Chapter One
Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau sat in his pilots chair; he was growing incredibly impatient having to wait so long for their new XO to board the ship. He had been running through the data pads and files to try and figure out who it'd be, it had been very hushed as too who would be taking the position on the SSV Normandy SR-1; but he was unable to find anything.
He groaned slouching into his chair, this waiting was killing them; he wished this god dam big shot would get his ass on the ship. He heard a laugh come from his left and turned to send a glare towards Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko who was sitting just beside him, going over a data pad.
"Hey, I want to know just as much as you do, Joker." Kaidan said with a playful smirk across his lips. "Although I may just know.""What!" Joker growled shooting forward, it hurt and after he did it he needed a moment to collect himself. "How?" He finally asked after a moment had passed.
Kaidan shrugged his shoulders effortlessly. "Just a rumour, could be wrong."
"Well how much god dam longer are we going to have to wait? My ass is getting sore." Joker grumbled.
"Joker." Kaidan said in his 'calm' voice. "You sit all day."
"It's different when one flies, Alenko." He muttered. "Not that you'd understand that." He added in a snide remark.
Kaidan simply smirked, staying silent as he ran through the data pad for the hundredth time that morning. Joker frowned and turned to look towards the monitors, he found himself studying them, just waiting for Captain Anderson to walk out of the elevator with the new XO behind him. 'What's taking so god dam long?' he thought to himself. God he hated waiting.
Suddenly the monitors went black and Joker leant up in his chair, frown forming on his brow. "Who the hell is it that it needs to be so secret?" He asked running his fingers along the controls to try and regain the image.
"Someone of importance, I guess." Kaidan replied also staring up towards the screen, seeing if Joker could re-hack the hacked system.
A beep on his console sounded and he let out a sigh, he was going to be caught off guard, he wasn't prepared on who would be walking onto his ship to run it. "This is the SSV Normandy, responding. State your purpose."
"Coming aboard, Joker." Captain Anderson's voice came through.
"Of course, welcome back, Sir." There was the slightest hint of sarcasm as Joker ran his hands along the console to open the air lock door for him.
Kaidan climbed up off the chair, stretching out his arms and legs giving a groan at the crack his back made. Joker rolled his eyes and slowly got to his feet as well, limping over to stand next to Kaidan, just waiting to see the new XO.
Captain Anderson stepped out of the air lock, looking down towards the CIC before turning to look at the two boys, face stern like always. He turned fully towards them and Kaidan gave him a quick salute, his head nodded as he did so."Staff Lieutenant Alenko and Flight Lieutenant Moreau, I'd like to introduce you to your new Commanders."
Before either of them had time to process the 'Commanders' bit two figures stepped out of the air lock, standing either side of the Captain. Joker felt his mouth gape a little staring at the two figures in front of him, he almost didn't believe it and from Kaidan's reaction he knew he wasn't the only one surprised.
"Commander Ayden Shepard and Commander Alyssa Shepard." Captain Anderson spoke as the two Commanders stood in silence for a moment.
These twins were probably the most famous marines in the Alliance military, together they held back a full assault on Elysium, the Skyllian Blitz. There were too many Batarian's so the twins sent their team to keep the colonists safe and then together repelled the Batarian's. They didn't loose a single solider during the attack and they both earned a Star of Terra.
They were identical but yet Ayden looked manly while Alyssa was very feminie, their hair was as black as midnight, eyes the brightest blue and seemingly soft, pale skin. Ayden was an inch or two taller then his sister, hair cut short; Alyssa's hair dangled down to her shoulder blades, straight as anything. Their armour shined like new and they wore their N7 logo's with pride.
Alyssa was the first to make her move; she took three steps forward, holding out her hand to shake Joker's, smile on her face. Joker stared at her hand for a moment, still a little thrown off guard; he was standing in front of a legend, two in fact. His eyes slowly made their way from her hand up her arm, over her gorgeous curvy hips, her perfect breasts, long neck up to her oval shaped face. 'Holy shit, she's hot.' He thought but quickly growled to himself and shook that thought out of his head. "… Er… Jeff Moreau." He finally managed to make his mouth work, taking her hand. "I mean… Joker."Alyssa grinned. "Nice to meet you, Joker." Ayden kept his arms folded for a moment, staring at Kaidan, as if studying him. "Play nice." She called over her shoulder, smirk across her face.
"You're the social, nice one, Ally. I'm the muscle and brains." He retorted with a matching smirk.
She frowned releasing Joker's hand, much to his dismay, she walked towards her brother before her body charged, and she threw a punch at her brother's upper arm, denting his armour at the force. He chuckled but he also rubbed over his now sore arm. She poked her tongue out between her lips before turning back towards Kaidan. "And you are?"
"Kaidan Alenko, Ma'am, Sir." He announced with a salute.
"Heh, Ayden and Kaidan." Alyssa grinned, Joker bit back from saying anything and Kaidan rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.
Ayden threw a punch into her back, jolting her forward. "Idiot." He sighed.
She sent him a grin before facing the Captain, seemingly unaffected by her brother's punch. "Where can we store our things, Sir?"
Captain Anderson made a hand gesture down the hallway. "This way, Commanders." He said heading down the hallway himself.
"Gentlemen." Ayden spoke bowing his head the very slightest, Alyssa doing the exact same at the same time. The two then turned and headed after the Captain leaving the two boys.
"I wouldn't have believed it if I read it on file." Kaidan spoke up first, turning his head to look at Joker. "The both of them at that."
Joker opened his mouth but quickly closed it again; he turned to limp back towards his chair, taking his time to slowly sit back down. "They stay together, apparently." He spoke, readjusting his position. "Work better or some shit."
Kaidan made a 'huh' sound, or grunt, Joker wasn't sure which. Corporal Jenkins rushed into the cockpit, grin on his face from ear to ear. Kaidan raised an eye brow at the young solider but he was going to guess it was about the Commanders. Joker's chair turned around so he too could see the young man, after all, he couldn't fly yet.
"Did you see?" Jenkins exclaimed. "It's them."
Kaidan gave a nod of his head. "They only just boarded."
"I always saw the vids of them, hell it was the Shepards that made me want to enlist! But I didn't expect Alyssa to be so hot! I mean she's hot on the vids but she's that much hotter!" Jenkins rambled on in his excited state.
"Whoa now, Solider." Kaidan began, holding up both hands as if trying to signal him to calm down. "That's one of our Commanders."
"Not to mention the tall, built, tough guy beside her is her brother." Joker added leaning back into his chair, placing a data pad on his lap and looking up towards the solider. "I don't know about you but I like all my limbs, I'm quite fond of each, staying where they are… for the most part."
"I wasn't going to do anything!" Jenkins said quickly. "Just admiring the view."
Joker knew he too would 'admire the view' but he also knew that he wouldn't do anything about it. She was too far out of his league, even if there wasn't Regs. He spun back around in his chair to face the controls, he was so looking forward to driving her again, and he missed it already.
"Keep it that way, Corporal." Kaidan said firmly, pulling his 'I'm in charge of you' face, or so Joker named it. "Come on, we've got to get our check outs with Dr. Chakwas."
Joker heard Kaidan say 'catch ya'' but didn't bother replying, he simply waved an unenthusiastic hand over his shoulder. He stared at the data pad on his lap but his mind was wondering on other things. He could hear the bridge crew talking loudly about their new Commanders, excitedly. Although he wouldn't admit it out loud, he had read up a lot about the Shepards over the years; which only made him just that little bit nervous about having them on his ship. Well… Captain Anderson's ship.
"Huh." A voice spoke right next to his head, it startled him and he almost jumped out of his skin. He then heard her laugh. "Sorry flight lieutenant." She spoke pulling away for his chair.
"Just Joker." He muttered pulling on the rim of his blue cap.
"I've always been fascinated with ships." She stated moving around to the side of his chair, hand leaning lazily against the top of it.
"Fascination go anywhere, Commander?" He asked eye brow raised.
She thought for a moment, her teeth catching her bottom lip as she did so. Joker had caught himself staring before she had; thankfully, he turned back towards the control. 'Keep it together man, so what if she's some big hot hero.'
"Ayden and I knew we were soldiers', so I suppose not." She finally answered, her hands went behind her back, clasping together. "As soon as Nihlus boards, set a course for Charon." Joker made a long-winded sigh at the mention on Nihlus. "Huh, he on board often?"
"Twice is enough, Commander." Joker answered and found himself smirk upon hearing her laugh."Ally, have you set-""Yes." Alyssa interrupted her brother, glancing over her shoulder to look at her brother.
"About this mission." Ayden began.
"I agree there's got to be more to it." Alyssa replied.
"Exactly. So you think?""Yes I do but."
"Yeah I know what you mean, what about?""Yeah I agree that's the better idea."
"Of course it is.""Don't get cocky." Alyssa had folded her arms and sent him 'that look'.
Joker turned around in his chair once more, spinning enough to face the twins, eye brows raised. "What?"
"Jeff right?" Ayden asked his voice was deep and strong, almost far too serious.
"He prefers Joker." Alyssa replied nudging him in the ribs with her elbow.
"I hear you're a good pilot, good recommendations." Ayden said, eyes focused on the pilot, studying everything about him that he could take notice of.
"I'm not good. I'm not even great. I'm the best god dam helmsman in the Alliance fleet." Joker replied a fire behind his voice and eyes that made the twins smile.
"He's.""I agree." Ayden nodded towards his sister.
"Okay, you two are really creeping me out, mean no disrespect Commanders, but what?" He asked with confusion all across his face.
Alyssa smiled, glancing from her brother to Joker. "We're twins, Joker." She said simply with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Although we have been told we have more of a connection then most." Ayden added and although he wasn't trying too, his voice came across hard.
A beeping sound came through Joker's console and he turned his chair around immediately to ran his fingers across it, so elegant and agile, Alyssa found herself entranced at the movement. Ayden gave her a nudge with his foot, frowning when she turned to glare at him.
"This is the SSV Normandy, responding. State your purpose."
"I'm growing impatient." Joker knew the sound of Nihlus' voice and a sigh came from him.
"Welcome aboard." He droned, running his hands across the screen to open the air lock.
The three turned slightly to see the Turian step foot onto the ship, his dark eyes lingering over them for just a moment before he turned and head down towards the Comm. Room without another word. Ayden grunted and looked towards Alyssa; she gave a swift nod of her head and turned back to Joker.
"I've seen some weird shit in my life, Commanders, but you two are on the top five." Joker had never met twins before, admittedly he was a little disappointed at the fact it wasn't twin girls.
"Commanders, head down to the Comm. Room, Joker get us to Eden Prime." Captain Anderson sounded annoyed about something, angry even.
"He sounds pissed." Ayden turned and headed across the bridge.
Joker watched Ayden walk away, muttering things to himself, stuff he couldn't hear. Alyssa turned to walk away but before she did she glanced over her shoulder, noticing Joker still staring at her, he felt heat rise to his cheeks and quickly readjusted his cap. "Top of your list huh?" And with that she quickly followed after her brother, leaving Joker.
Joker had a frown on his face, was she flirting? Teasing? Making fun of him? He couldn't tell and that annoyed him. He shook his head and decided to ignore it, she was his commander, plus Ayden was a very intimidating man. 'No.' Joker thought bitterly to himself. 'She's just a pretty face.'
Kaidan plonked himself down in navigation chair beside Joker's, he was suited up and ready to leave for when Joker got them to Eden Prime. Joker felt a little envious of him, he was able to go out and fight along side heroes like the Shepards; not that Joker would pick that over flying, flying was his passion. He just wished he could.
Jenkins walked in from the bridge and moved behind Alenko's chair, placing his hands on the top of it, he too was all armoured up ready to go ground side with the Shepards. A beep sounded through his console and Joker raised an eyebrow."What is it?" Kaidan asked upon seeing Joker's reaction change.
"Transmission from Eden Prime." He replied bring up the contents of the message onto the screen.
The three boys watched the distress call with shocked expressions, this was supposed to be a simple pick up from a peaceful colony, not a battle field. "What is that?" Jenkins was the first to ask.
"Captain, Commanders, I think you need to see this." Joker said through the comm. He ran his fingers along the console, ready to send it to the comm. Room as soon as he was told too.
"What is it, Joker?" Captain Anderson's voice was the one that replied through the ship.
Joker sent the message through to the comm. Room. "Transmission from Eden Prime, Sir. You're going to want to see it."
As the message was played in the comm. Room the boys re-watched it, this wasn't going to go smoothly. "Hey, pause it!" Came Alyssa's voice.
Joker managed to pause it just in time, a strange object landing sideways, or so it looked like. "What is that?" Kaidan murmured looking at the screen.
"Is that a-" Ayden's voice was so easy to pick up on.
"Yes it is." Alyssa's spoke, still connected to the comm. "A Geth ship."
"Any signal now, Joker?" Captain Anderson asked.
Joker ran his fingers along his console, eyes squinting slightly. "The lines go dead, Sir." Joker said running his fingers to control the ship. "Approaching Eden Prime, Sir."
"Alenko, Jenkins, head down now, you'll go with the Commanders. Joker get us in quick and quite."
"Aye Aye Sir." Joker answered. He had been looking forward to being able to push the Normandy to her limits, seeing what she could and couldn't handle. He had heard Alenko and Jenkins leave but didn't do much else but notice.
He manoeuvred her beautifully, dropping the ground team of quickly and quietly before flying back off to keep a safe distance which he was both out of range of detection but close enough for radio contact and viewing. He couldn't help the smirked that crossed his features when Alyssa commented on his flight skills.
Joker watched their mission on screen; he had been interested in watching the twins in action, many who had before said it was simply breath-taking. Captain Anderson had silently joined him, standing behind, watching the monitors in curiosity. The young Jenkins had stumbled out of cover without first checking, a clumsy rookie mistake that cost him his life. He heard Ayden curse under his breathe and gave Alyssa a squeeze on her shoulder.
"That's the first solider they've lost." Captain Anderson finally spoke; Joker had almost forgotten that he was standing behind him. "In my whole career I have never meet two people so fit to be Commanders. Alone they are great soldiers, together they are flawless leaders."
Joker stared at the screen watching Alyssa and Ayden do that weird twin bond they did before telling Alenko where to go, he found them slightly fascinating, okay he found the incredibly fascinating but like hell he'd let anyone else catch on.
They had saved Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams from a pair of Geth, 'just in time' as she put it. Alyssa told her to come along, ignoring her brother's annoyance; he preferred smaller groups but didn't make his annoyance noticeable to Ash. The two really were on a whole different level to Kaidan and Ashley who fell behind only slightly.
They had managed to save Eden Prime from being blown up, even though Nihlus was now sadly dead. Joker had been watching Alyssa; he kept finding his eyes drawn to her. She stood facing Ashley as the girl spoke to her but suddenly her eyes squinted, brows frowning, she pushed Ashley out of the way and ran towards Kaidan, throwing herself on him before throwing him out of the way of a strange power; she couldn't pull back against the force. Ayden ran at full speed, crashing into Alyssa's back and gripping around her waist tightly, trying to pull her away from it but it was too strong.
The two of them were lifted into the air; it was the strangest thing to see. Joker sat up in his chair, worried expression on his face, Captain Anderson simply watched. A moment passed and the two fell to the ground, unconscious from what Joker could tell. Kaidan and Ashley ran up to them, he could see them checking for a pulse first before Kaidan called for Joker. "In need of an emergency pick up, stat!"
"On our way, Alenko." Joker answered moving his hands into action, man he loved risky pick ups and drop offs; they made his job exciting. He also got to show exactly why he was the best god dam pilot in the Alliance fleet.
Joker managed to hover the Normandy exactly where she needed to be, holding the positions to get the Commanders on. Joker looked over his shoulder just enough to see Kaidan running towards the med bay with Alyssa limp in his arms, the Captain and Ashley jogging Ayden not far behind them.
"Get us to the citadel, Joker."
Hey guys, so just leave a review if you'd like me to continue~ Thanks :)