Naru'Veeram vas Ceeko was a spunky excited little quarian. She was most happy fixing ships, she knew everything about them down to the bolt. Naru discovered more about ships as she went on her pilgrimage, which she sent the information back home to the flotilla but she knew a small ship life wasn't for her...I mean who could live like that when she could share the life of a ship to others...so she bought the lot from a stubborn over priced Volus (who obviously had a dislike for quarians) and made it her own.

“Welcome to Ceeko's where dreams are made at a fraction of the cost.” Naru's store was calling out the sales pitch on their big screen.

“But why have all that water and no fish...such a waste,” A few krogan walked by her shop.

No one seemed to be interested in a ship today...or any day this past week, Naru sighed and walked back behind her counter and put her head in her hands 'maybe it was a mistake buying this place’

*Ding* the entry chimed and like a cue she lifted her head to use her sales pitch to a wanting wanderer.

“Welcome to Ceeko's where the best deals are made and memories last forever,” Naru walked up the the Asari that had walked in, “what are you two looking for today?”

Ryker removed her helmet, “safe passage for an old friend,” she smiled at Naru.

“Ryker, Keelah I heard you were dead...or captured...or a fugitive. So much gossip has been passed through this port it's nuts.” Naru walked over and hugged her friend.

“Yeah it has been a crazy week or two that I can tell ya.” She looked back at Le’Nassia, “Naru this is Le’Nassia...Nas this is Naru.”

“Pleasure to meet you!” Naru was happy to meet an Asari she doesn't get to talk to many of those so she can get some ship ideas...at a later time of course.

“Pleasure is surely all mine,” Le’Nassia touched a hand on her chest and bowed her head.

“You made a comment about safe passage what is it you need?” Naru looked back to Ryker

“A place to lay low for a moment and pull together a plan and sort what info I have already.”

“Come to the back here, my living quarters are just beyond the UT-47 Kodiak.” She pointed to the old drop shuttle they use on survey or military missions.

Le’Nassia leaned into Ryker, “she knows a lot about ships?”

Ryker chuckled, “you have no idea and unless you have 3-5hrs to spare do not by any means bring anything about ships up...I'll never see you again if you do because you'll never leave here,” Ryker opened the little metal door, “I made that mistake once.”

They walked inside Naru's house...if you could call it that, it was more a storage closet she converted to a house...but Quarians don't typically need much, they scavenge and collect.

“This is...cozy,” Le’Nassia looked at some scraps that were on what would be a counter.

“She's never needed much, she's a ship girl...a tinkerer...and she's very smart...just has an odd way to show it,” Ryker picked up a piece that could go to a FTL drive.

“Careful with that one..,” Naru walked over and carefully picked the piece up from Ryker and placed it exactly where it used to be, “I'm trying to rebuild it.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“It's looking good so far, getting some element zero could be an issue though.” Ryker sat down on a chair.

“Depends on the people you know...and I've picked up a few...thanks to you.” Naru smiled at her.

Le’Nassia could tell Naru admired Ryker as most did, but with her it felt like someone who was fanning over a hero or celebrity...almost a crush...it made her almost jealous...and she felt stupid by it.

Ryker could almost pick up on the vibe Le'Nassia was putting out, as she continued talking to Naru she reached out for Le’Nassia's hand and held it.

“So these rumors going around about you...what of it is true?”

“Well...it's true I was on the ship with the ambassador, I didn't however blow up his cruiser... Cerberus did...I have to figure out who ordered it and why I'm the focus of theirs.”

“Cerberus!? Keelah Ryker can't you have anything normal? They are bad people.”

“No my life would probably be boring if they allowed me to simplify...and yeah today's Cerberus is bad...I understand what they tried to do in the beginning...don't agree with it because I value everything and everyone not just human race…,” Ryker got up and walked over to the counter again and picked up one of her tools, laid her head low, “I just need to find out why me.”

Le’Nassia walked over to her, “and we will...with all that is in me I will help you solve this.”

Naru jumped up, “me too!! I want in on this...I can reach out to some contacts I have here...other quarians and such and put feelers out.”

“I appreciate it...both of you.” Ryker smiled but it was wavering...just looking at her she looked worn down and tired...exhaustion was catching up to her.

“For now, you guys should rest...sleep on things and then start fresh in the morning, you can stay here I'll bunk on the spare mat across the way,” she goes to leave, “feel free to anything I have.”

“Thank you Naru I'll owe you.” Ryker smiled

“Nonsense I'm paying back what I owe you.” Naru closed the door... turned and pressed her hand on the door and smiled into it.

Le’Nassia looked over at a sleeping Ryker...after two hours of convincing her she needed to sleep and they would be fine and look over things in the morning like Naru said...Ryker passed out.

Le’Nassia stood there a moment with her cup of what was supposed to be coffee...she didn't question it...she thought about what her life has been like these past two weeks...all because she ran into her...and she wouldn't change it for anything.

“What's with that smirk on your face?” Ryker rolled over and saw Le’Nassia staring off thinking about something

Le’Nassia looked over a groggy Ryker, with the bed head of champions...and she looked fantastic, “just you...always you.” She smiled at her.

Ryker reached out to her, Le’Nassia took her hand and laid down next to the woman she loved more than life itself...how in just two weeks was that even possible?

“Hey there gorgeous,” Ryker felt the side of Le’Nassia's face, “you're the best thing I could have ever hoped to find...worth any cost.” Ryker pulled her close.

Le’Nassia ran her hands through Ryker's Amber colored hair and looked her in the eyes...she tilted her head down and kissed her ever so gently.

“Nas?” Ryker looked at her lover

“Yeah Ryker?” Smiling she looked back.

“I want to share all of me with you,” Ryker sat up and looked away from her, “if something goes wrong...”

Le’Nassia sat up and reached for Ryker's arm, “...nothing bad will happen I won't let it.”

“I want to enjoy us, tonight...nothing else.”

Le’Nassia nodded it pained her inside that she could lose Ryker...now that Ryker was in her life she couldn't imagine her never not being in it.

Ryker laid back down, Le’Nassia leaned over her, “relax your mind...embrace eternity!”

Le’Nassia woke early and tried not to disturb Ryker she needed the rest...she got dressed and went out into the shop yard and decided to do her workout routine she wanted to be in fit shape should it come to fight.

“You do this a lot?” Naru just seemed to appear from nowhere...she was sitting on top of half a ship she was building.

“I do it to clear my mind,” Le'Nassia pushed up, “it relaxes me.” Le’Nassia continued with her routine.

“Fighting the air and doing push ups seem the opposite and an odd way to relax.” She got down off the ship and walked over, “but what do I know I spend my time tinkering and learning.” she walked behind the ship.

Le’Nassia followed her, “so what's the story how did you and Ryker meet up?”

“Hmmm curious are you? Afraid I might steal the girl?” Naru joked... partially.

“Hardly, just inquiring.” She stood hands on hips like she tried showing she wasn't intimidated.

“Relax soldier girl, I was joking...I think it was two almost three years ago,” Naru scratched her head even though she had a helmet on so the scratching was pointless, “I was on my pilgrimage...which all young quarians venture out to do...we learn the real world and try to bring something useful back to our people...I got mixed up with the wrong people on Omega and almost became a slave to some blood pack krogans.”

Again with the blood pack...they make their rounds.

“Anyway Ryker showed up pretending to be a buyer and saw me...she saved me...gave me some money and showed me there wasn't all bad people in this life...just to never go to Omega again,” Naru shrugged, “good place for abandoned scrap though,” she smiled and dove into the engine of the cargo ship she was building.

Le’Nassia walked back to the room, “there you are,” Ryker walked out of the room, “ I woke and didn't see you so wondered where you ran off to.”

Le’Nassia walked up to Ryker and hugged her tightly.

“Whoa, what's this for? You ok?” She hugged her back worried something was wrong.

“Yeah...I'm fine…” she didn't want to tell her she was scared...she never felt scared before, never had a reason to...a weakness...made her feel weak.

“Hey I'm starved, let's go find something to eat,” Ryker grabbed her hand and smiled as they headed to get her favorite ramen.