Something old was playing on the sound system. Something really old. Kaidan looked up from his drink and over to the stage where the musicians played. The front woman was blonde and hugged the microphone, pressing it to her lips like the romance would make all the difference. She had a low voice that slanted sweetly in all of the right places. He turned completely in his seat to give his full attention to the stage.

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend, when people can be so cold…

Her eyes met Kaidan's and she smiled as she moved in time with the piano and the guitar.

You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am, I'll come runnin'…

She closed her eyes and sang into the sky as the old notes rang as powerfully as they did when they were first sung long before Kaidan was born. Generations before. Her voice soothed his headache; or was the alcohol kicking in? When the song finished Kaidan applauded, along with the few others scattered around the bar. What time was it? He looked at his watch, 0130. He rubbed his face tiredly in his hands and quickly finished off the rest of his drink, cringing as his throat burned, then relaxed as it subsided into a mellow warmth. He transferred a few credits to the barkeep and stood, preparing to leave when a hand touched his arm. Without looking he knew who it was.

"What's your hurry?" The low, feminine tone urged him to look at her. She leaned on the bar, smiling. Kaidan's eyes followed the line her body made from the bar, to the curvature of her back, and all the way down her legs to the floor. It was fluid—and urged him to sit down. So he did. The singer's smile widened in amusement and she ordered two drinks from the barkeep. The turian nodded and served them up quickly, exchanging a few words with the woman. They knew each other well, Kaidan gathered. After the 'how are yous' were finished the woman turned her attention to Kaidan, and held up her drink. "Cheers?" Kaidan took up the shot glass and clinked it together with hers; down the hatch. They both slammed their glasses on the bar at the same time, as the alcohol hit their taste-buds hard, but satisfyingly.

The spinning started. Kaidan slumped a little over his empty glass, opening and closing his eyes hard to try to stop it. The woman beside him laughed and moved closer, running her fingers through his hair on the back of his neck. Chills followed. "Already? Not very good at holding our liquor, are we?" she teased. Kaidan shook his head.

"This isn't my first drink of the night," he replied.

"I know." Her words spilled from her lips in a warm breath on his ear. He lifted his head and looked at her. "I was watching." She pulled away and gestured for another drink from the barkeep. "The name's Rachel—and that, is an Alliance uniform."

"Yes," Kaidan said. His head was swimming in the alcohol he'd steadily consumed all night and into the early morning.

"You've been drinking quite a lot tonight. What makes an Alliance soldier do that, I wonder?" Rachel folded her arms on the bar. Kaidan looked back down at his empty glass, turning it round absently between his thumb and first finger. "You alright there…"

"Kaidan," he said. He could feel grit in his throat from all the drinking. He asked the barkeep for a glass of water.

"Kaidan…" His name coming from her lips in that tone of hers lowered his defenses. He took a sip of water as the glass was served to him then addressed her.

"You could say I'm a bit nervous. In oh, roughly five hours I'll be boarding the SSV Normandy. It is… the most amazing piece of Alliance technology and human ingenuity that will be sailing out into outer-space."

"Sounds exciting," Rachel said, sipping her drink, something less daring this time.

"It is. It's very exciting."

"So what's the problem then?" Such an easy question, a question that had overshadowed all of Kaidan's thoughts for the past week as the time for departure came closer.

"This is my first, real run. I've trained for this my whole life. Whether I knew I was going to be here someday or not, I trained hard." His headache was returning, and he gulped down some water. "This is… a big deal. Bigger than anything I have ever done."

"Well then it's natural to feel scared," Rachel said without hesitation. Kaidan looked at her curiously as her words came effortlessly. "Oh please," she continued as she noticed Kaidan's confusion, "even an Alliance soldier is allowed to feel uncertainty. It means you're human." She looked over at the barkeep, "and not an ugly mug like this guy over here." The turian smirked and shook his head as he began cleaning and stacking glasses for the next night. Kaidan grinned, and let out a soft 'ha.' "See. You're going to be fine." Rachel put a hand on his shoulder. Her eyes met his and for a moment Kaidan really believed her. "I'm sure a lot of interesting and exciting things are going to happen."

"Thank you Rachel." She patted him gently and returned to crossing her arms over the bar.

"Now go, soldier boy," she said softly. "You should try to get some sleep before you leave." Kaidan let his gaze linger on her a little longer as he debated in his mind what to do. If he left, that was it—but he could stay. He could stay for a few more hours, he could stay with her. He could tell her this wasn't his first night in the bar, he could tell her that since he came to the Citadel, since he saw her singing for the first time he made sure never to miss a single performance of hers if he could help it; but somehow, he figured she knew. So he nodded and pushed out his stool, standing once more. He nodded to the barkeep, and held out his omni-tool to transfer more credits, but the barkeep shook his head. His last drink was on the house. Kaidan lowered his arm and looked down at Rachel.

"Rachel I-"

"Want to stay? You can't Kaidan." She looked up at him. "You have to go soldier boy. You're needed elsewhere, and you have to be ready." The barkeep cast a glance between the two then steadied his gaze on Kaidan. "So go back to your room, and rest." A smirk tugged at the corners of Rachel's lips as she looked away from him, back down to her drink. "That's an order." Kaidan nodded then bid farewell to the barkeep, turning, and heading for the door. "Good luck." Rachel's voice caused him to pause for a moment.

"Thanks."

(The Following Day)

Kaidan tried to shake off the haze as he stood in formation, Captain Anderson addressing the crowd of individuals. It was a mixed group, not all were soldiers, and to his knowledge, he was the only biotic. This would make things interesting. The captain's words were lost on Kaidan as he just struggled to remain focused. A woman stood beside Anderson, stoic, and at perfect attention. He recognized her face almost immediately—it was Jane Shepard. Commander, Jane Shepard. She was to be serving on the Normandy as well? It made sense—she was a renowned figurehead in the Systems Alliance. Kaidan's nerves knotted up once more at the thought of having to serve alongside of one of the Alliance's greatest heroes in recorded military history. Was he truly ready? Could he serve these honorable individuals well?

At some point Anderson stopped speaking, because those around him were applauding. Kaidan joined in, a bit late, hoping no one would notice too much. When the clapping subsided it was time to board. Anderson and Shepard stood off to the side, shaking the hands of each individual that passed them, welcoming them to the SSV Normandy. Kaidan continuously wiped his palms on his thighs to make sure they weren't the least bit damp as he came up to his superiors. Anderson shook his hand firmly, patting him on the back saying, 'welcome to the Normandy soldier.' Kaidan next took Shepard's hand and shook it, but instead of being released like all the others she halted him.

"What's your name soldier?"

"Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko ma'am." She grinned, amused—puzzling Kaidan.

"Yes, Staff Lieutenant Alenko. I read your file. Impressive might I add." She leaned in next to his ear—he could hear the smirk in her voice, "you look a little green there Staff Lieutenant, make sure you do something about that hangover before we depart. The turbulence from leaving orbit is bad enough, but I hear with a hangover it's, unpleasant, to put things mildly." She patted him roughly on the back and let him go. Kaidan nodded and moved along, heat rising up the back of his neck and into his cheeks in embarrassment; and yet, he couldn't stifle a grin.

Welcome aboard the SSV Normandy SR-1.