Garrus Vakarian is my favorite character in the Mass Effect games. I adore that he is a tactical badass on the battlefield and shy, almost innocent, when it comes to his love affair with Shepard. This story is my attempt to capture the parts of the first night they spent together that Bioware left out of ME2.

I'm sort of making this up as I go, so I have no idea of where it will take me or how it will end. I'll try to update every couple of days or so. Reviews might prompt me to work harder on the story. Hint, hint... )

Though most parts of the male turian's body is covered with plates consisting of a natural alloyed of minerals and metals as a natural protection against the excessive radiation due to Palaven's weak magnetic field, the exposed skin between the plates are very sensitive to tactile administrations. A human activating these areas should be aware that in a state of arousal the male turian will produce an oily substance that can cause allergic reactions-

Shepard tossed the datapad aside with an annoyed groan. Though Mordin's articles and charts on the turians anatomy and biology were extensive and no doubt full of information, they revealed nothing about the emotional aspect of turian sexuality.

Despite the fact that she had made a career of dealing with the unknown and unexpected, Shepard wanted this... what ever it was... with Garrus to go right.

The simple fact was that she wanted to please him, to give him a moment of warmth and light and pleasure. Something that would make up for all the darkness and the death they had been through, and would no doubt face more of on the other side of the Omega 4 Relay.

With a sigh, she activated her personal terminal and logged on to the Extranet. Maybe she could find a vid that would answer her questions?

"Mr. Monroue has extensive files containing erotic vids", a voice sounded a few minutes later, making Shepard almost jump out of her skin. "Perhaps you can find what you're looking for there."

"EDI!" Despite the fact that EDI was an AI, an extremely advanced artificial intelligence, and not a living person, Shepard felt a blush burn on her cheeks. "You shouldn't creep up on people like that!"

"I do not creep", the AI responded in the same calm and even voice as ever. "I am always present. As I was saying, you might find what you're looking for in Mr. Monroue's files."

"How do you know what I'm looking for?" Shepard asked, still feeling acutely embarrassed.

"I believe your search word was: Human – Turian porn. I'm picking up an increased blood flow to your face, Shepard. Should I alert Doctor Solus?"

"No!" Shepard took a deep breath. "No", she said in a calmer tone of voice. "I'm all right. Does... does Joker have anything in his collection matching my... eh, search criteria?"

"No", EDI replied. "But I have found a vid containing a sexual explicit scene between two asari and a male turian. The asari anatomy is closely resembling the anatomy of a human female such as yourself."

"Right", Shepard said, trying to swallow down her embarrassment. "Can you access the vid without Joker finding out?"

"Of course. Do you want to watch the entire vid or just that scene? The summery say that it is about a lonely asari trying to find the one person she can embrace eternity with. She tries this with several beings of different species and does an excessive amount of mating with them as well. I believe Mr. Monroue finds the vid fascinating."

Was Shepard imagining things or did the AI sound amused. "Just pull up the scene with the turian", she almost growled. "And EDI if anyone find out about this I'll flood the AI Core with sewage water."

"Understood, Commander." Oh, yes, there was a definite hint of glee in EDI's carefully modulated voice.

A couple of minutes later, Shepard was sitting at her desk, staring at the screen of her terminal.

"Do you want me to play the vid again?"

Shepard cleared her throat. "Please don't." Though it no doubt gave insight into just how nimble and bendy the asari was, it revealed very little of turian sexuality... or, well... the turian in the vid seemed to enjoy having two asari tie him up and use him as a trampoline.

Maybe Liara has a close friend, Shepard thought in a moment of panic. Maybe she could talk the two of them into spending the night with Garrus? If they set course towards Illum they could be there in less then two hours. She sighed and pushed the thought away.

Surely alien porn were as exaggerated and fake as human porn? She hoped so, because she didn't feel up to trying to preform any of the advanced acrobatics the two asari had pulled off in the vid.

"Did it not answer your questions, Commander?" EDI's voice made Shepard look up at the blue orb hoovering above the small control panel next to the fish tank.

"No it didn't", she replied gloomily.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance."

Shepard shrugged mentally. Hell, it was worth a shot. "Do you know anything about turian sexuality, aside from the purely biological aspect of it, I mean."

EDI was quiet for a moment before she replied. "I have found 12 487 articles and references to turian mating customs, most of them concerning the ancient rituals dating back to before the Turian Unification War. Do you want me to compile them for you."

Shepard sighed, rubbing a hand to her forehead. "No, EDI, thanks, but I'm not interested in rituals. I'm talking about emotions. Romance."

"Then..." EDI's voice took on a softer, almost human quality. "I have found only one. I believe it is a love poem."

"A poem?" Shepard's curiosity was peaked. "I've never thought of turians as poetic. Can you read it to me, EDI?"

"Of course", came the reply. "She walks in beauty like the night. Of cloudless climes and starry skies. And all that's best of dark and bright meet in the aspect of her eyes-"

"That's not a turian poem", Shepard interrupted.s-"

"No", EDI confirmed. "It was written by the human poet George Gordon Byron, more commonly known as Lord Byron."

"So what does it have to do with turians?"

"Officer Vakarian shows an increase of pulse consisting with mild arousal every time he reads this poem. I believe he wants to recite it in an attempt to court you, Commander."

Shepard's jaw dropped. "Garrus wants to read poetry to me?"

"Among other things, yes", EDI responded. "It was Mr. Krios who suggested it."

"Thane? Garrus has been talking to Thane about me?"

"I believe Garrus was startled by realising just how strong the emotional attachment he has formed to you is. He turned to Mr. Krios for advice in this matter. Do you want me to activate the surveillance vid so you can witness this meeting for yourself?"

"No, EDI", Shepard said running fingers through her hair, not sure what to make of it all. There were suddenly too many things to consider. Like the fact that Garrus had "formed a deep emotional attachment" to her. She hesitated a few seconds then asked: "What did Thane say."

"Mr Krios said that life, and love, always finds away, even in the face of death. And that Garrus should enjoy the time you two spend together, and not worry so much about the differences between your species."

That was good advice to anyone. Shepard felt some of the tension leaving her. "Thank you, EDI. I'm going to take a shower."

"Logging you out, Shepard." The blue holographic orb that was EDI's visual interface disappeared, leaving the Commander alone in softly lit cabin.

The story will be continued in the next chapter. I'd love to know what you think of it so far.