"Argh…" Lorraine Shepard sharply moved her head to the right, dodging the plasma round and summoned her power for another charge: the world before her eyes changed color to cyan-blue once again and habitual spiky wave of Dark Energy flew through Commander`s body. In a blink of the eye she was ready – and now all she needed to do was let go, just like that.

The next moment dark haired woman turned into the blue lighting, storming forward at her enemies. The Geth Could be called everything but careless, but even their superior accuracy and firepower could not stop Vanguard`s Charge, nothing in this university could… Lorri hit the massive synthetic with flame thrower, watching how metal chassis breaks before her eyes – she literally cut through the unlucky pyro, and before its remains could fall on the floor she shot off two more flashy heads.

The only miraculously survivor Geth tried to hit woman with his pulse rifle but his dud stopped abruptly, making his synthetic hands creek before Lorriane`s shining blue palm.

"Fool!" Shepard laughed, the Geth were strong but their strength was nothing compare to her power: the Vanguard grasped the rifle that poor synthetic still held in his hands and playfully hit it with its own weapon clearly mocking the robot.

The Geth fell on the ground and before it could recover massive armored boot turned its head into the sticky blue mess of oil and metal fragment.

Kaidan and Tali dispatched the remaining Geth in the meantime, but it was simply dry cleaning after the real master – what to say Lorraine Shepard was taught to be the best, and she had learned her lessons well! The very presence of the Vanguard on the battlefield could rally even most scared soldiers and drive them into the attack, not to mention the stunning impression those guys made in combat!

"Kheela-damn-it, Prime!" Tali yelled like the fire alarm, firing somewhere left – that was mostly the loud notification where the enemy was, even at close distance her shotgun would barely scratch Geth Commander, the fact she had to hide not to be killed the next moment confirmed that fully.

The next was Kaidan, his biotics shined brighter than sun when Major hit the massive red plaited robot, this time Prime backed down but Lorraine understood it was temporary – VERY much temporary effect.

"OUT OF MY WAY!" She screamed collecting the power for another charge.

Tali instinctively fell on the floor, covering her head and just in time - `cause the next moment the bright blue lightning whirred right above her helm. Shepard smashed into the enemy commander with all her power, and that was too much for the Prime to bear. It`s synthetic legs bent down and with the loud echo heavy robot fell on the floor.

Knowing how dangerous and cunning Geth Officers were Lorri rushed to finish the red bastard: she jumped on its chest and launched a few flaming rounds into Geth 'heart' and when she saw the armor split Commander used her biotics to jump high and with deafening war cry smashed her glowing fist into it.

The effect was as destructive as it was impressive – famous Nova combined with burning cracked armor produced explosion so strong that it simply tore the unhappy Prime apart, sending countless flaming pieces fly aimlessly around.

The first thing Lorraine saw after the glow faded were Kaidan`s round eyes – oh how much she enjoyed this both amazed and proud look, Alenko always knew and told her about how strong Biotic she was, but this… this even he could not anticipate from his lover!

Shepard simply winked him and run forward, noting still awed companions to follow her. Tali was the first to pick up her jaw from the floor, so she poked Alenko, dropping casual: "Come on Romeo!"

The farther they progressed the stronger the resistance was: Geth were crawling out from every hole, every angle even every celling – damn Lorraine really was wondering how easily it would be to deliver them into battle should she manage to stop this war…

Another whistle returned her back to reality – it was a missile that miraculously missed her face, burning a few casual hair strands. The blue shining at her left hinted on that it was not a miracle that saved her, but nevertheless for next round Shepard was ready! When the Geth Rocket Trooper aimed again and fired she simply waved the missile away, causing it to punch a hole in the farthest wall.

The Dark Energy filled her body again, it seemed that even Commander`s hair was shining with blue light – but unfortunately the Geth learned from its mistake – rather than try another doomed attempt the rocket trooper rushed on to her, engaging the Vanguard in close combat.

Bald but foolish attempt… or at least it seemd that way - `cause when Shepard once again charged the robot she understood that this time it was not a flamer or pulse rifle that her enemy held in his hands – it was a loaded missile launcher… The next thing she remembered was loud echo and unbearable squeak in her ears before world around her fell into the darkness.

***

"Ohhhh… my head…" Lorri sighed heavily, rubbing her temple while the world around her was slowly returning to the condition she came to count normal. Her head hummed like a bee hive and her body felt like Wrex got really angry and actually tried to eat Commander.

There was a VERY long list of things Lorraine hated about Geth – like their blasted ability to drop right from orbit, their deadly synthetic accuracy, stealthed hunters with shotguns or absolute absence of self-preservation instinct (those guys attacked like Barselona!) but the first thing in this list was definitely their rocket troopers. When you combine at least these components together you`ll already most likely shit your pants, and there were more… much more!

Rannoch invasion has been one of the most tiresome missions for our heroes: Lorraine was a Vanguard – she wasn`t taught to hide or back down – no step back was her motto. The Vanguards were an elite, the proud of the Alliance, the very living symbol of how humans can use every resource they obtain and turn it into the most powerful weapon… Shepard had some troubling thoughts about how much resembles this quality has with Reapers and their harvest: use all that is useful for the victory… The backside of this heroism and stuff meant she had to risk her life literally every second, bear the punches and hits and look the death in the eye – once again literally!

"Lorri… Commander, are you alright?" The cold armored hands gripped her by the shoulders and lifted fallen Vanguard helping her get up from the floor. The hold was strong but still very careful and even gentle. After she just held direct hit Shepard was grateful for such soft touch.

"I`m alive…" She murmured shaking her head and shaping loosen hair, her head has finally cleared. Though she could stand up on her own she did allow Alenko to help her up fully – it was nice to feel his care. "Damn I hate those rocket geth with their ground-to-my ass missiles!"

"You prefer pyros or primes then?" Tali`s spiteful electronic voice sounded at her right.

"Nooooo… I prefer somebody… softer and warmer to charge into…" Lorri smiled seductively, while her hand was slowly making its way down Kaidan`s unshaved cheek and her fingertips tickle his chin. As Commander anticipated this caused both Alenko and Tali blush, and it fitted her plans just fine!

While Kaidan rubbed his neck and Tali was clumsily trying to clear her fogged visor Lorraine reached to her shotgun and summoned it back from the ground, she always felt safer when her hands caressed cold gunmetal.

"Legion, give me the picture?"

"No more Geth in the area, reinforcements are minutes away…" By the machine`s mind that was considerable time, but if there was one thing that Lorraine learned while being Vanguard that was making instinctively quick and more or less right decisions.

Lorraine rushed forward to the observation platform, but before she made third step she felt a strong hand holding her by the wrist. Lorraine turned around and found out that she was almost kissing Kaidan, before Commander could react Alenko grasped her tighter and pressed to himself.

"Don`t ever scare me like that again!" He whispered before devouring her lips hungrily, Lorri`s eye rounded from such display – she loved Kaidan more than her life, but to this very moment he never allowed himself such… well forwardness would not be an accurate word but it was the only one Shepard could come up with at the moment. Not that she disapproved though…

And only after her lungs started reminding the owner about the benefit of breathing Lorri pushed her lover away, but not breaking their embrace. Kaidan`s face was all sweaty and bore a few dirty traces, and Lorri knew she herself was not looking very well at the moment, but still the picture each lover saw before his and hers eyes was beautiful!

"Alright… Alright…" She whispered, trying to steady her breath, wet hair strands fell on her face blocking the view so Commander had to move them away. "I won`t… Now you can put your hands back up on my waist, Major…"

"Ah…" Kaidan instantly let her go and stepped back, feeling how his ears burn under Tali`s sly sight and chuckles.

"Shepard Commander, we have detected several potentually hazardous explosions at your location, what is your status?" Legion reminded of its existence once again.

"Right…" Lorri shook her head, taking the sinking laser off her back and pressing her finger to the com link, it was not over yet. "I`m alright Legion, now tell me where to aim with that thing… (pause) But not until I figure out how it works!"

END