A/N: This is for Logan, who is having a shitty week it seems, and since he's one of the few people not way too busy for me now, I decided I'd do something nice for him. ^^ I hope you're feeling better!

As for everyone else, this is James and Steve's story pre-Mass Effect 1. So, expect a lot of slash, OC's and a few of my friends characterized in-universe. So, thank you to Lati, Dante, Tobi and Logan for allowing me to ahem, 'borrow' your personalities and such for this. And mostly to Dante and Logan, your physical characteristics too. :) This starts four years before Mass Effect 1, and I have no idea how far I'll go... likely to the end, because I'm insane.

Fehl Prime

James looked over the shuttle. He sat with seven other soliders, headed to a fairly new colony as guards. Nothing too exciting, but the team was mostly rookies and screw-ups. James was the former. He looked around, taking an inventory of the soldiers around him. To his right was Private Katie Jones, a newbie on her first real mission. She had long blond hair that she was playing with nervously. James wasn't too impressed with her. To his left was Lt. Tobias Simmons, with flaming red hair and his arms crossed over his chest. He was a screw-up. Next to him sat Private Carlos Lewis, also a rookie, but looked much more promising than Jones. He was built like a tank, but, once again, James wasn't impressed. Across from him, sat Corporal Logan Valkyrie. He was small framed, and James wasn't sure that he was even eighteen, with his sparkling green eyes and boyish features. However, he'd heard a lot about Valkyrie, mostly that underestimating him meant death. Painful death. Next to him was Operations Chief Anna Clem. She was called Shadow, due to the fact that she was very quiet and had an almost assassin-like reputation in battle. Beside her was a soldier who had silver eyes and dark hair. His name was Dante Lee, and he had shoulders that rivaled James'. He was a biotic with a reputation of being a flirt. Next to him was the woman in charge, a strong looking woman with firey hair and a large scar across her face. Lt. Commander Jill Morgan, an N7 operative who had lost her entire squad only weeks ago.

"Ma'am, we're about to touch down planetside. If you meet with Service Chief Steve Cortez, he'll show you the barracks," The pilot said.

"Thank you. You heard the man. Keep on me and don't forget your things." She stood and went to the door. It opened, and she stepped out, the rest of the squad behind her. James picked up his bag and followed Valkyrie out. Jill approached the only man in Alliance uniform she could see.

"Are you Service Chief Cortez?"

"Yes ma'am. You are?" He asked as he stopped his work on a generator.

"Lt. Commander Jill Morgan. This is my squad. They're mostly rookies and rule breakers, but they'll do fine out here."

"All right. If you'll follow me I'll show you to the barracks." The group followed Cortez, where two new-looking buildings stood.

"The ladies are on the left, the gentlemen on the right. We expect the colony to get larger and need more Alliance... but you're a good start."

"So you sleep here? Alone?" Lt. Simmons asked.

"No. I live with my husband in the main colony. I'm technically off-duty. But I'm still Alliance. My job is to fix generators and keep the colony running. Patrols are your job."

"All right, everyone get settled, Private Jones, Lt. Simmons, join me out here for first patrol in twenty. The rest of you can relax." The group split, and James set his bag on a bunk. James set his bag on a bed, Valkyrie taking the one next to him, and Lee across from them.

"So, Lee, I hear you've broken regs a lot," Valkyrie said.

"Five times. If you want to get real technical it should be at least twice that, but I've only been caught five times. I like guys in uniform."

"And why not?"

"Ah... so you too then?" Lee asked.

"Yep."

"Hate to break your heart already kid, but you're too young for me," he teased.

"Not interested anyway. So, what about you... Vega?" James looked up.

"Odd man out I guess. I like chicks."

"Well. That's a shame. What kind of combat training have you got?" Valkyrie asked.

"I'm a biotic. Got the old L2 configuration, and get some fucking nasty nosebleeds. I'm also a sniper," Lee replied.

"Vega?"

"Basic close range arms. Shotguns, assault rifles. Heavy armor."

"Nice. Biotics and close range arms. Shotguns, pistols."

"Really? Aren't you a little... small for the front lines?"

"I'm stronger than I look."

"Woah! I'm not trying to insult you!" James defended.

"I hope not. I don't want to have to kick your ass."

"Kick my ass? Yeah right!" Valkyrie's eyes narrowed, and a smirk spread across his lips.

"Yeah. Really. Bigger they are, the harder they fall... Vega."

"How old are you kid?"

"I'm not a kid. I'm twenty-two."

"All right then, how 'bout you put your money where your mouth is?" James said. Valkyrie smiled.

"You're on." He stood and Lee laughed.

"Sit down boys, before you hurt yourselves."

"I can handle myself Lee."

"All right. Don't hurt yourselves." Valkyrie took a steady fighting stance.

"No going easy on me now, Vega," Valkyrie said with a dark tone in his voice. James got ready.

"Your move."

"Your mistake!" Vaklyrie threw a right hook, James ducked at jabbed at his stomach. He didn't make contact. Valkyrie rolled out of the way. He dropped to the floor and slid his leg under James' feet. James stumbled and threw a punch at him. Valkyrie blocked. He landed a punch to James' chest and jumped back as he retaliated. James rushed forward reaching for Valkyrie's shoulders. Valkyrie side stepped him, and kicked James in the back. The grizzly bear sized man landed flat on his face. Lee burst into a fight of laughter, as the much smaller framed Valkyrie stood over James, who'd rolled onto his back.

"I rather like the sight of you on your back Vega. It works for you."

"...how the hell?" James was stunned. He looked over Valkyrie and couldn't believe how he'd lost to such a small soldier.

"I told you, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Here," Valkyrie held his hand out to James. He took it and stood.

"You're not too bad... Lightning."

"Lightning?" Valkyrie raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. It's a thing I do. Nicknames."

"So, why am I suddenly 'Lightning'?"

"You're quick... and strike hard." Valkyrie smiled.

"Uh-huh. If you're calling me Lightning, I'll call you Thunder." James laughed.

"Works for me."

"And both of you had better call me Lt. Lee. I'm way older than you two fools." James and Valkyrie laughed.

"Let's go see if they have any food in this place. I'm starving," Valkyrie said. The boys went toward a central building, which included a mess hall and a training room. James and Valkyrie sat down with Shadow.

"Hello boys. Hungry?" she asked. Shadow was making lunch.

"Yeah, let me help," Valkyrie said joining her in the kitchen.

"Can you cook?"

"I can do basics at least."

"Good. Chop those potatoes." Valkyrie nodded and joined Shadow, while James sat down, and waited.

"Well, at least the people I'm with are interesting," he mumbled to himself. Maybe patrols weren't the most interesting, but at least there's a possibility of fun.

A/N: I would just like everyone to know, during the writing of this, I had to kill a MONSTER fly... My fear of insects is getting unreasonable. Anyway, this was way to much fun to write. Especially Valkyrie. Thanks for letting me make you a badass Logan! It's way too much fun. XD I'd say the same to Dante, but I've done it before. I think my dear Lati will get some more interesting stuff in the next chapter... Anyway, hope your week is better Logan... and that you don't think I characterized you in a totally weird way... oh, and if your eyes aren't green, correct me! ^^