"Something you don't know, huh? Obvious stuff like 'what's up with my ink', or something just as boring?"-

"You're not really interested unless it affects you. I've been through this shit before."

"I could be genuine. You have no way of knowing."

"I have eyes, and I have history. You'll back off, as soon as you realize you're not the first, and I'm immune to your help."


Or that was what she thought.

Nighttime. Or at least, it had been, in standard Earth hours. It had been one of those nights - one of those few nights - where Jack had kept to herself, down at the bottom of Engineering. As far as she knew, Shepard'd been sleep, as were most of the crew; keeping dock at the Citadel for repairs and supplies.

The day they'd gone to see the Citadel was almost over. With everyone getting an early night? Shouldn't be hard to go about her own business. Without someone involving themselves in her shit. She already had Shepard for that.

Shepard...


"I was thinking about you and...Maybe you're right. That I need.."

"Did I fucking say that?" Jack asked herself. "Why th-Why the FUCK did I SAY that!" Jack's hands had gone up against her head, teeth clenching, and temper flaring. Biotics subconsiously arose, lifting up a few datapads around her. Left foot began tapping the floor rapidly.

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

She suddenly thought of current situation - something she didn't allow herself to do since the traveling to the Collector base. She had bunked most nights up in Shepard's cabin, cuddled with him. She'd even gone to see a movie with half of the damn squad.

She was getting soft.

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

The biotics were getting more active. The Carnifex laying beside her began to rise, and the crates in front of her began to shake, uncontrollably. There was enough evidence of 'softness' on her part to make her cringe. Was she becoming...Normal?

No.

She wasn't normal.

She was never normal.

She would never be normal.

And fuck Shepard for trying to make her that way.

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

She'd spent too much time on the ship. She needed a dose of reality. To see that the galaxy as she knew it..Was still the galaxy as she knew it. Dark brown hues scanned the area around her. Not much evidence of her existence, down here. Hell, she'd doubt the rest of the crew'd even notice she was gone.

Not even Shepard.

Thump

Thump

Thump

Hands slowly slid from her head to her face, her eyes peeking through the middle of her fingers. The tapping stopped. And a decision was made. Jack reached for the heavy pistol beside her, and concealed it on the right side of her half worn jumpsuit. She stood up, spinning to her left, and practically bolted for the stairs.

In no sooner than 4 minutes, Jack arrived at the CIC, intent on leaving the Normandy. She was right; not soul breathed, in path she was headed, save for Joker, who, as usual, could be seen at the head of the ship.

"May I ask your destination, Ms. Jack?" EDI called out, damn near taking Jack - who was halfway down the bridge, to the airlock - by surprise. "None of your goddamn business." Jack had said, coldly. "And if you, or creak tell anyone I'm gone, I'll fucking kill you both."

"Ms. Jack, to be killed, I would need to b-"

"Yeah, you're better off not explaining that, mom." Joker cut in quickly, pretending that he never even saw Jack coming. The act continued until she exited the Normandy, upon which he immedieately said, while watching buttons, "Did she just call me creak? Did I just hear that?"

"You are correct, Jeff." EDI would answer.

"Thought I did." Joker said, still watching the buttons.