A/N: Just like last chapter, this is also a series of drabbles to introduce these characters – if you want to skip ME1 and ME2, feel free to continue to Chapter 5!
Disclaimer: just playing around in the beautiful universe BioWare gave us, Chapter 2.6 title from a Robert Frost poem.
Chapter 2.1 – History
By the time they left Feros, Kaidan hadn't seen Shepard smiling as often as he'd like.
Shepard had been on the ship for only a handful of weeks, and yet so much had happened. They found Liara T'Soni on Therum, who offered to help them find Saren and her mother. On Feros they destroyed an ancient plant thing under a brainwashed colony. They had even been doing various assignments for Admiral Hackett and the Fifth Fleet.
Kaidan never had a more eventful few weeks in his entire life. He was also content with the chance to work with different species, so that he could learn more about them and teach them about humanity; since the incident with Vrynnus and joining the Alliance, he never really had too much experience with other species. Though Ashley wasn't too happy with the non-human crew at first, she trusted the Commander and was slowly warming up to them.
Still, Kaidan had a good laugh whenever she had… difficulties adapting. A while back Ashley's screams had resounded around the crew quarters when she woke up to Garrus trying to show her some mods he wanted to add to some of her guns (because Garrus could never quite keep still). And after that, Ashley had been talking to Shepard and showing her some of Ash's poetry when Wrex laughed at her and told her human poetry was worse than Salarian poetry. Since that incident Kaidan, Tali and Garrus started reciting Salarian poems they found on the extranet, but all in good humour. Liara sometimes defended Ashley when they did this, because she was too kind-hearted and shy to partake in any of these pranks. Kaidan was pretty sure that Ashley liked Liara the best because of this.
Of course, they were all here for Shepard. Shepard was the one who offered them her hand, offered to work together, and she was the one who eagerly talked to all of them about their species, their planets, their histories, their homes. She was even trying to help Wrex recover his grandfather's armour from a bunch of mercs – how Shepard actually convinced a Krogan to tell her about his family, Kaidan was convinced he would never know. Though she did have a way of getting people to talk to her – it was just easy to fall into even very personal conversation with Shepard.
But he also worried about Shepard, who had doubts cast on her actions by the Council every step of the way. He worried about the weird Prothean technology imprinted on her mind, and the way Liara tried to dig it out (the way she chanted "embrace eternity" sent a chill down his spine). He could tell the Commander was frustrated because it felt like Saren and his Geth were ahead of them every step of the way. He didn't tell her these concerns though, because she'd probably bust his balls for worrying about her.
Still, he enjoyed how she often stopped by his station (since it was right next to her cabin), to discuss missions. Shepard eventually started asking him about his life, and he liked the easy, interesting chats they had.
Kaidan gained the courage to ask Shepard about her own biotics a few days after revealing his past at BAaT.
"You weren't prenatally exposed to eezo?"
Shepard leaned against the wall of his station. "No, actually. I don't remember much from my childhood. All I know is that I was an average street rat, no parents around, and I ended up mixing with the wrong crowd. When I was 14, I was somehow involved with this accident that almost killed me, yet it saved my life at the same time." Frowning, as if the memories were still hazy and difficult to recollect, she reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Anderson found me, in some warehouse on the outskirts of London. As Alliance he had been investigating illegal eezo imports, and that there'd been an explosion there a few days prior. He was amazed I was still alive, what with hitting my head and the eezo exposure."
She shifted her weight from the wall to her right leg, moving her hand to warily rub the spot on her neck where her implant was. "What I do remember is waking up afterwards in the hospital with no memory, no family, and my body glowing blue. When the doctors confirmed that the eezo had given me biotics instead of tumours, I decided not to waste my chance to start anew. Anderson, who visited me in hospital often enough, convinced me to enlist in the Alliance once I got of age. He saw something in me then, and I've been trying to live up to that ever since."
Kaidan could tell that Anderson and Shepard were close, and he could tell Anderson cared about Shepard with paternal-like instincts, but he had no idea how close they actually were. He finally understood why Shepard had felt so guilty about taking the Normandy away from him, and why she'd been so angry at Udina for forcing Anderson's retirement.
A thought hit Kaidan. "So… you weren't born with your name either?"
She smiled, picking up the dog tag around her neck and tracing the engraved letters with her thumb. "The doctors were excited by my blonde hair, and they didn't like the idea of calling me 'Jane Doe.' One of the doctors was Italian and started calling me Aurelia, and it stuck. Most people just call me Shepard, though. Much easier than an old Latin name."
"You came up with Shepard yourself?"
"Yeah, after I decided to join the Alliance. I started reading about humanity's long history with space." She paused, relishing the opportunity to share the story of her infamous surname. "It's cheesy, but I knew that if I joined the Alliance that I, too, would jet off into the stars. I thought the surname of the second human in space was appropriate."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Second? Why second? Why not the first?"
Laughing, she dropped her dog tag and settled her hand on her hip. "Lieutenant, my first name was difficult enough, it got misspelt and mispronounced all the time. I wasn't going to attach another difficult name to myself. 'Shepard' is much shorter and simpler than 'Gagarin.'"
Kaidan let out a chuckle. "Don't I know about my name being misspelt all the time. But 'Shepard'… the name does have a nice ring to it, I'll give you that."
She grinned at him, and Kaidan was pleased that he was the one to put it there. "I appreciate the sentiment, Alenko, but if you're going to try and sass me again I might have to report you for insubordination." She winked at him.
He didn't know where he got the idea from, especially since she just (jokingly) threatened him with insubordination, but he corrected her. "Kaidan, ma'am. You can call me Kaidan. Alenko makes me feel like my father."
She raised her scarred eyebrow at him for a moment, and he was sure he truly pissed her off this time, but she just laughed briefly. "Alright then, Kaidan. But don't think you can get away with calling me just 'Shepard.'" She paused then adds an afterthought. "At least not yet."
She laughed again, then patted him a little too roughly on his shoulder as she turned to leave. "Back to work, Kaidan. I've got some reports to file."
He relished the sound of her voice uttering his name.
Chapter 2.2 – Down-time
The night after they return from Peak 15 on Noveria, the crew took the night off. Shepard decided they'd earned a break, and with no more leads as to Saren's whereabouts she insisted for (more like ordered) everyone to enjoy a free night. Most of the crew had gone for dinner or a drink at Port Hanshan, but Kaidan, Shepard, Ashley, Garrus, Wrex, Liara, and Tali stayed around the mess hall chatting. Shepard had sneakily shown up with supplies from a shop, and suggested they all hang around.
They were still there even long after the rest of the crew had retreated to their sleeper pods.
Kaidan was grateful for some down-time, as they had had an eventful time on Noveria so far. From tiptoeing around Noverian bureaucracy to fighting off Geth, Asari commandos and even Rachni, he agreed with Shepard – the entire crew had earned a night or two off.
Although, unfortunately, at Peak 15 they had also discovered Liara's indoctrinated mother Matriarch Benezia, who begged Shepard and Liara to kill her so that she would be free. When they had returned to the Normandy, Liara had insisted she was fine but excused herself from the usual debriefing session with a pained expression in her eyes. Kaidan suspected their little gathering around the mess was not only for enjoyment, but also for keeping an eye on Liara.
Ashley was drunk, Wrex was complaining that he wasn't, Garrus was engaged in a heated debate with Tali about ship weapons, Kaidan and Shepard were laughing at Ashley and Wrex, while Liara quietly listened to their conversations.
"Skipper I just don't understand why you and the LT here are not hammered right now, you've had almost as much as me!"
"And I think it's a shame you didn't buy Ryncol or something as strong." Wrex huffed. "How am I supposed to have a good time?"
Shepard laughed at her friends. "Ash, it's a little thing called biotics. Faster metabolism."
Ashley rolled her eyes. "Ooh, space magic!"
"And Wrex, you do realise Ryncol is pretty much poisonous to humans? Why would I want to buy that stuff?"
Wrex laughed in response. "That just makes it more fun for you humans!"
Kaidan played along. "Well, Wrex we're docked right now. They might have some stronger stuff at a real bar if you really wanted some."
"Nah, it might not be strong but drinks are tastier when they're free, especially if a human has paid for it."
Garrus stopped debating with Tali to join in. "Or maybe Wrex doesn't want to admit that he actually enjoys our company."
Shepard feigned a gasp. "Or that maybe, just maybe, Wrex actually likes us?"
Garrus, Shepard, Tali and Kaidan laughed. They even managed to get a smile out of Liara.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Who'll be laughing when I don't save your asses from Saren?"
Ashley apparently hadn't caught up with the conversation. "But, I still don't understand what space magic has to do with it."
Liara spoke up for the first time this evening, softly patting Ashley's back. "The use of dark energy takes a toll on the body, Ashley. Just having it coursing through your veins uses up a lot of the natural energy your body produces to function. That's one way it can weaken targets. Controlling biotics is another story, and requires even more energy. People with biotic abilities have a faster metabolism and require more sustenance so their body doesn't succumb to its affects."
"Thank you, Liara… you're so nice." She drunkenly waved her arms to gesture at the rest of the group. "Nicer than these Salarian poets over here… I'm really sorry about your mother."
The rest of the group went silent, unsure of how Liara would react. To their surprise, she smiled at Ashley, continuing to pat her back. "Thank you, Ashley. I'm sorry too, but… she's free now."
The group relaxed, but Ashley just slurred on. "You're also really pretty. You have nice eyes. And you're nice. Have I ever told you that?"
Liara laughed a little. "That's very kind of you, Ashley." A mischievous look flashed across her eyes. "Ashley, please tell me, am I a nice person?"
Ashley did so, and everyone else burst out laughing. "You are all assholes."
"Thank you for agreeing, Ashley, I've been telling you that for weeks!" They turned to see Joker pulling out a chair to join them. "What's happening, gang?"
They fell into easier conversation after that, but Kaidan was barely paying attention. Even in the midst of a dangerous mission, he was enjoying the moment – this odd gathering with his… friends? But most of all he was enjoying sitting next to Shepard. He glanced over at her from time to time, and she seemed to be in the same mood: content to listen to the conversation and just savour the moment. He wanted to freeze the image of her in his mind; he has never thought anyone else looked so beautiful, inside and out. Here was a woman who understood him, understood his powers, respected him, and valued his input. One of a kind.
As if she sensed his gaze, she looked over and smiled warmly at him, and Kaidan felt his heart swell and break at the same time.
"And these two jerks aren't even listening to us! Look at them making googly eyes at each other!"
Kaidan startled and looked over at Ashley. "W-what was that Ashley?"
"I was asking you idiots your opinions on this conversation we've been having for ten minutes: tech-based weapons versus biotics versus pure combat." She grinned playfully. "I guess some things are just more interesting?"
Kaidan glanced at Shepard – is she blushing? Is that red creeping up into her cheeks? – but her omni-tool pinged, and she stood up. "Well Chief I'd love to stay and argue for sheer tactic instead of any of those options but I've got an urgent message coming in." She mocked a salute at the group with two fingers before retreating to her cabin. "Catch you guys later."
After she was gone, Ashley turned to Kaidan with her teasing smile again. "Come on, LT. I've seen the way you look at–"
Garrus quickly interrupted her. "This reminds me of that one poem by the great Salarian poet Esheel. I think it was called Shores of Sur'Kesh?"
"Oh yes, that one was lovely!" Tali started to recite the poem.
Kaidan glanced at Garrus and nodded his thanks. He shrugged in response.
Ashley deadpanned, obviously not enjoying the poetry. "You torture me."
The group started laughing again but Shepard reappeared with a frown on her face. "Alright gang, sorry, but the party is over. Tomorrow we leave for Virmire."
Chapter 2.3 – Survivor's Guilt
He couldn't sleep. And as usual when he couldn't sleep, he was pacing around the mess. Since Virmire, every time he closed his eyes he heard Ash's voice.
'You know it's the right choice, LT.'
'But what about you, Ash?'
'I knew the dangers coming into this. Don't worry about me.'
'Ash, I'm so sorry.'
'Go get him, Commander. I'll see you all soon.'
He knew Shepard was right; he had been with Captain Kirrahe and the other STG troops, and she had wanted to save more than just one person. But he couldn't help the guilt that coursed through his veins, that prevented him from sleeping, that kept him from tasting food. It was the guilt that came with a friend giving their life for yours: survivor's guilt.
Kaidan felt even more bitter that Ash's sacrifice had so far amounted to nothing. As soon as they had gotten back to the Citadel they were grounded, their mission to hunt down Saren cut short. He'd never seen Shepard so despondent.
He had found her struggling with her locker, giving up and collapsing onto the floor with her head in her hands.
"Commander…" he started.
She didn't look up at him. "Don't call me that. I don't deserve it." She sighed. "Look at what I've done. I betrayed Anderson when I took his ship. I left a friend to die on Virmire. I failed on my very first mission as a Spectre, because now I'm grounded." She moved her hands to lock her fingers behind her neck. "I suppose at the very least I saved Wrex's life by convincing him to stand down."
He frowned. "Shepard, none of that was your fault. You didn't fail; you did spectacularly. It's just the Council don't recognise it, and they're idiots for thinking we don't need to go after the Conduit. If Saren gets his way and finds the Conduit and attacks the Citadel, it'll be their issue, not yours."
She smiled sadly. "Thanks for the support, Kaidan, but couldn't you pull out a simple 'it'll be alright' once in a while?"
"It's that simple? Well, okay then. It'll be alright, Shepard." He continued cautiously and reached a hand out to help her up. "But you know, I suppose we could use this downtime to figure a few things out… maybe about us?"
She looked at him then, and he couldn't quite decode what the look in her eyes was.
The mysterious air about her expression suddenly gave him a burst of confidence. "Don't tell me you can't feel it too, Shepard."
She raised an eyebrow at him and took his hand, but she was clumsy getting up. She stumbled into his arms, and they had looked into each other's eyes, leaning in slowly, when Joker interrupted them.
In the present, en route to Ilos after Anderson helped them 'steal' the Normandy, Kaidan couldn't deal with the unknowns anymore and found his feet carrying him into Shepard's cabin.
He felt like an idiot when he opened the door. What if she's sleeping? But his gut was right, because she was bent over some datapads on her desk.
She looked up at him when he entered, a surprised expression on her face. "Shepard, can't sleep either?" He cursed himself. Real smooth, Alenko…
She looked back down at the datapads and shook her head. "No… too many anonymous variables. I'm trying to figure out a strategy that won't leave our asses on the line, with Saren and with the Council." She poked at a datapad and pushed aside another. "I've got nothing so far."
He swallowed, suddenly unsure why he came here, or what he was looking to accomplish. "Hah, well. The fate of the galaxy has ended up in the hands of 25 mutineers. Way to go, team Milky Way." She looked up at him then, and he reached up to rub his neck shyly in response. "But Shepard… Commander, I think we've done all we can. There's no way we can be more prepared than we are." He stood up straighter. "I just wanted to say, that no matter what happens out there, it's been an honour serving under you. No one else could have done what you have. You're an incredible leader and I'm proud to be part of your crew."
She approached him slowly, and stopped until she was so close she had to tilt her head up to look into his eyes. "A part of my crew? Is that all?"
Her eyes betrayed her, and Kaidan finally let his guard down. "You're right. I think about losing you and I can't stand it, Shepard. The galaxy will just keep going; everything, even the Reapers will come around again. But you and I… we are important right now. This is what will never happen again. Us. You make me feel… human."
Shepard's hand shook as she lifted it up to cup his cheek. "Stay with me tonight, Kaidan. Please."
"Is that an order?" He bit his tongue. What a thing to say, idiot. He tried to remedy the damage by smiling innocently.
"Kaidan, you make me feel like I could take on the universe. And, right now, I kind of have to…" She lifted herself up onto her toes, trying to raise herself to his height. "No games. Just you and me, no one else, tonight."
He leaned down, closing the gap between them and bringing his lips to hers. Nothing mattered anymore, not even his own life – all he could think about was her.
Chapter 2.4 – Nightmares
Smoke. Rubble. There is a Keeper body nearby, and a Geth 'flashlight' peering out from under a chunk of the Presidium.
Kaidan reaches up to rub his forehead, where there is a throbbing ache but not quite a migraine, and his hand comes away with a little blood. Nothing serious, but a Reaper crashing into the Presidium was likely to do some damage.
Liara is nearby, and he slowly pulls himself up to give her a hand. 'Where's Shepard?' she asks.
They turn around, sifting through bits of rubble to find her. Finally, he spots a tuft of golden hair underneath a chunk of debris, and a hand poking out lifelessly next to it. 'SHEPARD!'
Kaidan awoke suddenly and noiselessly. The warm body next to him and the hair in his face reminded him it was just a dream, that she was still here, still alive.
He pulled her closer, trying to forget the dream.
It had not quite happened like that in reality; Liara and Kaidan had given up their search when Anderson found them. Just as they were retreating she had emerged from even further back than where they were, limping and bruised but with a triumphant look on her face.
It was exactly that moment that Kaidan realised he had fallen in love with Shepard.
He didn't tell her, though. Not to her face. While the crew have been on shore leave on the Citadel, recovering from their injuries, he was sneaking into her rented room at night. By day they acted civilly – go to their medical check-ups, meet with the rest of the crew to hang out, sometimes she has meetings with the Council and now-Councillor Anderson – but by night, they were something else. They were animals: they craved each other's bodies. They were lovers: they cuddled afterwards and whispered sweet nothings into each other's ears. But most of all they were humans: they ordered food and ate together, they watched vids together, and they talked to each other.
They were due back for duty tomorrow, searching for and clearing out any more Geth that might be outside the Perseus Veil. They were scheduled to start in the Omega Nebula.
Kaidan wished he could stay here with Shepard forever, because he was afraid of what would happen to them once they were back on the Normandy. But for now, he just held her in his arms.
"Shepard, are you awake?" She didn't answer. "I love you."
After he fell back asleep, a quiet whisper responded. "I love you too."
Chapter 2.5 – Alchera
Kaidan had just left Shepard's quarters for the armoury when the first blast rattled the Normandy.
Shit, shit, shit, he muttered to himself. He rushed to throw on the first set of armour he pulled out of his locker and ran back upstairs.
They thought they'd have some time, a few moments to themselves, before leaving the Amada System and returning to the Citadel to report to the Council.
"Shepard, I'm pretty sure some of the crew saw me coming in here, and I'm damn sure Chakwas has started becoming suspicious."
She had just laughed and curled her arms around him, and lifted her face up to peck him quickly on the cheek. "I know it was risky asking you to come, but I just missed you. I've been too busy lately."
He sighed and opened his mouth to reply when Joker had – yet again – interrupted their privacy. "Commander, we're getting some strange readings. You might want to see this."
It was Shepard's turn to sigh. "Alright, Joker, I'll be right there." She kissed Kaidan on the lips and released him. "I'm sorry, I'll go check this out."
Kaidan just nodded. "I have to go downstairs to take some inventory, anyway. I'll see you later."
Now here he was, rushing back up to the main deck to find Shepard and make sure she was okay.
He frowned when he realised the armour he pulled on in his haste was the new heavy armour she had gotten for him. He wasn't quite used to it yet and he was clumsy, tripping over things and awkwardly trying to dodge the flames that were starting to engulf the Normandy's interior. On his way he ordered everyone he passed into an escape pod, pausing several times to help crew.
He brought up his comm. "Joker! Status report!"
"It's not looking good, LT!" Joker's voice yelled back. "Shepard's down in the mess trying to get everyone to escape pods and release the emergency beacon. I'm still trying to raise any contact with the Alliance up here in the cockpit!"
"Negative, Joker, you've done your best. Get to an escape pod now! I'll get Shepard!"
"With all due respect LT, I'm not giving up on the Normandy just yet. The bastards killed Pressly!"
Kaidan frowned, but knew he couldn't pause to mourn Pressly just yet. "Joker don't be a stubborn ass, get yourself to an escape pod now!"
"Kaidan, just take care of Shepard, I'll take care of the Normandy!"
He gave up for the moment, knowing he'd probably have to go up and drag him into an escape pod himself. But for now, he ran as fast as his clumsy armour would allow him to Shepard.
He caught her just as she put her helmet on. "Shepard! Do you think the Alliance will make it?"
She was pissed – he could hear it in her tone, almost as if their moment of peace earlier hadn't even existed. "They damn well be, I'm not doing this so they can find our bodies floating around in space!"
"Joker's still in the cockpit, he's refusing to abandon ship! I'm not leaving you either."
Shepard tried to put out a fire next to her feet. "Kaidan, get yourself to an escape pod, I'll take care of Joker."
"Not until you're both safe!" He couldn't keep the desperation out of his voice.
She turned to him. "Get yourself to an escape pod, LT. That's an order."
He could feel his heart breaking, but what else could he do when his commanding officer gave him an order? "Aye, aye, ma'am."
He ran to the nearest pod, giving a few crewmembers a hand to get in before climbing in himself.
His face was glued to the window of the escape pod until a last pod jettisoned out from the cockpit right before the Normandy exploded. He released a breath he hadn't realised he was holding.
It was a few hours before an Alliance ship arrived to rescue the pods scattered above the icy planet. It was a few hours in which Kaidan tried, in vain, to raise Joker, Shepard, or anyone else on the comm.
He was relieved to find Liara helping him out of his pod once it's been recovered, and Kaidan busied himself with helping Chakwas attend to any injuries.
After at least another hour, Liara ran up to him. "Kaidan! They've recovered the last pod, the one from the cockpit!"
They ran together to the shuttle bay, where they found a group of Alliance soldiers trying to pull a broken-legged Joker out of the last pod. Liara rushed over to the pod, probably intending to help Shepard out, but she froze.
"The pod is… it's empty."
Kaidan's back stiffened. He looked at Joker, who was refusing to meet his eyes.
Joker wiped his nose with the back of his hand, as if he'd been crying. "I… I'm sorry. She's gone."
Chapter 2.6 – Nothing Gold Can Stay
It felt like Ash's death all over again; survivor's guilt seems to permanently plague Kaidan. Shepard's funeral was arranged within a month. Kaidan begged Anderson, Admiral Hackett, any high-ranking Alliance official who will listen, for more time to search for her but it was no use.
"Son, don't you think this hurts me just as much as you?"
They were in Anderson's lavish Council office. Kaidan could tell that Udina, not Anderson himself, was responsible for outfitting the office. It was a little too extravagant for both Kaidan and Anderson's tastes.
Anderson stood by the window, looking out to the Presidium below.
"But sir, we never found a body. That means that she could still be out there somewhere, we can't give up just yet!"
Anderson sighed, looking at Kaidan straight in the eye. "I know you were close, Alenko. I know this is hard, I loved the woman like my own daughter." He turned away a second too slow; Kaidan glimpsed what might be tears threatening to fall from Anderson's eyes. "I hate having to deal with all this political bullshit. I'm outnumbered on the Council – they're declaring her a martyr of the Citadel. I'm even powerless to stop the Alliance from declaring her killed-in-action. There's nothing I can do, son. I'm sorry."
Anderson moved away from the window and sat back down at his desk. "The funeral is tomorrow. The Council insisted it be here, on the Citadel, so that they can pay their respects in person and so that non-Alliance personnel may attend as well. I hope you'll be there."
But Kaidan didn't go. He couldn't even look Joker in the eye anymore, even though he knew it was unfair to blame him. He caught the next possible transport to Arcturus, messaging a quick goodbye to Garrus, Liara, Tali and Wrex, and an apology to Anderson, from his omni-tool before leaving. He thought if he had to sit through her funeral he might just break down and reveal just how close he and Shepard were.
He spent a few months on Arcturus Station doing odd assignments here and there. It took over a year before Kaidan could even talk about or set foot on the Citadel again. And even when he did, it was at the behest of Anderson.
"Lieutenant Commander Alenko, it's good to see you again. Congratulations on your promotion."
He shook Anderson's hand and remembered the last time he was in his office, hoping Anderson didn't notice his knees shaking before he sat down.
"Thank you, sir. You requested me to come here for some… special missions?"
Anderson nodded. "Yes, there are a few things that need to be done, and I need someone I can trust. I believe that it might even get you promoted again within the next few months."
Kaidan swallowed. "I'd be glad to help you with anything you need, sir."
"I'm happy to hear that. I was sorry that you weren't at the funeral." Kaidan winced, and Anderson eyed him curiously before continuing anyway. "But you weren't the only one. Doctor Liara T'Soni mysteriously went under the radar a few days before the funeral and only reappeared on Illium just recently."
"Huh. I wonder why. She always had an extremely soft spot for the Commander." Even now, Kaidan couldn't bring himself to say her name.
"Doesn't matter anymore. It's all in the past now." But it's not, Kaidan thought. "I'll forward you the information of what I need you to do, and I want you to report back here between every mission."
Kaidan stood up and saluted Anderson. "I won't let you down sir."
He left the office and walked back towards the elevator, but stopped for a moment by the crystalline windows. As he gazed over the Presidium view below, a not-so-distant memory tugged at his brain.
'Or maybe the Council just doesn't like humans.'
'We've got oceans, beautiful women, this emotion called love. According to the old vids, we have everything they want.'
'When you put it that way, there's no reason they wouldn't like you. I mean us! Humans! …Ma'am.'
'…You don't take much shore leave, do you, LT?'
"No, Ash," he mutters to himself. "No I don't."
He tore his gaze away from the window and headed into the elevator.
A/N: Thank you for reading! You can contact me here, on my tumblr (bioticnerfherder) or my Mass Effect tumblr (shepeffect)!