Got almost no reaction from this originally, just testing the waters, if you want more please review with criticisms or compliments.
"Commander Anderson, your ID has once again been used in an attempt to break into the Mainframe Database."
David sighed as he glanced up from his desk, meeting the gaze of the emotionless VI hologram being emitted from the corner of the room he rolled his eyes while nodding.
"All right then, I assume the attempt came from my quarters as it has previously?"
The VI froze a moment before nodding, "Yes Commander, shall I call station security?"
He grunted as he kicked out of his chair, standing David shook his head slowly, "No, I'll handle it."
Leaving his office David made his way through the wide hexagonal hallways of Arcturus Station wondering exactly why he put up with this nonesense. She wasn't part of his family, she wasn't even legally his problem, yet he insisted on keeping the little trouble maker around. Really, he should just send her to an orphanage but, well...
As he reached his quarters the door slid open and he was met with a of wave of pungent aromas, "I made perogies and onions, your favorite. I drank your whiskey but I ordered two new bottles, how was your day?"
Turning to meet the speaker he met Joanna Shepard's gaze evenly as the teenage girl's fingers danced about her tablet's screen. She was wearing Alliance issued sweats, barefoot, and her eyes were sunken in, dark circles surrounding the emerald orbs. Sipping from a glass full of amber liquid she glanced away from David's gaze looking a bit ashamed but didn't say anything else.
"Jo...I've been patient with you, but you can't keep getting caught trying to break into the mainframe on a near daily basis."
At this she actually laughed before shaking her head, "They're not catching me hack in, they're catching my attempt to use your ID. After that I just piggyback on the carrier signal sent out by the security VI and saunter in and make myself at home afterwords."
He stared at her dumbly a moment before sighing once again, rubbing his palms down his face David eventually collected himself enough to respond to that revelation.
"So you have access to the Alliance's most secure documents?"
Jo grinned as she nodded in turn, "For the better part of four months actually, I really have no idea who is in charge of your security, but you really need to fire them."
David stared at her a few moments before snorting and walked into the small kitchenette. There was a plate of perogies with a side of green beans on the table next to a glass of amber liquid and a pail of ice. Smirking he tossed a few ice cubes into the whiskey, snatched up his dinner and entered the living room.
Taking a seat across from Jo he took a deep drink from the liquor before jamming one of the perogies in his mouth.
Damn, that girl really knew how to cook.
"I want to enlist," she stated flatly while still tapping at her tablet, David continued chewing on his perogie as he mulled that over.
Swallowing he tilted his head to the side before replying, "Why's that?"
Joanna was, blessedly, one of those women who didn't like wasting words on pointless conversation, he had it under good authority it was a personality trait shared by researchers and farm girls near exclusively.
"I want to kill Batarians and protect humanity, in that order," succinct and to the point, Joanna's style.
"The Alliance brass won't take you with that kind of reasoning Jo," she shrugged.
"I'll make up some patriotic bullshit, they won't care in so long as I have a sponsor."
David grunted while he ate another perogie, eventually he responded, "That would be me I take it?"
Joanna smiled lightly at that, her smiles were rare, but beautiful things, "You got it in one Da', it's a fun little way to get around psychological evaluations."
David paused at this, not only at the 'Da'' moniker but the reasoning behind his endorsement, "You don't think you'd pass on your own?"
She snorted at that while rolling her eyes, "Hell no, PTSD, revenge issues, alcoholism, being a previously unregistered biotic. Name your poison, even if the Alliance desperately wanted me they'd never be able to take me in if we did things...legally."
David sighed as he finished his meal and tossed back the last of his whiskey, turning to his redheaded roommate he quirked a single dark brow as he responded, "Should I really punish the galaxy at large with your presence?"
She grinned widely at that, "Look at it this way Da', I'd be required by law to salute you and not steal your liquor." He laughed at that leaning back into his chair.
"You'd do that last bit regardless," she grinned in turn while nodding slightly.
"Well yeah, but I'd actually have to be discrete about it," David remained silent for a few moments before meeting her gaze evenly, all levity gone as he grasped her hands and held them tightly.
"It won't bring them back Jo," her fingers clenched tightly around his, her eyes glowing blue a moment before she nodded slowly.
"I know Da'...but...it's all I can do to make a difference...to make sure no one ends up like me again...' David stared at her a few more moments before nodding slowly. He released her hands and activated his Omni-Tool, after a few quick movements Joanna's tablet announced she received a new email.
"Be safe child..."
So if we get any traction on this one we're going to jump to Elysium, if we don't I'm just giving up on this one, regardless, I hope you all enjoyed.