"The Local Cluster? Why out there?"

"Not really sure. The scanner's showing it as an anomaly. Based on the coordinates, it's somewhere on Luna."

"Luna... Alright. I'll head that way and check it out."

"Thank you, Shepard. Send me the report when you figure something out."

"Will do."

"Over and out."

White noise filled her ears. The Normandy's low and deep humming from the engines down below seemed to be the only consistency in her life, and the only company she really had that she knew would never betray her or leave her... or die on her.

Despite being on a ship with some of the best crew members space had to offer, somehow she still felt like she was fighting all by herself.

Hidden in her bed, buried by heat blankets and comforters, she tried to catch at least a few winks before going on the most recent mission. The transmission echoed in her ear, and burned itself in her brain. She knew it had to be done, but despised going anywhere near the Local Cluster.

Now she had to actually go there.

Just as she could feel herself slipping away into dreamland... KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

A low growl emanated from her throat as she rolled onto her back, throwing a small mountain of blankets off of her face and chest. She sat up, propped herself against the headboard, and covered her lap with some of the comforters. She was wearing her gunmetal N7 spandex shirt and black running shorts; Exercise gear that she never removed after her morning workout a couple hours ago.

Sarcastically, she hollered, "Who goes there?"

"It's me. May I come in, or is this a bad time?" A male's voice called out.

"Sure," she remained neutral. The door slid open, and Kaidan entered her room. He was wearing his crewman's outfit. Black and white was definitely his color.

He glimpsed over at her and immediately turned his head the other way, "I'm sorry, Commander! I'll step out for a minute and let you ch-"

"Don't worry about it, really!" she coughed a few times and ushered him to come closer. "What was it that you wanted?"

Kaidan took a few steps closer, but still seemed apprehensive. His eyes were shifting back and forth, trying not to focus on anything in particular in her direction. He eventually settled his gaze on her alarm clock, which was on the nightstand on the other side of her bed.

"You can use your Biotics to lift things in the air as I shoot them to death," she smirked. "But you can't look me in the eye when I'm lying in bed... With my clothes still on?"

Kaidan slowly moved his gaze to hers, and shifted his weight to his left leg, "I'm sorry, Commander. I ju-"

"You don't have to call me Commander. We're off duty until we reach Luna," she turned her head and glanced at her alarm clock and then turned back to him. "That won't be for another three hours or so because Joker's catching some sleep before we head out."

"Right. By the looks of it, you were doing the same. I'm sorry I interrupted."

"You didn't interrupt anything. I never was asleep."

"I guess that makes me feel a little better," he tried to slip in some sarcasm, but never really knew if she caught on to it; She was much more fluent in it than he believed he ever could be, so he always felt kinda awkward when he tried his hand at it. "Anyway, I just came up to ask if would be interested in accompanying me to the mess. I always feel kinda awkward when I eat by myself."

She smirked again, "Let me find something to wear, and I'll meet you outside in a few minutes."

Kaidan let out a single "Heh!" and began taking a few steps back toward the door, "I'll be right outside when you're ready... Heather." And with that, he slipped outside into the hallway.

"Perfect," she thought out loud.

Heather quickly jumped in the shower to wash her hair and to rinse herself off from her workout that morning. She could feel her raven black hair flowing against her back as she washed herself. Part of her felt like it was time to cut it all off, but another part of her wanted to keep it.

Amongst all of these men, she needed all of the femininity she could get.

She rapidly got herself into her crewman's outfit, threw some eye makeup on and some lip gloss, and then double-checked herself in the mirror. Her porcelain skin was completely clear and covered- sans the small scar that ran under her right eye, her wide, dark green eyes peering back at her as she put the final touches on her eyeliner and added another coat of mascara. She tossed her thick hair into a low bun, and inspected her eyebrows. They were thick, but not to the point where they looked like caterpillars. Only minimal maintenance was required. Thank goodness today wasn't one of those days.

She smiled, blew a kiss at her reflection, and headed out the door.

Kaidan was leaning against the wall across from the door, looking at his watch and then back to her, "Fifteen minutes. I think that's a new record for you, Heather." He got the sarcasm right this time.

"Damn right it is," she played along. "Let's get some food, I'm starving!" She laughed, then suddenly smacked his left arm. Playfully, she yelled, "Last one there buys lunch!" and she raced off.

"Hey! I bought drinks last time! That's not fair!" he hollered, and then chased after her.

If someone saw the Spectre running around like some kind of child- especially with a Lieutenant- who knows what kind of rumors would have blown up. Fraternization accusations definitely would have been on top of that list, as well as possibly being revoked as a Spectre altogether.

For the moment, she didn't care. Lunch was on the line.

Lunch with Kaidan was on the line.