Chapter 1 – Social dancing
Commander Martin Dodson had commissioned the construction of a new training complex on Eden Prime, the second planet of the Utopia System in the Exodus Cluster. Upon its recent completion, the eighteen N7 fast-track program trainees were split up into two groups and tasked with completing a day-long series of non-stop gruelling exercises. This was just to 'break the new facility in' before pitting them against further challenges.
The initial multi-combat scenarios were so extensive that those that didn't end up in the medical-bay were granted a small amount of shore leave to recover before returning to standard training and missions.
Permitted to choose what to do with their own free-time, six trainees from the first group decided to use the nearest relay, pool their credits together, and rent out a suite on the Citadel. Once there, the plan was, as one particular member put it, 'to have a night out on the tiles'.
[Year: 2186]
[Location: Markets, Upper Wards, Citadel, Widow System, Serpent Nebula]
[Mission Brief: Shore leave]
The widely distinguished colossal deep-space station known as the Citadel not only housed over 13 million lifeforms, but was also home to various entertainment venues, shops and night clubs.
"Flux?" asked Connor McIntyre, "I didn't think anyone went there anymore."
"Exactly!" pointed out Scott Lawton with a huge grin across his face, "It'll be like we have the place to ourselves. Ya'll warmed up?"
The group of five stood in front of him all agreed, a couple of them cheering.
"Right then recruits," said Scott mimicking Commander Dodson's gruff voice, "the mission objective is to get sloshed! Do the Alliance proud."
***
[Three hours later]
[Location: Flux, Citadel]
Rebecca Watkins was sat alone at a small table, watching three of the other N7 fast-track program trainees dancing to what seemed like a bizarre mix of techno and punk music. From the point of view of anyone else in the club, they looked like any other humans on the Citadel, enjoying the music along with a mix of other races. Only the most observant of patrons would notice the thin chains around their necks, a hint of the Alliance dog-tags hidden beneath their mundane clothes.
Although nothing special in a fashion sense, Rebecca was wearing her usual brown dungarees over an orange long sleeve t-shirt that she thought nicely complimented her copper hair and green eyes. She had even decided to paint on some orange fingernail polish, something she rarely did. Her efforts were in vain however, as the overall effect was lost due to the poor disco lighting within the nightclub known as Flux.
She stopped idly fidgeting with her favourite screwdriver and returned it to the lower right pocket of her dungarees upon noticing Takako Hibiki return from the bar.
Takako was the only other female among the group of eighteen trainees and her out-going nature easily won over Rebecca's shy disposition on the first day they met.
The black-haired Japanese girl, with deep brown coloured eyes that matched the brushstroke-like patterns on her white dress, sat down next to her friend and placed two glasses of transparent magenta-coloured liquid on the table; "More drink!"
Rebecca's expression of study changed to one of amusement; "I'm sure you're trying to get me drunk my lady."
Takako feinted shock; "I assure you my dear I would never do such a thing… yours is a double by the way."
Both girls giggled and then began to drink, Takako downing hers at a clearly faster pace than Rebecca could handle.
"How is it today?" asked Takako nodding towards the lower half of Rebecca's left arm.
Rebecca also looked down at her long t-shirt sleeve, already beginning to slur her words after just a few rounds of alcohol; "There's no pain and ish cleared up nicely. Wan to shee it?"
A couple of rapid nods from Takako signalled for the engineer to pull up her sleeve, revealing her dark pink burn scars all around from wrist to elbow.
"Owwww," stated Takako, taking another large gulp of her drink, "but it looks quiet cool actually. There are all these diamond shape patterns across it."
"Shu-seriously? Scott said the same but I think it looks like someone's shrink-wrapped it with strips of cling-film."
Takako began to grin; "You know, you've mentioned Scott, like, five times since we sat down here."
Rebecca's alcoholic fuzz cleared drastically; "We, well we were assigned together, so, so I'm around him a lot, it's natural."
Takako nudged her friend and winked; "I think you like him."
Rebecca felt like a hot towel had been placed on her face and hoped that the club lighting was hiding the rapid reddening of her cheeks; "Wha-what? No, I mean, it'd complicate things too much. He doesn't see me like that anyway… Um, is it that obvious? Ahhh!"
"Yep," laughed Takako, "although you got your work cut-out since he's such a babe-magnet. Didn't imagine he'd be your type."
Rebecca shyly adjusted her glasses and tried to divert the conversation slightly; "How are things going with you and Connor? Aren't you worried when on assignment?"
The two girls looked over to the dance floor where Connor and two other N7 trainees were teaching a salarian how to successfully head-bang and air-guitar, much to the amusement of an asari who was enthusiastically clapping her hands.
"Things are going good," replied Takako with a smile, "we're a bit over-protective of each other, but also in sync enough to still work effectively on the field. I heard relationships in the Alliance could be tough, but I haven't found anyone else that I trust more than him… plus, you know, the sex is amazing."
Rebecca laughed while rolling her sleeve back down; "Well I'm glad it's working out for you guys."
Takako finished her drink and winked; "It'll work out for you one day too, even if it's not Scott. You are meccha kawaii!"
Before Rebecca could say anything to the contrary, she received a quick kiss to her cheek that caused her blush to return.
The room filled with cheers as the music track shifted to a repeating drum beat followed by some synth.
"Ahh," whimpered Rebecca to herself, "for a second I thought they were cheering at us."
"I love this song!" exclaimed Takako quickly standing up, her eyes locking onto Connor who was beckoning her over with his hands, "Becky, let's dance."
"You really wah to see my drunken penguin impression?" frowned the engineer.
"Yes!"
"You go," smiled Rebecca holding up her half-finished drink glass, "I'll finish my drink and den join you."
"Haaaaaiiii!" called out Takako as she happily sauntered towards her fellow trainees on the dance floor.
Rebecca chuckled to herself and slowly sipped at her drink, noting with her digital watch that it took her just over three minutes to find the bottom of the glass. No one from the dance floor looked over to her during this time, that lack of pressure allowing her to slowly build up the confidence to join in with something that she wasn't overly comfortable with.
Just as she worked up the courage to stand up and start walking over, she could hear a voice calling her name over the din of the music.
"Becky-Bex-Bex-Beckington!" called Scott, clearly quite drunk.
Scott was walking down the staircase from the casino on the mezzanine. An asari clung to his left arm and a female human, that Rebecca recognized as one of the bar staff, held his right.
As the three approached, Rebecca was secretly pleased with herself that she didn't feel that pang of jealousy and upset that she always used to. She came to the conclusion that she was either finally moving on, or that she was drunk enough to just not care. The room continuing to move despite her being stood still hinted that the latter was certainly a factor.
"I just won big on the Quasar machines! Credits galore!" exclaimed Scott excitedly.
Rebecca could never help sharing Scott's emotions, she always absorbed them like a sponge without noticing, her smile widened and she gave a thumbs up; "Nice one!"
Scott turned his head to the girl on his right; "Hey babe, can you get everyone here a drink? They're on me."
The bar girl, happy that some of his winnings were going back to the club, squeezed his arm a little and flashed him a smile; "Sure thing, I'll get them right now."
The asari on Scott's left began to detach, her fingertips lingering on his smart white shirt for as long as possible before she had to pull away; "Thank you so much! I'll tell my friends."
"Hey, you were my lucky charm," winked Scott.
Heading off to the dance floor, she began to explain to the salarian and the other asari that free drinks were inbound.
"Having a good time?" asked Scott.
Rebecca swayed a little after nodding; "Yush! I'z a little drunk though."
"Think you can handle one more?" asked Scott, "I've just been told they have a new drink they're trying out here."
Rebecca wobbled again and adjusted her glasses; "I don't know, I don't wan ta throw up or fall over."
Scott patted her on the shoulder; "Aww come on, what's worst that could happen?"
Rebecca squinted hard at him; "You didge not just say that, you know you hat a history with that phrase."
"I haven't the faintest idea what you mean," he replied, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
***
