The field was dark with only their flashlights to guide the team. Shepard's pistol was raised as she looked across its site. The room was nearly silent but for the shuffling of the small team's movements. It was too quiet. Three motions made by the Commander sent the squad splitting off to flank the door as Shepard went to hack it. A step from the door Shepard pressed her omni-tool against it and began the hacking program. She got the feeling something was off. The rest of the team seemed uninterested in the situation. Damn kids, she thought privately. The man to her right nodded his head when she looked at him. She nodded back and punched the door as she stepped sideways raising her pistol as if to fire. At first all was quiet but then Batarians flooded in from the darkened hallway.

"Up top!" She shouted to clear the field. Biotic attack ready in her hand she lobbed the singularity into the crowd of Batarians but one of her squad rushed into it. The singularity ripped at the man's body lifting it in the air like a rag doll. She had killed him.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!"

All around them buzzers went off, the lights were raised in the room and their combatants were gone. Everyone stowed their weapons quickly and stood at attention. The man pulled up by the singularity lay pinned to the ground by a blue stun ball. He was clearly in pain but the Staff Commander stomping across the virtual battle field did not pay him any heed. Instead he pushed a button on his omni-tool to deactivate the stunner then proceeded to yell at him even louder.

"Benson, if you were in a live fire exercise you would be dead! Deader than hell and I wouldn't blame the Lieutenant one bit! She gave you fair warning and you rushed in for what! So you could be the first to get a kill! I have half a mind to revoke your R&R time this week!" It was all Shepard could do to try and curl up in a ball of embarrassment. She already didn't fit in with this bunch of soldiers why did the Commander have to make everyone hate her already. Seeing the man whimper and jump to attention the gruff Commander looked around finally locking eyes on the man who was in charge of the unit. "Nass, What do you think this soldier deserves?"

Saluting the man Nass replied, "Sir, I think he just needs some time off like the rest of the squad, Sir."

It was the right call Shepard knew. They had been training for more than a month straight and they were scheduled for leave as soon as they swung by Elysium which was three hours away. Their concentration was most definitely not in the exercise and the team did deserve time off. Still the Commander stared down Nass in a meaningful way.

"I suppose you are right, Lieutenant Commander. I will allow Benson his leave but if this behavior continues afterward there will be consequences." With that the Staff Commander left the training room still in a huff and everyone relaxed a bit and looking towards Nass.

"Squad, I know we didn't do too well today and I know you are all probably ready to head down and pack before we get into port but I want to make one thing clear. Lieutenant Shepard is here to make our jobs easier. She's a soldier just like you… she just has a different skill set. Her assets make our team better and the sooner you become accustomed to them the better, dismissed."

As the squad left they grouped together leering back at her as if the entire thing was her fault. Shepard straggled behind pretending to tie her boot lace while she waited for Nass to be alone. She needed a few words with her commanding officer before they left on leave. It wasn't long before the room cleared out and Nass was left picking up his bag.

"Oh, Lieutenant, I didn't see you there. Did you have something to ask to me?"

For a moment she was unable to make her brain and her mouth work at the same time. The two had only worked together for a short time but she could tell he was a dedicated officer, more than that though he was a very attractive man. "Sir, I was just wondering…" Her question had disappeared from her head even as she began so she stumbled into the obvious question, "Why does the squad dislike me so much?" There it was in the open.

A laugh escaped his lips as he looked straight ahead at the headstrong woman meeting his gaze. "I guess they don't know what to make of you, Shepard. I mean you're a powerful biotic, you're pretty skilled in the tech department; you're a very good shot, hell you're just a good soldier all around. Give them time. I'm sure they'll figure you out." Nass must have seen the slight downturn in her mood because he said, "Don't worry maybe this bit of leave will help the guys get used to you. A week in Elysium can really help with people's opinions."

With that he slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out the door, Shepard right behind him finally remembering what she wanted to ask him. "Sir, what I meant to ask was…" but before she could get it out the Commander was there waiting with his arms across his chest.

"Nass, I need a word with you, alone."

Shepard left the two talking in the hallway to go pack her bag. If she couldn't ask then it wouldn't matter. There is no way they would let her stay on the ship and get off at Mindoir. It would be too much hassle for one of them out of the whole squad to get set down somewhere different even if it was on the way. Besides if Nass expected her to bond with the rest of the squad over the break she would have probably actually have to be in the same system at least. The crew quarters were not exactly friendly to her as she walked through groups of her squad mates to get to her locker. When she arrived in front of it Benson was leaning against the access console.

"Oh sorry, Lieutenant, let me get out of your way. Oh wait, maybe I should just stay here in case you might want to lob some biotics where I move."

"I'm sorry about that, Benson. I didn't mean to hit you like that. I thought everyone had heard me…" Her apology fell on deaf ears but in the end he moved to stand with his friends and leer angrily in her direction. When she was done packing Shepard left the bunks just to escape the caustic environment with a little more than two hours left till they were dropped she had nowhere to go so she went to the mess. Being a biotic had its perks like double the rations and she could eat when she wanted. Small perks, Shepard thought as she looked down at the unappetizing energy bar she was skeptically eating.

"Tired out, Lieutenant?"

Shepard glanced up to find Ness's too blue eyes looking down at her. "Not strictly speaking, Sir. Just thought I'd grab some free food before we hit planet side."

"Good because I have an assignment on Elysium that I may need your help for. The Commander just gave it to me after you left."

"I thought we were going to Elysium on leave, Sir."

"We are and I'm not asking you to spend all your time with me. I just need you to sit in on a meeting with a potential recruit. He's a biotic like you. The Commander thinks you might be able to sway him over to the Alliance. You can tell him about being a biotic soldier." Then Ness winked and smiled at her, "Besides you might win him over with your looks too."

Shepard wasn't sure if she blushed then but it did not matter as Ness's attention was elsewhere when she looked back up at him. He was looking over at another man who had just sat down at one of the other tables. "So, we'll meet up groundside, ok." It wasn't a question as Ness walked over and joined the man at his meal.

The two hours seemed to drag as Shepard waited for them to enter atmo but it finally came. She was the first of the squad to make it to the shuttle so she claimed the best seat near the front. Following behind her were Ness then Benson and his crew climbed in. The ride down was awkward but exactly what she expected knowing that more than half the occupants were giving her a cold shoulder. Two months in a new unit and she still couldn't make a friend. Maybe I should have just stayed out of the Marines, she thought darkly before she looked up to meet Ness's blue eyed gaze. Nah, it was worth it.

Everyone checked in to their hotel in good time. Some even changed into civilian clothes to run down to the nearly deserted beach. It was not the peak of the season for tourists to say the least. Shepard wore her usual Alliance fatigues and sat back in a chair in the lobby waiting for Ness to show up. It wasn't a long wait as the Commander approached her looking very attractive in his Alliance fatigues. It was obvious from his still wet dark brown hair and the strong smell of soap that he had just come from a shower, mentally Shepard wished she had thought to shower before and took a quick look in the mirror before she went to meet him. Her flaming red hair was its usual length at her chin and parted just to the right, not a strand out of place. Her make up was simple and barely noticeable but she still felt like she looked good for having just jumped off a transport.

"Shepard, no time for preening, we've got a meeting with them in about fifteen."

"No problem, Sir. I was just checking my hair." The excuse seemed enough for the Commander as they walked out of the hotel.

Everything in Elysium smelled like salt to Shepard. She had grown up on a farming colony far away from the sounds and smells of the ocean. It was a completely alien world to her and she looked forward to being able to experience it herself after her duty had been accomplished. Pushing herself forward behind the Commander she found his gait to be very long and quick.

"Are we in a hurry to get this done, Commander?"

Glancing over to him he flashed a quick smile, one Shepard had come to appreciate from the overly kind Commander. "I know I'd rather spend my down time on the best beach in Alliance space on the beach, wouldn't you?"

"I don't know, Sir. I've never seen an ocean in person before."

"That's… unfortunate. I guess you'll have to go as soon as we are finished. You'll need a bathing suit for sure. I can help you pick one out if you like." He said wagging his eyebrows at her. Shepard was sure she blushed this time but again he seemed to look away from her to the task at hand. They had made it to their intended destination.

Nass looked down at the data pad in his hand and frowned a bit. "We are going to talk to the parents of a 19 year old just fitted with a biotic amp. It says here that his parents filed for the application but he canceled it soon after. This might be a real fight after all." Nass's nose wrinkled then he looked at Shepard as if there wasn't a problem and said, "I guess that means we'll just have to try a bit harder."

The apartment was on the lowest level of the complex. It appeared to be well kept but sparsely furnished. Shepard and Nass were led in and welcomed by an older couple who seemed happy to see the two Alliance soldiers.

After a few moments of awkward silence between the two groups the man said, "Tyler was supposed to be here by now. He gets off from work around 4:30 each day and comes straight here. I hope he didn't see you. We were hoping to surprise him."

Feeling like this was a time to take initiative Shepard spoke up, "If your son doesn't want to join the Alliance he doesn't have to, begging your pardon sir. I'd just like to say… I mean the record shows he has already canceled the application you put in once. It sounds like he really doesn't want to join." A dark look passed between the couple and Nass looked over at her a bit surprised but not angry.

"He needs to join though… we can't afford for him to go to school and we want to make sure he has a future. Without school all he has is dead end jobs here." They didn't say it but the implication was there. With biotics where do you find a job except the Alliance?

The time ticked away and after an hour of waiting Shepard and Nass left without seeing Tyler. As the two headed down the street Shepard saw a man about the same age and description as their intended interviewee duck into a small shop. It was too obvious what happened.

"I'll catch up with you, Commander. I'm going to grab a snack in here."

Nass looked back at her narrowing his eyes a bit skeptically, "I thought you weren't hungry."

"You know us biotics." She said with a smile and a small wink.

Nass left her there with a nod and a little wave. "Don't forget you need to buy a bathing suit. I expect you on the beach tomorrow swimming your heart out."

"Aye, Aye"

The tiny mom and pop shop he had ducked into was mainly stocked with food stuffs, even some fresh fruit. Shepard took the opportunity to grab a bag of fresh, ripe oranges out of a crate before inspecting the rest of the tiny market. Against the back wall near the candy bars is where Shepard found Tyler trying hard to pretend he didn't know why Shepard was there. Up close she could see the now healing scar at the base of his neck where they had put his implant in. He was tall with black hair thick, like his fathers, everywhere but near his implant. It must stick out like a sore thumb, she thought remembering when they put hers in. Now standing beside him Shepard could see he was nervous as he tried hard to not look over at her.

"You hungry? I know I'm always starving. It happens more often when you use your biotics though. I have to carry rations with me every jump."

"I'm not going to the Alliance. I don't care what kind of biotic freak they sit down in front of me to tell me how normal I am."

"You're not normal, Tyler. You're anything but. You are special, that's why they sent me. Your skills are unique and sought out by the Alliance. There isn't anything that can change the way we are. We were born with these abilities the best I figure we might as well use them for the greater good."

Tyler looked at her with scorn. She wasn't too many years older than him but she felt she knew what he was thinking. "You think that I'm here to recruit you but I'm not. I can tell you first hand it's always going to be hard being a biotic. I tried to live a year without joining the military but in the end I found that I wanted to serve because I had the talent. I understand if you don't want to join. Hell I don't care if you join, no skin off my teeth but your mom and dad really want a future for you that doesn't involve working at," she looked down at his shirt then finished, "Harry's Bar and Grill."

Tyler huffed, "I like my job. I like my life and I don't need the military to run it."

Shepard smiled, nodded her head and said, "Fair enough." Then she made her way to the counter to check out. Bending down to grab some of the impulse buy jerky she heard someone come up behind her.

"Fair enough? That's all? No but you'll see the sights? No paid school and retirement? No nothing?"

"Nope, I'm on leave and to be honest you'll have a hard life either way. I can't chose for you even though it's the choice I made," Shepard answered straightening up.

The man behind the counter tried hard not to look at the two arguing over odd things and swiped her credit chit quickly for her odd purchase of a bag of oranges and seven sticks of jerky. Shepard left soon after that flinging her sack over her back knowing that their talk would leave Tyler with more questions or hopefully more respect for the Alliance.

Bathing suit shopping was harder than she thought. All the suits available seemed to be tiny and didn't cover a thing. It took her three shops and a threat of biotic destruction but she finally convinced a woman she wanted a one piece and came out with the most conservative dark blue one available. It had a cut out on her lower back and it still sat too low on her chest but Shepard didn't feel like she should wear a towel around her mid section. As dusk began to settle on the seaport town Shepard followed the smells and sounds of a fair to the boardwalk. There she was assaulted by the lights and sights of the city in action. Not as many tourists were there for the off season but those that were crowded around little booths filled with old fashioned games like ring toss and bottle shooting. But beyond the sounds of the carnival rides and the people she could hear the lapping sound of the ocean so she continued on past the bright lights to stand on the end of the pier. Looking out on the sea she remembered the wind rippling through the wheat fields on her family farm but instead of the bright blond color of tufts it was dark like the deepest blue. There alone Shepard leaned over the railing as the twin moons were birthed from the almost black horizon. She felt more at home there in that moment than she had in years.