John took a deep breath as he calculated his next move. His gaze floated over the structure in front of him, looking for areas of structural weakness and areas that were particularly sturdy. He was sitting in the mess with most of the crew crowding around the table. The animated conversations that were taking place around him were only slightly distracting.
"I got fifty credits on Shepard, no way he loses!" One crewman called over to Joker, who had taken the shift off and was serving as the ship's unofficial bookie.
"Fifty more on Shep, that brings the total amount of credits on the line to over two thousand," Joker crowed happily as he entered the bet into the datapad he was holding. "Really guys, you must be really bored if you're willing to bet this many credits on two guys playing Jenga," Joker called to the rest of the room which responded with an eruption of guiltless laughs.
"It's not a game, we are practicing control and finesse," John's opponent said calmly from across the table. "This is legitimate biotic training, right Shep?" He asked looking across at him as he was still struggling to find the right piece.
"Nah, it's totally a game Alenko, and I'm going to win," John said with a grin as the crowd around the two biotics 'oooohhed' and clapped.
"I don't even know why you two are bothering with this game, It'd be a lot more fun if you just knocked the damn thing over," Wrex grumbled good naturedly from the edge of the crowd. His comment earned the krogan cheers from the Alliance crew and several pats on the back.
John smiled at the display, it had been two weeks since he had acquired the Normandy and his crew was already gelling together as if they'd fought a hundred battles together. It was both to encourage that camaraderie and to let the crew relax a bit after the mission on Therum earlier that day that he had given the crew the night off.
"Ignore him, I don't think our krogan friend here understands precision," Garrus' flanged voice reverberated through the crowd as he patted the old krogan on the back, the crowd once again erupting.
"I can toss you out the airlock at hundred meters Vakarian, if you want to talk about precision," the old krogan replied thumping Garrus happily on the back and almost knocking him off balance.
"I might help you out with that one Wrex, he's been 'calibrating' that Mako for two weeks now and it still flips around like a fish out of water," Ashley Williams called over to the large krogan from across the table.
"I'll help as well, yesterday he filched the good dextro rations from the kitchen," Tali chimed in playfully from behind Ashley.
"Woah, woah, before the angry mob starts let's remember that M-36 Mako is by design a piece of shit tank. I can only do so much," Garrus called back holding his hands up in surrender.
"Coupled with the fact that our illustrious Commander couldn't drive a bike," Kaidan added with a laugh that was quickly joined by the rest of the crowd.
"True, anyways, I'm putting a thousand credits on Alenko, Shepard has been sitting there quietly for like five minutes now trying to figure out his move," Ashley said as she threw her credit chit to Joker who barely caught the small object as he was still laughing himself hoarse. Presumably due to the outrageous image of the first human Spectre riding around on a bike.
"Ohhh we have a high-roller!" Joker yelled exuberantly. "Shouldn't you be saving those credits for a hardsuit that isn't pink?" The pilot continued as punched the Chief's bet into the datapad.
"Shut up Joker, wouldn't want-," Ashley began but fell silent when she saw that the Commander was now glowing blue.
He had picked his mark. The small wooden block began to glow blue as he pointed his own glowing blue finger at it. The crowd had gone silent now, watching the event that was unfolding. Carefully, he inched his finger forward slowly and the block responded by sliding to his will. Suddenly, the Med-Bay door hissed open and distracted him just enough. The biotic field he was generating fluxuated and then expanded capturing two extra blocks above his target and knocking them out of place. The effect was immediate, the entire tower tipped to the right and collapsed.
He groaned as the crowd roared at his failure. Kaidan leapt up from the opposite side of the table and held his arms up in victory.
"The Commander goes down! Looks like Williams will be getting some new armor!" Joker called to the crowd which was now a mix of cheers and swearing.
"Damn it Chak-," John began as he spun around to face who had just walked out of the Med-Bay, but instead of finding the elderly physician he found himself looking at a wide-eyed asari.
"Oh-um- hello there…everyone," Liara stammered, clearly caught off guard by the crowd of strangers.
The crowd was silent in return as they all stared at the newest alien on board. No one knew whether she could be trusted or not, they only knew her as the daughter of a traitor. Not a good first impression.
"Right, everyone… Um, continue with your fun while I talk to our guest," John offered quickly as he climbed to his feet. "Good game Alenko, rematch later?" He asked quickly as he strode towards the asari.
"You know it, Commander," Kaidan replied earnestly.
With that, John marched towards the staircase gesturing for the asari to follow him as he headed to the Comm room.