The club was louder and had way too many lights for his taste. He skimmed the crowed looking for his friends who had asked him to meet them there, one last guy's night before he shipped out tomorrow.
"Kaidan! Up here!" he barely heard his friend shouting from the balcony level. He waved in acknowledgement and made his way up.
"Heads up!" someone shouted at him and he barely ducked out of the way as a bottle flew past his head. One of the guys had thrown it biotically to show off.
"Sorry" The Kid apologized to him as some bouncers carried him out.
"Hey we weren't sure you were going to come" his friend said greeting him.
"Why would you think that? I said I would" Kaidan replied.
"Well, ugh, we know how the loud noises and flashing lights isn't really your thing." He stammered.
"Na, its fine I don't mind. It would do me good once in a while Craig, thanks for asking me to come." Kaidan smirked not sure he even believed himself. Craig was right. He already had a migraine starting to crawl its way out .
"Woo one last night together just the guys!" another friend shouted. Kaidan feigned a smile for his friends.
"Well who else would be here? None of us know any women." Kaidan jested at the remark
"Oh you got jokes Alenko?" the friend playfully retorted. "Well we plan to fix that tonight!" Shit. He groaned internally. His friends where always trying to set him up with a girl. They just couldn't seem to understand he wanted more than a one night stand, And he definitely hadn't found a women interesting enough to be serious with.

"So, Alenko which one of these girls is the most beautiful to you?" Craig asked leaning on the balcony rail and gesturing toward all the crowed. Kaidan reluctantly walked over to the railing and leaned over resting on his forearms.
"Firstly they aren't girls." Kaidan corrected. "Because that would be illegal" Craig sighed in annoyance
"Oh, here we go." He muttered to himself. Rolling his eyes while he took a long drink.
"And secondly I don't know why you guys keep doing this. You know I'm not going to find anyone here." Kaidan said gesturing to the sea of people.
"Where are you going to find someone than?" Craig teased with a playful pat.
"Why does it bother you?" Kaidan's aggravation was noticeable in his voice.
"Because it's not healthy living like a hermit like you do man." He friend pointed out.
Kaidan shook his head. "What? I don't live like a hermit." He protested.
"Yes you do. All you do is work. When you're on shore leave all you do is see your parents or volunteer to help out somewhere else." Craig complained. Kaidan was staring into the crowed hoping a bomb would go off to save him from this discomfort.
"So you're telling me it's wrong to visit my parents and give to charity." He sighed.
"No I'm saying you need to get laid once in a while too." Craig said giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder and taking a long drink. Kaidan brought his right hand to his head and rubbed his eyes in exasperation. He stood upright placing both hands on the rail and hung his head.
"Craig you have known me for years. I don't just sleep around with people. It's just not me. You know that." He lifted his head slightly left turning his gaze towards the lower bar.
"I do. But I also know you are tired of being alone, and unless you put yourself out there you are never going to meet anyone." Kaidan barley heard a word Craig said. His gaze was fixed on a woman at the bar. Her back was mostly toward him. She leaned against the bar with her weight on her left forearm as she took a shot. She waved at the bartender for another. Her Black-brown hair was up in a messy bun. The White t-back tank she wore showed off some marks on here which look like they could be a few tattoos. She took another shot and twisted her head quickly from side to side to crack her neck. Another woman with light brown hair and nervous green eyes approached her on her left side she turned her head away from him as she spoke with the woman. The bartender placed another shot on the bar in front of her. She turned her head back to the bar as if distracted by the motion then back to the other woman. They appeared to be arguing. She leaned back and stood up right as she took another shot this time placing the glass upside down and gesturing to the bartender that she had finished. As she backed away from the bar and turned herself towards the other woman her left arm became exposed and Kaidan could see it was covered in tattoos. Or maybe it was one large tattoo. Her tattooed arm looked like it was covered in a bouquet of dead bluish black roses. From her wrist to just over her elbow. Then she turned around completely and he could see her face. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her Hazel brown eyes were lined by a row of beautiful thick long lashes. Though her eyes were small and slightly slanted, almond shape. She could be confused for being of Asian ethnicity but her skin color was a soft red brown. Her full lips looked heart shaped, And a button nose separated her eyes from her mouth. Kaidan's eyes followed her as she moved closer to his direction. He leaned over the left side of the railing (he was standing in a sort of corner) as she past below and then changed directions away from him now. Her skin looked soft and smooth. With a cool stern look on her face as she walked up to a VIP area with the other woman. The other woman was still talking rapidly. She looked anxious.
"Kaidan. KAIDAN! HEY! Earth to Lt. Alenko!" Craig was trying to see what had Kaidan's full attention to the point of being unaware of the world around him.
"Her, There" Kaidan nodded his head toward the beautiful woman. "She's the most beautiful women here."
"Which one?" Craig's eyes scrambled the VIP lounge area in eagerness.
"The one in the white tank" Kaidan said still mesmerized. "With the arm tattoo."
"Huh tattooed girls huh? Never would have thought you liked tattooed girls"
"I don't usually" Kaidan said barely audible above the music. The Woman had her back to them while standing in front of a couch where a girl ( yes a girl. like a young recruit) lay past out. Her body was rigid. The other woman stood next to the couch facing them a look of panic on her face. Her mouth was moving a mile a minute as she tried to explain what was going on. The beautiful woman leaned over the couch to check the passed out girl for vitals. She turned her head to the other woman and snapped at her and the nervous woman shut up.
"Well I can only see the back of her head but…. she isn't happy about something." The Beautiful woman sat the girl upright and then lifted her onto her shoulders in a firemen's carry. She stood with the girl and her shoulders and turned towards them.
"Wow," Craig sighed "she is beautiful. But might I suggests someone a little more in your league." He joked at Kaidan and smacked him on the back. Kaidan finally jeered his head away from her and looked at Craig. Who simply shook his head and turned back to their other friends. Kaidan looked back trying to find her again but she was gone.
"So Kaidan shipping out tomorrow huh? What's the assignment?" asked one of his more resent acquaintances, Mathew.
"Ugh," Kaidan stammered as his brain turned back on. Turning back to his friends and walked over to the couch they had snagged and sat down. "I'm assigned to the SSV Normandy under Captain Anderson."

(Her side….)
"God I hate clubs." Aela groaned in agitation as the group of girls who had swindled her into coming to this club jumped with glee.
"Oh come on Shep, it's not that bad there's a bar with your name on it and I'm sure they have liquor picked out just for you. Besides it's for a good reason." Ciara, Aela's best friend, goaded on. Always more girly and ever the social butterfly she was. The complete opposite of Aela. Not to say Aela was manly or anything. She just wasn't a pink glitter dress and stiletto's kind of woman….Like Ciara was.
"How the hell is drinking with a kid straight out of tech school a good cause. How the hell do you even know this girl? " Aela truly had no idea. Ciara flipped her hair and sighed audibly. The other girls went on a head to procure drinks and 'scope out the guys'
"Don't worry about how I know her I just need you to relax and have a good time." Ciara sounded like an over baring mother and fussed over Aela's appearance equally as much. Ciara pushed a piece of Aela's hair back behind her ear and kept picking at her as they walked in until Aela smacked her hand away and gave her a look that said enough already! Ciara sighed on frustration and threw her hands up.
"Seriously we have nothing to celebrate Ara." Aela Snipped feeling like 'partying' was a waist of time. Drinking on the other hand seemed right up her ally.
"I know it sucks that we got reassigned but how could they keep us together after what happened?" Ciara said leveling with Aela. They pushed through the entrance and checked in to the VIP area.
"This is my punishment. This is what happens when a troop doesn't listen to my orders and gets their own ass killed. I get punished. Seriously I'm and N7 why am I being assigned To the Normandy?" Aela said in anger. She was the best damn soldier they had and if they wanted her to stop believing that then they should stop telling her that she was. It made no sense to have one of the few N7's the Alliance had out on a stealth ship…Well it made a little sense but given no one else on the crew was it left room for speculation. And I had busted my ass off for that job?! It took two years in contract and four years of balancing patrols and trying to complete the N7 courses. Hackett finally bit...and then Lithia...If she would have just stayed her ass down in cover... Aela mentally fumed
"It wasn't your fault Shepard. Lithia chose not to listen to you. That's disobeying a direct order. You know why we are being reassigned. It was a test run and it failed." Ciara as annoyance built in her voice. She kept looking around to see if anyone was hearing. Aela grumbled to herself feeling like shit. She had lost her dream job and was now being swept under the rug. The news reports had alright circulating the fabricated story about the incident. Ciara could see the wheels spinning in Aela's head and spoke up.
"You're not a failure Shepard it was a black ops mission that went FUBAR because of Lithia. We got caught which wasn't supposed to happen. I'm being shoved on patrol duty. Be thankful you have friends in high places" Ciara reminded. Aela looked around and sighed in frustration.
"FUCK! It's still bullshit Ara." She half whispered. Then reluctantly shook her head in agitation. "I'll be at the bar don't bug me unless someone's dead" she said coldly and made her way to the bar.

"Tequila Shots and keep them coming!" She shouted as she go to the bar leaning on her left side and taking a look around the crowed. The obnoxious girl group she was with already had a few drinks and where out on the dance floor. She shook her head at the sight of them. Looking round the room she saw some other soldiers there for a good night out she assumed. She hoped to God none of them noticed the fresh recruits. Or at least didn't notice she had come in with them. She heard a loud smash of a bottle breaking and looked up to the second level. One of those biotic ass hats was trying to show off and got his ass kicked out.
"Found the rowdy biotic douches" she muttered to herself. The bartender placed the shot glass in front of her. She turned he body and towards the bar still resting on her left arm.
"Thanks." She muttered to the bartender and gave him a nod as she drank.
"Another?" the bartender asked her qith and unsure look on his face.
"Yea," she said dryly with the burn from the tequila in her throat "Didn't I say keep 'em coming?" She said in a tone most mistake for being a bitchy. The bartender backed off and gave her another shot.
"Sorry Miss, just most girls that look like you come in here acting tough but bow out after the first shot of the hard stuff." He said obviously trying to hit on her which she was NOT in the mood for. Everyone at that bar saw the look on her face and knew it all. She didn't even have to say anything. Her expression merely portrayed 'are you fucking kidding me'
"Sorry." He said again meekly feeling intimidated "How old are you anyway like 22?" She again shot him another cold look of doom. "26" she said sharply. She was done with this conversation so before he could try to sweet talk her anymore she thrilled up the intimidation with a hard stare most would have sworn came with actual ice . The bartender swallowed hard.
"Sorry." He apologized sheepishly "I'll just pour you shots on leave you alone."
"Thanks" She snapped as he place another shot in front of her.
"Shepard, we have a problem!" Ciara shouted at she raced up to her left side. She looked panicked and overwhelmed. Aela looked at the dance floor for a quick head count of the kiddies and everyone seemed accounted for. She then turned her attention back to Ciara.
"What, who died?" she said coldly and took another shot.
"Kelly is passed out on the couch in the VIP area she isn't waking up and she doesn't seem to be breathing." The bartender put another shot in front of her which momentarily distracted her.
"What do you mean she doesn't seem to be breathing?" Aela snapped. "She either is or shit isn't did you check?"
"No I freaked out and came and found you." Ciara said all panicky. Aela took her last shot and placed the glass upside down on the bar and closed her tab.
"Ciara how did you make N4 without knowing how to check a damn pulse?!" Aela spat at her as the made their way over to this Kelly. "What the hell did she drink?"
"Umm, I'm not entirely sure. She was talking to some guys, and then a few turians came over and started talking with their group, and there were two other girls with her I don't know where they went, and then the turians started saying stuff like 'well that not a real drink that's a drink for kids try this' and then the other guys would say something back and before you know it they were having a drinking contest and then she just blacked out and I don't know wh-" Ciara rambled on talking at 200kmh. while Aela checked the girls pulse and vitals she was breathing and everything seemed normal she just passed out.
"Shut up Ara!" Aela snapped and Ciara stopped talking. There were some Asari sitting at a booth next to them. "Did you guys see or hear what happened before she passed out?" Aela asked.
"Um yes I believed one of the human men dared her to drink ryncol. The turians tried to warn her not to as did we but she didn't listen." One of them replied.
"Shit." Aela swore under her breath. "Can you see the human guys who dared her?"
"Unfortunately I do not they disappeared after she passed out. I wish I could be more helpful."
"That's all right thanks for your help." Aela did make an actual effort to sound appreciative though she doubted she did. She sat Kelly upright and proceeded to lift her over her shoulders in a firemen's carry. Turning back to Ciara she said.
"We need to get her to a hospital if she's ingested ryncol it can kill her." Panic swept Ciara once more and they headed for the exit.
"I'll get the other girls" Ciara said
"This is on you." Aela said blatantly. She had enough reprimands for the day.

Kaidan was mostly all settled in, he found a bunk in the crew's quarters that was perfect and had assumed (and partially hoped) no one else would want it. It was the last one on the left, it was one bunk squeezed into a corner to the other side was a wall it was like being in a small cuby. Since more people don't usually enjoy those types of areas he was sure he was safe. His mind had been on the beautiful woman all night and he needed to get refocused. He made his way down to the shuttle bay to see if Captain Anderson needed help with anything else. The main hatch was opened as a way to get most of the crew and other stock on. The last of the cargo was being loaded on and it seemed that all the crew was on board yet, Anderson stood at the opening as if waiting for someone.

"Captain Anderson" Kaidan approached and gave a salute. "Is there anything that needs to be done at this time that I could be of use for?" he asked hoping there was something that required his full attention.
"Not at this time Lieutenant, are you settled in properly?" Anderson turned his head to look at him and speak to him but his attention was mostly elsewhere.
"Ugh yes sir as has the rest of the crew." Kaidan said curiously "I'm sorry sir but if I may ask, are we waiting for someone?" Kaidan was quite positive everyone was here. It was a moderately small ship. Captain Anderson turned and smiled at him.
"Yes Lieutenant. We have one more person we are waiting for" He looked at his watch "and though she isn't technically late she is cutting it close." Kaidan felt like a prying ass now.
"I'm sorry for asking sir it wasn't any of my business." Anderson turned to look at him with a slight confused look on his face. "
Don't worry about it Alenko isn't not like you asked an absurd question. It was actually a valid question. We should be starting the pre-flight checks now, but that will have to wait." Just then a sky cab landed and dropped off the apparent tardy last crew member. "There she is now." Anderson stated. She was caught in the glare of sun light mostly. All Kaidan could make out was a silhouette of someone carrying a ruck sack.
"Sorry I'm late, Captain." Her voice was soft but cold. "There was...uh... traffic." She said with frustration in her voice. As she approached them Kaidan couldn't believe his eyes. The beautiful woman from the bar last night was standing right in front of him now. She looked amazing in her uniform. She wore the sleeves down instead of rolled up like everyone else. He wondered why initially, Tattoos. Her hair was down she had obviously been in a rush. "Commander Shepard, welcome aboard." Anderson greeted her with a handshake and a warm smile. They must have known each other. For a while. Kaidan stood there staring in disbelief. Anderson turned to see Alenko's stone like demeanor. "This is Lieutenant Alenko." Anderson addressed him when he said nothing snapping Kaidan into reality his eyes widened at the realization that she out ranked him and he quickly saluted her.
"Ma'am" he managed to squeak out. She gave him a look that said your kinda weird aren't you
"Hey" she said dryly.
"Well hurry up and make your way to the crew quarters and get settled in" Anderson said attempting to break the awkwardness. She gave a fake smile and nodded.

Kaidan couldn't believe she was on this ship…. With him….and she was technically his commanding officer. This was going to be an interesting mission. He mused to himself on the way back to his bunk. Long day, for feeling like he did nothing he sure was tired. They had a day to travel to citadel for their first assignment in the morning so tomorrow should bring some interesting events. As he made his way to the back of the room where his bunk was he slowed to a stop as he saw the sight of an unfamiliar object on the bottom bunk in the small corner he had claimed. As he approached with caution his heart almost stopped when he say it was her. Commander Shepard. She sat on the edge of her bunk elbows on knees face in her hands. Her breathing was …abnormal, strained even like she were in pain. He stood awkwardly by unsure of what to do. Most of the crew was in bed asleep already. Upon looking around the room he found several other bunks that were open so why was she at his? She sat back dropping her hands and slowly tilting her head back. She made a small quick movement of pushing her shoulders toward her spine which gave a small but audible crack. She took a quick breath of pain than sighed in relief than stood up and turned to make her way out. Shit. He stood like a dear in the head lights as she looked straight at him.

"I'm sorry did I take your bunk" she whispered. He looked at the bunk and then her.
"Um no ma'am. Not… technically… I'm on top of you." His eyes widened as he caught his mistake and tried to correct what he meant. "THE BUNK the top bunk, over you." She raised and eye brown.
"Obviously" She responded quietly her lips fighting a quirk, with ..was that a soft laugh? "Otherwise the crew would have questions." She said dryly. He let small chuckle escape. "Yea" he agreed. She gave a small smile. It appeared to be genuine. He involuntarily looked over her in her pj's. Small dolphin shorts that barely covered her backside and an old pt. shirt. He snapped his eyes back to her face in embarrassment but her eyes were closed. Her brows furrowed in pain. He walked closer to her.
"Are you OK?" he asked as he approached her. Her eyes opened they looked at him but they were full of confusion and …was that embarrassment? Her eyes were more beautiful then he thought from the night before. Seeing her up close like this they were a soft hazel with a honey tint.
"Ugh y- y- yea I'm, (sigh) I'm fine." She stuttered. "I'm just going to the bathroom." She said walking past him hurriedly. He watched after her then got into his bunk. This is going to be interesting indeed.

(The next day…..)-

They hadn't even been on the same ship together for eight hours and it was already awkward. Kaidan had timing…bad timing but still timing. The main case cooker on that fact was earlier he was passing through the armory to make sure everything was set up for the mission before heading to the flight deck to assist Joker when he heard noises of frustration coming from the locker room and went to check it out. He then turned several corners until he came across a sight he swore would have only been in one of his deepest darkest wet dreams. Shepard trying to get that voluptuous backside of her into her light armor…a few wiggles and jiggles here and there and her suit came up and over it and the rest was all ease zipping it up until….she turned around to face him right as the zipper got caught having the same trouble around her chest. The zipper was stuck just under her quite large breasts. Her left arm had a handful of material on her lower rib cage pulling down for leverage and her right hand stubbornly pulling the zipper upright. Kaidan's mouth was a gap at the sight of her stubbornly and violently pulling with no avail. In fact for a few minutes there all she accomplished was to give him a great show up her bust giggling around. And of course, as that timing matter comes into play here the zipper finally gave and heroically climbed over those two mountains and zipped up just in enough of a seconds span for her to look up and meet him eye to eye. At which moment he panicked, apologized fiercely and retreated from the room not even bothering to try to explain himself anymore…..