Messalina
- March, 2183
Joker had been particularly mouthful that morning. Messalina was aware of the popularity surrounding the young and talented pilot, with mild good looks and a wise crack that seemed to generate social gravity. But she knew where it was coming from and that most level-headed people around her let his boisterous attitude pass almost as a condolence for his unspoken ailments.
"I just jumped balls half way across the galaxy and hit a target the size of a pin-head so that's incredible."
While she would have usually put him in his place, she was a bit too distracted to be annoyed with him at the moment. Mom had called the other day; the usual routine of every other Thursday where the two-woman family would try to force each other to be a family once in a while. Hannah was married to her ship, and Messlina was divorced from her mother. Growing up as the daughter of Hannah Shepard meant that you usually did your job, silently and efficiently and then step into the next day. But the now Captain Shepard had recently been egging her on about her career and her life and what-not. Hannah was in no position to demand that her daughter settle down, having raised her single-handed in space, where duty called, and danger lurked behind the stars. And Messalina had responded accordingly, never being in anyone's way, doing what was expected of her and fulfilling her duties. But since she had gone through the rigorous N7 training, and then assigned as the executive officer for one of the most renown heroes of the Alliance, a small imp had taken residence on her left shoulder, telling her to never take crap from anyone. Anyone included Hannah.
Her level-headed geek lieutenant Kaidan chipped in, as if reading her thoughts. She had lost track of what they were talking about but it mostly seemed about the prevalent anti-Turian sentiment that had festered like an old wound throughout the early years of Alliance outreach into Council space. For some reason or another, humanity had all too often had to allow Council races aboard their star ships, ferrying them to and fro. Messalina remembered reading in the Westerlund News that ran an exclusive about Council races auditing the cooperation of the non-Council races. Messalina didn't mind Council space interference, mostly because she believed that humanity could never survive on its own, but also because it was none of her business. If matters did eventually drop in her lap somehow to make it so, she would care then.
"Joker!" Captain Anderson's voice broke out through the radio. "Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the briefing room."
Captain Anderson should probably have made Admiral by now. To Messalina and Kaidan's age bracket he was a legend. And as the two had learned during their tour on the Normandy, he profusely emanated respect. Messalina often wondered who her father was, the man who had disappeared from her life before memory had settled in. He was definitely not someone like Anderson, but Messalina wished he were. The Captain had taken a keen interest in his executive officer, though the respect was long in coming. Messalina had survived the Skillian Blitz, and her Star of Terra had brought immense popularity that nearly eclipsed Anderson's own. Looking back, it seemed natural that Anderson had first looked at her with some degree of trepidation, whether the hot shot War Hero would actually follow command, would respect the chain, and act accordingly. Star ships, like their nautical ancestors of old, were always a fermenting ground for mutiny, lost in the sea of stars there was no knowing where a rogue ship would go. But Messalina turned out to be a modest and quiet person, when drilled about her experience in "single handed defense of Elysium", she had shrugged, almost disinterested. To Messalina it was, like her chores on Hannah's ship, just part of her job. Hence, began Messalina Shepard's tour of duty on the Normany as the most uneventful tour in her distinguished career. She took care of the crew, she listened when there was need, but not as a buddy, not as a friend, she merely lent her ear when it required smoothing over.
The irritation in Anderson's voice was something she did not like. It required smoothing over. And it was most probably because Joker had mouthed off again.
"Great," she muttered, seething with annoyance, "Now you made him angry."
"Captain Anderson always sounds angry," Joker offered a mild apology.
"Only when he's talking to you." Kaidan Alenko, biotic, Shepard's ever loyal right hand man interjected. Shepard appreciated Kaidan, the staff lieutenant and head of the marines on the Normandy. Despite his position as the top marine, Kaidan always deferred judgement to Shepard when necessary, not out of weakness or insecurity, but out of the glaringly obvious fact that Shepard was an excellent battle commander on the field. Messalina, in her turn, always respected Kaidan, especially considering that he was one of the rare biotic humans. Other than his biotic powers, which Messalina considered fascinating, she knew that such abilities were not without consequence. And unlike many biotics who would flaunt their abilities to doing every menial task with their mind, Kaidan was quiet and reserved, like Messalina.
Without replying, she quietly left the cockpit and headed to the back of the ship. Doctor Karen Chakwas, who had a penchant for talking to anyone and everyone who would listen, was chatting off with Private Jenkins. Despite his voiced disappointment in not seeing much action, Jenkins seemed excited to talk about his home planet of Eden Prime.
"But I want to see some action!" he exclaimed. "I didn't join the Space Marines to just go traipsing home."
It was amusing, considering that Jenkins was usually homesick.
"Reckless behavior on the field usually ends up with me stitching you up on the slab, Private." Doctor Chakwas had seen her share of action during the early years of the Alliance. She had seen too many eager Privates, and the silent look she beseechingly threw Messalina spoke of premonitions that Jenkins would not fare well on his first mission.
"It's just a routine drop off, Private," Messalina replied dryly. "I doubt we'll be requiring anything nearly heroic enough to satiate your blood lust."
"Easy for you to say, Commander. Everyone knows what you did on Elysium."
It was the same everywhere she went, which made her appreciate the silence of space and the solitude of her bunk. Everyone asked her what it was like on Elysium. Words could not sum up what she had seen, but more importantly she really felt no need to relate that to anyone.
Messalina gave the Private her signature shrug.
The Normandy crew had already christened it as "the Shepard's wall of silence", which effectively stated 'I don't care, don't continue this line of dialogue, and return to duty' and finalized by what had become her catchphrase to the crew: "I have to go."
