Combat Training: Chapter 4, The Arena

“I have to admit, Commander, when you invited me out for a night of stimulating action, this is not what I had envisioned.”  Samantha yelled, crouching behind a holographic concrete barrier in the Armax Arsenal Arena, shots ricocheting off the backside.  Shepard stood over her cover, another barrier ten yards away, and fired her M-8 Avenger and ducked back under cover.

“This not exciting enough for you?”  She yelled back as Samantha peaked over the cover and fired.  Shepard used the covering fire to run, and slide next to Samantha “What you have in mind?”  Shepard teased.

Samantha ducked back down, “Less guns, more screaming.”  The women laughed.  As a concussive shot hit the barrier, Samantha sank as far as she could.  “They’re not real…they’re not real.”  Samantha reminded herself.

“No.  Don’t do that.  Don’t get through it only because they’re holograms.  Pretend they are real.  If you’re in a real combat situation, you won’t be able to tell yourself that they don’t exist.”  Shepard placed her hand on Samantha’s cheek, and Samantha grabbed it.  Samantha nodded, and in unison, the two sprang up and fired their weapons, hitting their holographic Cerberus targets.

“End of Round 2,” the commentating VI announced.

The women stood up, reloaded their weapons, and caught their breath.

“Alright, Samantha,” Shepard said, “For this next round, you’re in charge.”

“Me?”

“Yes.  I will follow your orders.  Tell me where to go, what targets to hit, everything.  You devise the strategy.  You can do this.”

“I don’t know.  I haven’t gotten through all three rounds yet…”

“You can do this.”  Shepard encouraged.  She put her hand on Samantha’s shoulder,  “Tell you what.  If we make it though this round…”

“Yes?”

“If we make it through this round, under your command, we’ll leave here, head back to my apartment, and order out.  Maybe play some chess.”

“And..?”  Samantha prodded.

“…And tomorrow morning I’ll make you breakfast in bed.  I’ll even wear one of those frilly little aprons.”  Samantha looked a little disappointed that Shepard wasn’t picking up what she was hinting at.  “I’ll wear only one of those frilly little aprons.”  Samantha perked up.

“By God, we’re making it through this round.”  Samantha exclaimed as she cocked her no-longer-modified-to-reduce-recoil assault rifle.

The VI started to count down “5…4…3…”

“Alright, Commander,” Samantha quickly ordered as the two knelt behind the barricade, “It looks like the enemies will be spawning there.  I want you to get to cover over there.”  She pointed to a high flanking position, “We need to pin them in that area.  If we can contain them, this shouldn’t be too…”

“Final Round” The VI announced, as shots rang out, hitting the concrete barrier.

“I’ll lay suppressive fire!  You get to the flanking position!”  Samantha yelled, Shepard nodded and started to move.  “Oh, Commander!”  Shepard turned back around.  Samantha grabbed the collar of Shepard’s armor and pulled her toward her.  She kissed her passionately, pulled her away, and said, “Take care of yourself!”

“I like it when you’re in charge!”

Samantha popped up over the cover and fired, “Now go!”

*   *   *

“…and blueberries.  I adore blueberries in my pancakes.”  Samantha finished her breakfast order.  Together, Samantha and Shepard walked into the locker room to remove their armor and return their equipment.

“Yeah, yeah.  I got you.  I have to say, you’ve improved a lot since we’ve started coming here.”

“What can I say?  I’m being trained by the best.”

“And, I also have to say,” Shepard looked up and down Samantha’s armor as Samantha bent over to remove her boots, “You look good in armor.”  Shepard said, starting to remove her own.

“It’s hard not to.  I mean, look at this!”  Samantha stood and cupped the sculpted breasts of her armor, “Individual cups?  Who designed this?”

“Straight men.  And that’s nothing, you should see Liara’s armor.”

“Oh, I’ve seen it.”

Shepard finished changing into her casual uniform before Samantha, who had trouble figuring out how to unlatch the chest piece.  “Would you like to shower here, or back at the apartment?”

“I think here would be best.  If you want to return everything, I’ll meet you upstairs?”  Samantha said, removing the last of her armor, now standing in her black sporty underwear.

“No problem, see you there.”  Shepard and Samantha kissed, and Shepard gathered everything and left the locker room to return it.

Shepard bought a soft drink at the concession stand and watched the next match as she waited for Samantha.  She couldn’t help but note all the glaring strategic mistakes the competitors were making, sometimes audibly, earning her annoyed looks from those next to her.  Halfway through a severely doomed second round, Samantha came up behind her, “ready to go?”

“Yeah,” Shepard stood up and pointed to the duffle bag Samantha was carrying, “Want me to get that?”

“My hero.”  Samantha handed her the bag.  Shepard threw it over her shoulder and the two walked out of the arena.  Shepard threw away her empty drink and held her hand for Samantha.  She grabbed it, wearing the old fingerless leather gloves.

“You’re still wearing the gloves?” Shepard asked.

“Yes.”

“I’ve noticed you’ve been wearing them around a lot lately.”

“They’re comfortable.”  Samantha defended.  “They were the first present you ever gave me.”

“I thought the toothbrush was the first present I gave you.”

“You gave me the gloves before the toothbrush.  On our first training session.”

“Just after we left Mars.”

“Right.”

“Does they still count if I didn’t think of them as a gift at the time?  That I thought I was just loaning them to you?”

“They still count, and you know you’re not getting them back.”

“I’ll just have to keep you around then, so I never lose them.”

“And, Technically, you didn’t give me the toothbrush.  My super wealthy and beautiful secret admirer did.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right.”  Shepard let go of Samantha’s hand and threw her arm around her as they walked into the apartment building, “I’m going to have to keep an eye out for her.  Make sure she doesn’t come in and sweep you off your feet.”

“Any day now.  Also, is this the toothbrush you broke, trying to hijack your own ship?"  They entered the elevator.  Samantha pushed the button for their floor.

“Right…About that…” Samantha gave Shepard a playful accusatory look, “I’m going to replace it.  I promise.”

“Honey,” Samantha put her hands on Shepard’s hips and looked into her eyes, “I think, as long as it is sitting in a cup next to yours, it doesn’t matter what kind of toothbrush I have.”

“Awww…” Shepard teased before they kissed.

“…as long as it uses mass effect fields to break up plaque and massage the gums.”

“Of course.”

“Of course.”

“You are so going to pay for…”

“ah ah ah.  I’m in charge, remember?”  Samantha pulled Shepard in.

“Yes ma’am…”