Exotic Mating: The Reunion

"Lawson here," Miranda greeted tersely, acquiescing to the request for communication that appeared on the screen of her terminal, wondering if there was any possibility of her being able to get her work done before her shift came to an end. "What is it?"

"That's an awfully blunt way to greet someone," Dr Chakwas voice filtered through the speakers.

"Dr Chakwas, I didn't know it was you," Miranda responded apologetically, shoving her irritation to the side. "Sorry, It's been one of those days. Mordin won't stop pestering me about one of the new experiments he's been running. Something to do with boosting the intelligence of Varren, though for what reason still remains a mystery to me."

"I was curious as to why Mordin appeared so excitable today, more than usual that is. He's been in and out of the infirmary borrowing equipment and medical supplies, I have no clue what he needs an ECG monitor for," Dr Chakwas said with an amused flair in her voice. "In fact, I'm certain that he hasn't gotten a wink of sleep these past few days."

"He's like a dog to a bone when he has his mind set on something, it's impossible to break him away from it until he's had his fun," Miranda joked, hearing the older woman chuckle lightly in response. "What was it you wanted to talk about? Because if it's about Mordin sequestering your supplies then I'm afraid that there's little I can do. That wily Salarian can bypass even the most complex security systems without so much as a second thought, if I'd known that he was a master code cracker before I would have reconsidered bringing him aboard."

"Oh no, I don't mind it. In fact, I'm quite curious about his experiment, I'm already envisioning a talking Varren being added to the crew at some point in the near future. It wouldn't even be the strangest addition to our ever-growing rogues gallery," Dr Chakwas assured her light-heartedly. "No, I needed to talk to you about Grunt."

"Grunt?" Miranda sat up, already imagining a thousand and one things the Krogan could have done to necessitate the priority call. "What has he done now?"

"Nothing... " the doctor paused. "At least, not yet."

"Meaning?" Miranda raised a brow at the ominous statement.

"It's all this business with his sexual maturity. I thought he had gotten it out of his system weeks ago, though I couldn't quite pinpoint the reason for it," Dr Chakwas said, unaware that Miranda knew exactly what it was that became an outlet for the severely hormonal Krogan. "Grunt has appeared quite calm, or as calm as a Krogan can be. But he started flaring up again today, appearing ready to tear his room apart at any moment."

"And where is he now?" Miranda asked, concerned about the implications of having the lust-addled Krogan wandering freely around the ship.

"In the med bay with me. Well, he's currently locked in the rear supply room if we're being specific," Dr Chakwas answered. "I felt that it was safer to bring him down here and keep his vitals monitored, luckily for me Grunt seemed to share my concern."

"Could I ask what this has to do with me?" Miranda inquired, keeping her voice as steady as she could after becoming aware of just how close Grunt was to her personal quarters. "Matters of security on the Normandy are more of a concern for Jacob or Shepard, I'm usually the one who cleans up the mess after something goes wrong."

"Ordinarily, Shepard would have been my first point of call. But before Grunt agreed to let me seal him away, he had only one request. He wanted to see you."

"Me?" Miranda felt her blood run cold, worried that her most illicit secret had become known to the Normandy's sole physician. "Did he explain why?"

"I'm afraid not, he was oddly vague when I asked why," Dr Chakwas replied, unable to see the visible relief that passed through the Cerberus operative. "I concluded that it was best to not pry, I know better than to pry into the mind of a Krogan. Will you be able to come across?"

"Of course, I'll be there as soon as I can," Miranda said, cutting the link.

Miranda sat back and stared blankly at the wall across from her, lost in a world of her own. It didn't come as much surprise to hear that Grunt's libido had spiralled out of control, fully aware that she played a significant part in the rapid deterioration of his boundless pool of arousal. Since initiating an intimate relationship with her, Grunt had become relentless in his demands of Miranda; overwhelmingly so. It was a rare mistake on the part of Miranda, to engage in a sexual partnership in what was essentially her place of work.

Miranda's sexual encounters were always kept separate from her true life, committed with lovers who didn't know her true identity and had no means of contacting her once the deed was done. She was a woman who enjoyed the pleasures of intercourse, but equally enjoyed keeping a wide distance between herself and the men she met up with via iPartner. It was an error of judgement on her part to so easily succumb to Grunt's advances, even more so when he decided to start visiting her quarters whenever he pleased in search of a relief only she could bring.

It was a dangerous game for a person who always ensured that work and personal affairs were kept as separate as possible. That's not to say that Miranda didn't get a kick out of the risk of being caught, it certainly added a level of excitement that broke the monotony of paperwork and bureaucratic red tape she was forced to endure on a daily basis. However, the thought of anyone uncovering the sordid affair didn't sit well, not when Miranda knew that any opportunist or individual with an axe to grind would give anything to hold the secret over her head, to extort her for everything they could.

As exhilarating as her spontaneous sessions with the energetic Krogan were, Miranda didn't believe it was worth the potential risk to her career and her character, aware that it would undermine the authority she held both on the Normandy and within the Cerberus hierarchy. Gradually, Miranda tried to keep Grunt at a distance from her, becoming more vigilant about locking the door to her quarters to prevent the Krogan from wandering in and dragging her over to the bed whenever the urge developed, making sure to avoid heading down to engineering unless it was absolutely necessary.

To discover that Grunt's arousal had returned to its chaotic state came as little surprise, but knowing that it had reached a degree that was concerning enough to warrant an intervention by Dr Chakwas was hardly something she could ignore. Though she tried to ignore it, the thought of finally ending the dry spell between her and Grunt ignited a fire within her that had been all but snuffed out in recent weeks. Instinctively, Miranda's hand fell beneath her desk and moved between her thighs, bumping against her mound.

"God," Miranda hissed, taken aback by the sheer arousal the gentle touch induced. Rubbing her fingers across her covered slit, Miranda found herself being swept up by the desires she had deliberately divided herself from. The temptation to unzip her bodysuit and finger her hot sex was strong, but with Grunt ready and waiting for her in the room across from hers, Miranda pulled her hand away and stood on her shaky legs. "I hope I won't regret this."

Miranda straightened up and cleared her mind, taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. Once she was ready, she left her desk and sauntered over to the door to her quarters and disengaged the lock, sweeping into the crew quarters. With the night shift on duty, only a skeleton crew was required to maintain the Normandy, allowing Miranda to walk the short distance without being spotted. Arriving at the med bay, Miranda stepped inside and found Dr Chakwas sat at her own terminal, in the middle of ordering fresh supplies to replenish what had been borrowed by Mordin.

"You took your time," Dr Chakwas offered Miranda a friendly smirk, clutching a small glass of Serrice Ice brandy.

"I had a few documents that needed finishing off," Miranda smiled back, always finding herself able to open up to the older physician in a way she couldn't with most if the crew. "My workload isn't getting any smaller."

"All work and no play," Dr Chakwas smirked knowingly, pointing at her monitor. "I've already had to stock up three times this week, you wouldn't believe how often I have to tend to the away team when they come back from their missions."

"I think I have some idea," Miranda said, having seen for herself just how far Shepard and the crew were willing to go to get the mission done. "Sometimes I feel like this is less of a cohesive team of unique individuals and more of a gang of adrenaline junkies."

"In my experience, the adrenaline junkies are the ones you want to stick with. During my younger years, I served on vessels that were captained by borderline tyrants, captains who wouldn't tolerate anything less than a by the book approach to their missions," Dr Chakwas said, taking just a small sip from her glass. "Shepard is nothing like those captains; she commands authority without having to demand it from her crew. You follow her wherever she goes because you respect her, no matter how unorthodox her approach can be."

"Hence the exorbitant cost of the Lazarus Project," Miranda added, sharing a small laugh with the physician. "Humanity needs a leader, and there was no-one better suited for the role."

"And she was worth every penny," Dr Chakwas replied in earnest, swallowing the last drops of brandy. "I don't usually drink while I'm at work, but I make exceptions for certain occasions."

"I take it that this is one of those occasions?" Miranda asked, flicking her eyes towards the sealed room to the rear of the med bay.

"I should say so," Dr Chakwas gave Miranda a weary smile, bringing up a recording of Grunt on her monitor, one that showed the Krogan marching around the med bay without pause. "I've dealt with my fair share of Krogan over the years, I even spent a month on Tuchanka in my early thirties as part of the Alliance's initiative to better understand the biology of the other races. But the one thing I've never experienced is a Krogan as youthful as Grunt, bristling with a bottomless pit of energy. I did my best to sooth him, but I'm afraid that I'm out of my depth."

"Which is where I come in," Miranda leaned down, watching the video of the visibly agitated Krogan, recognising the symptoms of his sexual frustration in an instant. "Has he shown any signs of violent behaviour since he's been in here?"

"Goodness no. Grunt has done everything in his power to keep his anger restrained. In fact, Grunt was the one who suggested that I lock him away until I could get you to agree to pay him a visit," Dr Chakwas turned to scrutinise the raven-haired woman, immediately picking up on Miranda's body language. "I don't mean to sound invasive, and you're more than free to tell me to mind my own business. But would I be right in assuming that Grunt's reason for bringing you here is of a more... physical nature?"

"What?" Miranda exclaimed, losing all colour in her already pale face. "I don't know what on earth would make you say such a thing."

"Perhaps it's because I can recognise the signs?" Dr Chakwas suggested, watching a look of realisation crossing Miranda's visage.

"You mean you... " Miranda started, uncertain how to finish her delicate question. Fortunately for her, the older woman already had an idea what it was Miranda was getting at.

"Had my fair share of fun with Krogan mates?" Dr Chakwas asked, beaming warmly when Miranda could only muster a flustered nod. "Miranda, my month long stay on Tuchanka was far more adventurous than the the official reports let on. Most of the Krogan I encountered had never seen a human before and you can imagine that a few of them were very interested in me, particularly the leader of Clan Rishok."

"Wow," was all Miranda could say, taking a moment to process the unexpected revelation. "And I thought what I was doing with Grunt was taboo. You were doing it at a time when the Alliance barely understood what a Krogan was."

"You make me sound like a pioneer when you put it like that," Dr Chakwas snorted, reaching out to give Miranda's hand a soothing squeeze. "You'd be surprised to discover just how many human women have mated with Krogan males over the decades, their physique is unlike anything we've ever encountered. Am I right in thinking that you've been trying to keep him at arms length recently?"

"You are," Miranda answered.

"I can understand why. The Krogan can be relentless whenever their mating cycles kick in, it's not uncommon for them to go entire weeks doing little else other than rutting one another senselessly. Unfortunately for Grunt, there isn't a single Krogan female on the Normandy for him to act out his every urge with," Dr Chakwas lips formed a kind smile. "But he has someone who is as close to the ideal mate as he's going to find this far from his homeworld; you."

"I know. And I would be lying if I said that sex with Grunt isn't the greatest I've ever experienced with a lover," Miranda's voice fell to a near whisper, sharing her most sordid secret with the one woman she knew could be trusted with it. "He doesn't try to woo me, or fumble around with compliments that I haven't heard countless times before. Without warning, he wanders into my quarters and tears off my bodysuit and lingerie without a second thought, dragging me to bed with this possessed look in his eyes. I've never felt anything like it, but the sensible side of my mind knows how risky such encounters are. I've worked so hard to maintain my reputation, the whole 'Ice Queen' persona is the one thing that ensures that I'm not just viewed as something to be leered at."

"You can be the 'Ice Queen' as much as you like, but as long as you have guaranteed privacy then you don't have to keep up the act all the time. Life isn't worth living if you spend it worrying about work and the opinions of others constantly," Dr Chakwas explained, clearly speaking from experience. "I think you need this relief almost as much as Grunt does. So don't deny yourself something you know you need, not when I can guarantee you total privacy for the duration of the night shift. What do you think?"

"I think I'm about to walk into the lion's den," Miranda let out a shaky laugh, feeling herself growing wetter by the second as reality set in.

"And I hope you enjoy every second of it," Dr Chakwas replied with a delighted grin, releasing Miranda's hand to allow Miranda to proceed. "And Miranda?"

"Yes?" Miranda said, stopping just short of the locked door.

"If dealing with Grunt's urges ever becomes too much for you then give me a call, I'd be more than willing to step in," Dr Chakwas winked at a surprised Miranda. "Don't look so shocked. I may be in my fifties now, but I can assure you that I'm just as spry as I was in my younger days, just with a few more grey hairs. Alright, perhaps more than a few."

"I'll have to keep that in mind, Dr Chakwas," Miranda grinned, watching the holographic display on the door switch from red to green, opening the door to the back room for her.

"Good luck, don't let him wear you out," the older woman informed her, filled with nostalgia as she watched the famed beauty disappear into the room, reminded of her own trysts with the Krogan over the years.

"Hey there, big guy," Miranda announced her presence, shutting the door behind her, finding an agitated Grunt pacing back and forth. "I heard that you were starting to spiral out of control."

"Sounds like an exaggeration," Grunt snorted, turning to find Miranda standing just feet away from him, clad in the bodysuit that advertised every enviable curve of her sculpted body, enhanced by the posture-altering heeled boots that encased her modelesque legs.

"Well, you haven't destroyed the place yet, so I guess that's an improvement of sorts. And you managed to avoid stripping naked," Miranda's heels clicked delicately against the steel floor as she assessed the room mainly used by the latest addition to the ever expanding crew. "Where's Legion?"

"Probably in engineering," Grunt shrugged, trying and failing to be discreet as he watched Miranda moving around the room, riddled with desire when she turned to show off her glorious profile. "The Geth has been spending most nights down there pestering Tali once Daniels and Donnelly are gone, no clue what they actually get up to though. I can never get past the locks once they're set."

"Hmm, I'll have to get EDI to keep an eye on them," Miranda said, folding her arms beneath her perfect bust, cocking a manicured eyebrow when she spotted Grunt's gaze darting towards her breasts before quickly flicking back up, locking onto the ocean blue eyes that were a near match to his own. "How have you been these these last few weeks?"

"Frustrated, edgy, horny. My head feels like it's about ready to pop," Grunt admitted, filled with a strong desire to rip the form-fitting suit from Miranda's body and plunge into her blessed tunnel then and there. "It hasn't been easy since you decided to cut me off."

"Considering that I'm an officer on this ship, I think even a Krogan can understand the risk involved of having a subordinate coming and going from my quarters as he pleased," Miranda sat back and perched herself on a disused medical bed, sinking into the latex mattress as she crossed her legs. "I've spent a long time trying to get away from the shadow of my father, I can't risk losing the progress I've made."

"I used to feel the same way about Okeer, hounded by thoughts of what it was that he wanted me to do, how I was meant to act as the 'perfect' Krogan. Wanna know what I did?" Grunt asked, seeing Miranda tilt her head to the side in curiosity. "I stopped giving a fuck! I don't want to live my life worrying about the expectations of others, not when it could all be over in a few months if we can't stop the Reapers."

"Easy for you to say," Miranda rolled her eyes, quietly admiring Grunt's free spirit. "No-one will blink an eye if a Krogan beds every woman he can get his hands on, it's not quite so easy the other way round. This may have slipped your mind, but Cerberus is hardly the most open-minded when it comes to interspecies relationships."

"Who says they have to know?" Grunt questioned, again drawing Miranda's curious side. "You're the last person anyone on this ship would suspect of screwing a Krogan, so any meetings between us are just going to be considered disciplinary meetings for the stuff I get up to during our missions. I'll just have to be more discrete."

"You've already failed there, Dr Chakwas knows exactly what we've been getting up to," Miranda informed him, scoffing when Grunt could only respond by giving a lopsided smile. "It's like dealing with an oversized child."

"Chakwas isn't going to start blabbing about this, so it's not like you have anything to worry about there," Grunt took the initiative and moved towards Miranda, taking a heavy step in her direction. "And I doubt she's going to do anything to stop us, not when it'll help to calm me down."

"I'm almost beginning to think that you had this all planned out," Miranda's thighs clenched together, tightening as the Krogan lumbered her way with purpose etched on his face. "I thought it was a bit too suspicious when Karin said that your anger started to flare up again, especially when I remember how much it used to cost us to repair the aftermath of that anger."

"Since you stopped me from getting into your quarters, I had to find a creative way of getting you to come to me," Grunt reduced the gap to just a few feet, holding back the urge to jump the raven-haired stunner. "Looks like it worked."

"Great, just what the galaxy needs. A Krogan with cunning," Miranda slid back when Grunt attempted to lunge at her, raising her leg to press the sharp heel of her thigh-high boot against his heavy chestplate. "Woah there, big guy. I may be hornier than a Pyjak during mating season, but I'm not about to let you shred yet another one of my bodysuits to pieces, each one costs a small fortune."