"Are you sure you don't want to come out with us?"
"I'm okay. I don't think anyone would be attracted to someone hobbling around."
"Alright, if you say so."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
Shepard patted Joker's shoulder before walking out the airlock with Garrus and Tali.
"Sometimes I think Joker is a lost cause," Garrus said, shaking his head. Tali chuckled, agreeing with her companion.
"One day he'll find someone that'll take him, brittle bone and all," Shepard said, looking at the sign in front of her. It read Eternity in huge letters. The trio walked inside and straight to the bar, grabbing a drink.
"How do you feel about the Justicar and Thane?" Garrus asked, taking a drink from his cup.
"Samara made me feel like a god when she was doing her oath thing. Thane…" Shepard smirked at the thought of Thane.
"Thane isn't what I thought about when I read the dossier. He'll be very interesting getting to know."
Garrus' mandibles flapped, trying to understand what the commander just said.
"Hey Atheyta, just the usual," a young voice next to Shepard said. Shepard whipped her head around to see where the voice was coming from.
The woman looked to be in her early twenties. Her brown hair was tucked behind her ear, showing her soft features.
"How are you today my dear," the bartender said to the customer.
"Just the usual. Still can't find any work, but I'm still getting by."
"Heh. You'd think in a place like Illium a fine woman like you can find work pretty easy."
The woman took a swig from her cup.
"You'd think. That's the key word there. Think."
The bartender chuckled as she walked away to take care of the other customers. The woman sighed as she took another drink.
"You're looking for work?" Shepard said, tapping the woman on the shoulder. She looked at her and nodded.
"Name's Alyssa Ray. And I believe I know of you. Commander Shepard I presume?"
"Yes, the one and only. If I brought you with me on the Normandy what would be the benefit in that?"
"Well for starters my schedule is very flexible. Whether you need me in the mornings or over night, I can do it all. I've worked on some ships before, but nothing to the level of what you're on."
Shepard laughed.
"Other than that I'm basically you're all around girl. Name the task and I can do it. I've been certified in pretty much everything. I can bandage up battle wounds, I can patch up holes in the ship, I can help "man the battle stations" as they say in the old vids."
Shepard looked at her two best friends for their input.
"Do you know how to calibrate major weaponry?"
"On the last ship I served on, they got attacked and I went into the main battery to fix the weapons. Captain said if I wasn't there their ship probably would have been in pieces. He was very thankful that I was swift in my actions." Garrus' mandibles flapped once more.
"How about your engineering expertise?"
"Ah, you caught my weakness. I always was a hands-on person. When I was learning engineering stuff I stopped because it was all book work. They refused to bring us to the engineering deck so I backed out of that program. If you were to teach me I learn very easily."
Tali looked at Shepard and gave an approving nod. Garrus did the same, gulping down the last of his drink.
"Welcome to the Normandy crew, Miss Ray. Our ship is in the docking bay, you can't miss it."
"Thank you, Commander. See you on board."
Joker heard the airlock swish open.
"Well that was quick. Didn't feel like getting drunk off your ass this time?"
"Getting drunk on my first day at work wouldn't leave a good first impression. May be next week."
Joker gave a quizzical look as he turned his chair to look at where the unfamiliar voice was coming from.
She was short and looked like a school girl. Her hair rested just past her shoulders. She had piercing soft eyes and a button nose, and a smile that would melt anyone's heart.
"Where should I put my things?"
"Who are you?"
"Alyssa Ray. The commander hired me as an extra hand."
"I guess there's some things we could use some help on. She probably wanted you to help out downstairs in the mess hall or something."
"She actually wanted to start me off up here in the cockpit with you. See what I'm made of."
Joker stared at her for a minute, and burst out into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Alyssa asked, a bit insulted.
"No offense, but I don't need help. I'm the best pilot in the galaxy. I don't need any help."
"If you were the best pilot then they wouldn't have built a co-pilot seat right next to you, and the Commander wouldn't have asked to see my piloting skills." Joker huffed.
"So I guess you'll be having my help, whether you like it or not."
The airlock swished opened again, and Shepard's voice filled the room.
"Miss Ray. Glad to see you have introduced yourself to Joker."
"Yeah, very warm welcome from him."
"I still have to figure out where I'm going to put you. If you want the mess hall is down one level. You can hang out there while I find some space for you."
"Thank you Commander. Nice meeting you, Joker." Alyssa gave a wink before walking to the elevator.
Shepard turned to look at Joker, with her hands on her hips.
"Be nice, Joker."
"I'll be nice! Don't worry, mother." Shepard patted his arm and walked away.
"Sleep well, Jeff."
"Thanks, EDI."
Joker waved off the hologram as he started walking towards the elevator. The doors of the elevator closed as he sighed, knowing his bed was waiting for him. When the doors opened, he heard the sound of a string instrument being played. There was soft humming, and then quiet. As he walked around the corner, the music started again, and the humming was louder. He found out it was Alyssa, playing the guitar. She had a datapad in front of her, and every few seconds she would stop, type something into the pad, and start playing again. Joker knocked on the metal wall, startling her.
"Hello Joker. Didn't know you were there."
"Just got off of my shift. So how do you feel being on the Normandy?"
"It's alright. Haven't met everyone yet. I think you guys are still on shore leave?"
"For the next couple of days still, so no one's probably here besides me, you, and Shepard." Alyssa nodded as he stood in front of her.
"I didn't know you knew the guitar."
"My dad taught me how to play when I was little. Ever since, the guitar's been my best friend. I just recently started making my own music. Before, I just used to play because I wanted to."
Alyssa picked up her guitar to show to Joker. She was very much like her guitar: small and compact, but it was beautiful, and nothing but good things came out of it.
"This is probably the ten thousandth guitar I've ever owned. The other ones got so warped from the strings that I just had to throw them away." Alyssa played a few chords for Joker.
Joker was in awe. He heard about guitars before, but never knew of anyone that owned one. Her hands flowed, pressing string after string, from one fret to the next.
'It's like she's piloting a ship, but the ship is a guitar,' Joker thought. Alyssa picked up the datapad and handed it to Joker.
"That's what I've been working on so far. Wanna hear it?" Joker shrugged.
"Sure."
Alyssa licked her lips and looked down at her guitar.
Share with me the blankets that you're wrapped in
Because it's cold outside, it's cold outside
Share with me the secrets that you kept in
Because it's cold inside, it's cold inside
Joker seemed hypnotized by her singing and playing. Everything just seemed to flow from her. Her feet tapped on the seat beneath her as she slowly rocked on the table she sat on.
And your slow shaking fingertips show
That you're scared like me so
Let's pretend we're alone
And I know you may be scared
And I know we're unprepared
But I don't care
Alyssa started humming because she didn't have the lyrics to this part yet. But she kept on playing for a few more seconds before looking at Joker.
"That was amazing! I've never heard anything like that before." Alyssa blushed a little.
"May be one day I'll teach you."
Joker and Alyssa just stared at each other for a little bit. It seemed to get a little awkward, but either one didn't mind the quietness between them. Joker realized he was stroking her leg, and quickly retreated his hand into his pocket.
"I.. uh.. I better get going."
He hobbled as fast as he could into his room, leaving a giggling Alyssa behind him.