back, examining the ship's controls, looming over Joker. "Quite the ship you have here, Shepard. I mean, I'd never think I'd end up on the Normandy."

By now, he was almost talking to himself, the blood loss his nose was causing obviously having an effect on what he was saying. "I hope there won't be too much of a delay on our main destination, Shepard?"

"I'm not about to shuttle you to some hideout so you can wait out the heat. You'll just come back and cause more trouble. You can wait here until those guards pass, but then you're off my ship. I've already done too much for you." John said, lowering the gun. His guest didn't seem to even acknowledge its prescence, and he could bring it back up in a second should the need arise.

"Although, and please take this as sincerely as possible, I do think you're overloaded with work, I'm sure a couple of hours to take a stop at your home planet wouldn't kill you." Limerus turned around, facing Shepard.

"I don't understand why you're taking this so seriously, Shepard. You've transported plenty of bad guys like me before. What about that one Krogan Mercenary... Wrex, was it?" Limerus began looking out the windows, observing the view. "Besides, I'd probably have to spend the night here for the heat to die down. If you dropped me off at Earth, you'd have me off your shoulders a lot sooner."

"Joker, bring us to Earth." John said with a defeated sigh. He heard a tsk from the cockpit, but otherwise the pilot remained silent as the ship pulled away from the docking bay.

"You never told me why you came back. You could have gone anywhere and disappeared, but you came back to a city full of people who want you dead." He said, turning towards Limerus.

"I've gotten back into the business of the mercenary." Limerus grunted, still looking out the window, observing as the ship began to exit the Citadel. "When I was in the Navy, I use to do some paid contracts, here and there. Figured I'd take my connections and make it full time. Turns out my first job was right here--just my luck." Finally, the Turian faced his foe, biting his lip.

Suddenly, he retrieved an OSD from his armor, tossing it to Shepard. "I downloaded some information from Citadel Control; for whatever reason, someone wanted it." Limerus stopped, but only to scratch the itch on what remained of his nose. "I'll be damned if anyone can read it, but that's not my concern."

John caught the OSD, looked at it for a moment, and tossed it back.

"Why don't you try finding a job where you don't have to kill people and risk getting killed yourself?" He said.

With impeccable timing, one of the doors to the opened and Ashley walked out. John saw the quizzical look on her face as she saw the Turian.

He cringed and, gritting his teeth, hoped Limerus would spare him. His reputation had suffered enough already.

Limerus didn't say a word, simply nodding to acknowledge the presence of Ashley, and turning back to Shepard; he wasn't in any condition to showboat, regardless of how utterly ironic the moment was.

"Why don't you try finding a job where you don't have to kill people and risk getting killed yourself?"

Continuing the conversation casually, he responded, "Grand idea, Shepard. I'm sure employers will be impressed when they read my resume: 'Tried to enslave the entire population of the Galaxy. Killed thousands of men at the Battle of Judecca. Known for his incredible ruthlessness and terrible leadership skills.' Oh, and I'm sure I could get one of my friends to recommend me..." Limerus finished, only to laugh in mockery. "Oh yeah... I have none."

"Are you telling me you've never lied on a resume?" John said to Limerus, still trying to prepare for the inevitable comment about Ashley.

"What the hell?" Ashley said, coming up behind him.

"We'll never see him again when we get to Earth, Ash." John said, turning around, before looking back at Limerus and adding "I can guarantee it."

"Why would you even let him on the ship in the first place?" She shouted, attracting the attention of the few engineers gathered around the three-dimensional map of the galaxy that occupied the greater portion of the ship's bridge.

"Are you telling me you've never lied on a resume?"

"A bit hard to do, in my case. I'll be damned if there isn't a single person in this galaxy that can't recognize me." Limerus was trying to contain his laughter by now, watching the two trying to come to a resolution on the matter.

"Listen, woman, if it makes a difference, I'll buy you something nice when I get to Earth. Do you like ice cream?" he asked, containing the laughter no longer. He burst out, almost rolling on the floor in pain from the chuckles. He banged on the side of the ship, enjoying his own comedic actions.

John looked at the Turian as he cackled, and Ashley as she glared them both down. John didn't see any point in defending himself- he didn't have any reason behind letting a criminal on board the ship. Just a feeling, and he couldn't effectively project that feeling. He was relieved to see the ship come out of FTL at the Sol System Mass Relay.

"Get ready to leave." John said as the Earth grew closer.

[Continued in Hideout thread]

((Continued from Hideout, Earth))

Limerus examined the immediate area, but was unable to find the Normandy. He cursed, turning to see if there was anyone he knew around that was viable for information. He was wearing his standard attire, no different from when he had last been at the Citadel. He was completely relying on things having cooled down to make his way around.

The reason he hadn't changed armor or masks was because he didn't plan on making a scene. Approaching the Normandy, planting the bug, and getting out was all that mattered. If, by some small chance, there wasn't many people on the ship, he would force his way in, and kill Joker.

If not, then he would take his money, and never be involved with Shepard again. In fact, the money (combined with previous earnings) was just enough to buy a possible apartment, anywhere in the galaxy.

And then he could get his life back.

The Normandy docked with Citadel station smoothly, Joker skillfully gliding it into places as the locks latched on.

John and Ashley did just as Limerus had predicted- they made love for an hour, argued for an hour, separated and cooled down for a few hours, made love for another hour, and then slept.

On the bridge, most of the engineers had cleared out to sleep. Bensen was standing guard near the comm room, and Joker sat, as always, at the controls, ready to fly the Normandy out at a moment's notice.

Limerus saw the Normandy pulling in to the docks, and cracked a smile. It was late at night, perfect timing for a sneak attack. He thought for a moment, wondering how he would even gain entrance to the ship, to plant the bug. It was impossible to plant the bug on the outside while the ship had its shields on. However, his questions were answered as he saw Turian Rear Admiral Yuria, striding right passed him.

"Admiral, wait!" he called, chasing after the much older Turian. Yuria stopped, turning around and noticing his fellow Turian. He nodded, and attentively stood at attention.

"What is it?" the admiral asked, scratching his head. The last thing he saw was Limerus' smirk, a giant fist coming down on him.

***

Limerus had never killed anyone this old before. He almost tried to wipe off the blood from his hands on the floor, so desperate just to get rid of it. However, as he dragged Yuria to a more secluded part of the docks, he calmed down. He washed any blood off of his clothes and skin, putting on the Admiral's stunning uniform. Finally, leaving his armor in the same corner for future pickup, he tossed the Admiral over the dock railings, sending him to fall thousands of feet.

As Rear Admiral Yuria walked towards the Normandy, he smirked. The disguise was perfect, and he would be almost unrecognizable. However, as he approached the ship, his smile disappeared, the man trying to appear very caustic, and serious.

"Pilot of the vessel Normandy, this message is in request of seeing Lieutenant Commander John Sheppard, for the purpose of ship inspection and approval." Limerus couldn't help but be proud as he said the words--they were exactly what any Admiral requesting an inspection would have said, and he knew this because he had accompanied many Admirals on inspection, before.

John was awoken by Joker's voice again. Disconnecting the PA from his room was starting to sound like a good idea.

He decided to put on his armor- the last few personal visits to his ship hadn't gone favorably, after all.

As the airlock hissed open, he saw a Turian in an Admiral's uniform outside the ship. Rather than wait for him to enter, John decided to meet him outside.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Admiral..." John began, half sarcastic. Joker had already told him what it was about, but he had had enough of generals and admirals and officers always wanting to inspect the ship. Especially now that he had an assignment.

"I wish to inspect the ship, Commander. Have you already forgotten that it was the Turians who helped build this ship, alongside the Humans?" Limerus made his voice appear gruff, trying to disguise his real accent and dialect. "I suppose you'd want to give me a tour of the first floor? Alliance Admiral Falcone will patrol your mess hall and Engineering Bay later today."

Limerus raised an eyebrow, his hands firmly behind his back. In one, he secretly kept a bug, the size of a pinhead, ready to drop to the floor as soon as he entered the ship.

"I know who built the ship. But we have an urgent assignment and I don't have time to give tours of the ship."

"And I didn't catch your name." He added, folding his arms.

"I know who built the ship. But we have an urgent assignment and I don't have time to give tours of the ship."

"Excuse me, Commander? I hope your rank and important assignments haven't gone to your head. Whenever you address a senior officer, you respond by the noun 'sir', do you not?" Limerus tensed, already at odds with Shepard. Why did it seem like the two couldn't get along? Were they just naturally opposites?

"And I didn't catch your name."

"Rear Admiral Tanner Yuria," he responded, refusing to show any sign of greeting.

"I do use the term 'sir' when referring to a superior officer." John said "But unless you're in Admiral in the Systems Alliance Navy, you're not my superior."

"And, like I said, if you want to inspect the ship now, you'll have to talk to the Council. I have a mission that takes priority over meaningless 'inspections'." John said, before turning back to the Normandy.

Limerus jumped slightly. He hadn't expected to be denied entrance. In fact, he expected to be reluctantly led in, showed around, and let out. "Rest assured, Shepard, I am not here on my own account. The Council tends to want to keep a tab on their most advanced ships, and the Normandy is no exception."

Limerus had to resist the urge to smile. Lying gave him a rush that was unparalleled, and although guilt was always involved, success had no negative repercussions.

"The Council would have told me if they wanted this inspection done before I left. You can take a look when I get back, but I wouldn't wait up for me." John said, about to step into the airlock.

Limerus shook his head fiercly, slinging his pistol out and pointing it at the turned back of Shepard. He flicked the safety off, aiming down the iron-sights. He sighed as he did; he was hoping that the mission would be a break from fighting and killing, but it was turning out to be on the contrary.

"Christ, Shepard, you just seem to pick a fight with me no matter what!" he called to the Human, slowly walking forward. He intended to sprint towards the airlock, just in case Shepard called Joker in to secure the ship.

John turned around and saw the Turian running at him, pistol raised.

"Christ, Shepard, you just seem to pick a fight with me no matter what!" Yuria said, and John realized he wasn't a Turian admiral. It was Limerus again.

He didn't bother fighting- Limerus obviously wanted to board the ship, and he wouldn't be able to get in without John's permission, which wouldn't come if he killed or even injured him.

Instead he brought his foot out of the airlock, and door slid closed again.

"Shepard, all I need to do is plant a small bug on the floor of your ship..." Limerus knew that Shepard wouldn't bite, not matter what he said. The Commander has been stubborn from the start, and he knew that nothing could change that.

"I don't know who wants the bug, but whoever comes at you, it's nothing you can't handle. I wouldn't even care if you kept it for a day, and then destroyed it. As long as I plant it, grab my money, and stop this bad habit of mine." Limerus paused for a moment, lowering his gun, but only slightly. "Please?"

"Give me the bug." he said, extending his hand. Even though it was illegal, the bug could lead him to whoever kept putting out all these jobs on him.

"Thank you, Shepard. Now if you could let me kill your pilot..." Limerus joked, slightly chuckling before shutting up and handing him the bug. "Kidding. Kidding."

John didn't laugh.

"Just get out of here." John said, before turning back to the ship and stepping inside the once again opened airlock.

"My, my, Shepard. Quite an attitude on this one." Limerus said nothing more, turning around and heading towards the area where he had put his old armor. The OSD already picking up a signal, he smiled in victory.

John sat down at his desk and set down the bug as the Normandy pulled away from Citadel station. He was heading to one of the Alliance's colonies. They had lost contact with it a day ago, and a nearby patrol had also been diverted, but they wanted one of their high-ranking men to ensure nothing went wrong.

He knew he was being kept in the dark- the Council rarely sent him on an assignment related to the Alliance that wasn't important. But he had no clue what it was they weren't telling him.