What do you do when someone wants to put you on your back? Shepard arched her back as hard as she could, bent her knees and thrust herself backwards until Rat hit the floor behind her as hard as she could. Now they were on the floor, but she still didn't have the advantage— except, that wasn't true. She bit him, on the joint of his thumb, not as children bit, or animals, but with the intention to separate his joint from his hand, if he didn't let go. Maybe she'd do it even if he did.

Blood was bitter and salty, but she swallowed it without a thought. After all, every little bit helped, for what she was about to do. For as soon as Shepard had a hand free, she finished the work momentum had half-started for her, and pulled the mask on her head down over her face.