Karin shook her head as she left Jeff in the medical bay. She should've have suggested that he get some rest before tomorrow as well, but it would have been wasted breath. The boy was just going to go right back up to the command deck as it was, and who was she to deny him the pleasure? He worked so hard. She knew first hand—she treated many stress fractures in his arms and hands and legs from so many nights of vigorous writing and reading, or limping across the school grounds to the library to use the database; he needed to be the best. He was—is the best. Once, and only once, did Karin ever suggest to Jeff that he use some kind of individual transport. The ensuing argument was loud enough to bring down walls, and she decided never to ask him again. Not just because of the confrontation, but because of the clear angered hurt in his eyes at the mention of it. He'd acquired a sense of strength from his condition, oddly enough—and Karin realized it wasn't his job to recognize his weakness, it was hers, and it was her job to make sure he never, ever thought on it.

When the decontamination was complete the airlock doors to the Normandy opened and Karin stepped out onto the boarding ramp, walking down onto the docking platform. There were crews of people running all kinds of tests and last minute procedures to make sure everything was perfect for the launch. Watching them scramble about made her feel tired, and a little bit anxious. It was quite the honor to have been chosen to be stationed on the Normandy. She paused and looked back over her shoulder, her eyes running over the lettering on the hull, 'SSV Normandy SR-1.' She wondered if there were any limits to human accomplishment. It was a prideful thing to think, what with the turians having aided in the Normandy's construction, and there being so many different species about them now, each one more than likely as precious as the others—but was it so wrong to feel a sense of pride?

She still remembered the First Contact War as vividly as if it had happened yesterday. Relay 314… was just a number. That's all it was. When doubled, it amounted to the human casualties suffered in the brutal fighting with the turians. Karin had tended to many wounded soldiers. She was fresh out of medical school, and new to military life. What a way to dive straight in. It was commendable how the humans held their own against the might of the turian military. The turians were much like the Spartans of old on earth. It always fascinated her how alike, and how different each race was, and it seemed that the humans held such a vast and wonderful mixture of it all.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips—she was proud to be human, and proud to be a part of a galactic community. Her smile melted into a yawn and she stretched her arms into the air as she moved through the docks to the taxi station and called for a taxi to take her to the Presidium. No expense spared—every man and woman on the Normandy was put up in large, individual suites in a Presidium hotel. Courtesy of both the human government, and the turian hierarchy. The latter as a show of good will. A car came into view, speeding through the air and landed gently in front of the doctor. She climbed into the empty cab and it soared off, carrying her to her destination. She leaned her forehead on the window and peered out at the surroundings she was rushed through. Never would she tire of the sight. Karin hadn't been on the Citadel much, but every time she did, even familiar places were still newly wondrous. It wasn't a long ride to the Presidium, and before she even knew it she was walking through the door to her room. What a day. It wasn't all Jeff, though sometimes he could be the most tiring part of her day—today he was particularly compliant, it was all of the loose ends she needed to wrap up before tomorrow's departure. Old friends she hadn't spoken to in a long while contacted. Their surprise to see her only deepened the guilt in her heart at lost contact; and it was all on her end.

The worst was the clerical work in the morning, going over the crates of medical supplies with XO Pressly to make sure they were well-stocked with everything they would need; and that they would be for a time. Charles was at first glance a boring man. Very boring. He was uptight, and had a strict air about him, but the more they chatted, the more he let down his façade and Karin realized what a kind man he was—and someone with an odd penchant for adventure. He tried to hide his overwhelming excitement, but it came out in small doses during their conversations that morning. It was charming. She slumped down in a cushioned chair with a smile and looked out the window. How long would they be out for? Months? Years?

A ringing tone sounded from behind her. She stood and walked towards the noise; a call was coming in. Karin touched a button on the receiver pad and stared into the blank screen that came to life, showing a face on the other side of it. Someone familiar. She knitted her brows together as she saw the man on the other end, contemplating on hanging up immediately when he suddenly begged her not to.

"Wait Karin please-"

"Roger we have nothing to discuss," Karin said forcefully, raising her hand to the telepad.

"Please." His plea grabbed hold of her wrist, halting her hand. Slowly she lowered her head and looked at him, doing as best to show her displeasure with the entire situation. "Thank you…"

"What do you want?" Karin said shortly.

"You look good Karin." She scoffed and rolled her eyes, folding her arms to her chest.

"I know I do Roger. What do you want?"

"I heard about your new station—on the Normandy," he said. Karin nodded, growing impatient. Was this going to be a conversation about things she already knew? Was he that desperate to talk to her? "I just…" He looked around anxiously and leaned in closer to the screen. "I need to tell you something." Karin unfolded her arms and relaxed them at her sides. "About Eden Prime."

"What about Eden Prime?" Karin's eyes glanced over to the time on the wall. What she really wanted to do was pour herself a nice glass of brandy, and sit down on the balcony overlooking the Presidium lakes.

"That is your first assignment. The Normandy's first assignment is to fly to Eden Prime. They found something Karin." The tone of Roger's voice melted Karin's unwillingness to listen to him, and she decided to invest herself in the conversation.

"Go on."

"I don't know what it is for sure, but the rumor is… Prothean." Karin stepped back from the display in surprise as the words settled on her. Prothean? The Normandy was going to Eden Prime to scout a piece of Prothean technology? She wondered if it was going to be anything like Mars. She regained her composure and looked back up at the display, coming closer to the screen as well.

"Roger, how do you know this?"

"Same way I always know Karin. You know I have sources."

"Why are you telling me this? This seems a little more classified than the usual information you'd give me." Roger looked down and moved away from the screen, sitting down in a chair nearby.

"Because I don't want you to go." His words hit her hard, and she took a step back from the screen. "This isn't like Mars," Roger went on to say desperately, hurriedly. "Something's different this time."

"Yes, of course. Something's always different Roger."

"Karin! This isn't like-"

"No it never is. This time it's different, just like last time it was different, last time when I almost lost everything for you. Goodbye Roger." Karin raised her hand to the telepad.

"No Karin don't!-" The screen went black. She stayed where she was for a moment; hand on the telepad, staring down at the ground. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose, then stood up straight, smoothing out her clothes. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the dark, empty display. It was time for that drink.

(The Following Day)

Anderson gave a wonderful speech. Karin was only all too happy to give him a round of such emphatic applause; truly inspiring. Every time he opened his mouth he commanded attention, and he hadn't changed a bit, only in rank, since she'd served with him years prior. Beside the captain stood the rising star Commander Jane Shepard; an earthborn hero. Karin had spoken with Shepard once, during the mandatory physicals for the Normandy crew—the woman seemed entirely pleasant; if a little green. Experience would come with age, Karin figured. When the clapping subsided it was time to board. The non-military personnel went first, shaking the hands of Anderson and Shepard. Karin shook hands firmly with Anderson, and he patted her on the shoulder in honor of old times. She bid Shepard another polite hello then made her way to the boarding ramp, past several guards. Karin stopped for a moment, glancing at the uniformed men, then back to the crowd behind her, Roger's words slipping in and out of her mind

It was nothing. He was just up to his old tricks. Karin strode up the ramp and found herself back in the Normandy airlock. She and a group of others went through a quick decontamination process then were allowed into the ship. The entrance led them onto the command deck, and to Karin's left she could see a few yards away, the backs of Jeff's arms as they rested on the pilot's chair. Grinning, and shaking her head, Karin made her way through the command deck, and down to the medical bay on the second level.

When she entered the white room she paused, and leaned on the doorway. This felt right. This felt certain. This was where she was supposed to be—where she needed to be. Karin picked up a data pad and began looking over the medical records for the ship's crew, then stopped, and put it down. She sat in front of one of the computers, and looked out the glass window at the large dining table in the mess at the center of the floor. She wasn't going to fill her time with busywork now. It could all wait. So she leaned back, folding her hands over her stomach and closed her eyes. Behind her lids was Roger's face—his desperate, pleading expression. Almost like before… Karin opened her eyes. But yesterday it was, different. Yes… it was different. The more she thought on his face, the more she realized it wasn't just desperation she saw, but also fear. What was Roger so afraid of, that he would risk calling her after everything that had transpired between them? That he would tell her something that would more than likely land him in jail for finding out, and even repeating?

"Doctor?" Karin looked up at the new voice—rough, tired. A young man stood in the doorway, dark hair and eyes. He looked pale, and familiar, but she couldn't recall his name. He also looked sick. She knew that particular ill expression—like long youthful nights, but she couldn't take any guesses. So she stood, straightening herself out and approaching him.

"What is the problem soldier?"

"I—well…" He looked away from her in slight shame. Karin smirked and nodded, patting his back. "I'll give you something for the nausea." The soldier nodded gratefully and looked back up. She retreated back into the medical bay, gesturing for him to follow her. He obeyed and sat down on one of the beds while she went to locate something for the poor man. "And what am I to call you?" she asked him.

"Kaidan, ma'am. Kaidan Alenko."

"Staff Lieutenant? Oh dear," Karin teased. Kaidan ran an unsteady hand through his hair and sighed. "You're secret is safe with me Lieutenant, you needn't worry, but next time, when you wish to calm your nerves, try breathing exercises instead of the bottle. Trust me." Karin found a capped syringe among the supplies with an anti-nausea serum inside. She instructed Kaidan to roll up the sleeve of his uniform. Kaidan Alenko, she pulled his medical file from her memory banks—surprised she hadn't remembered his name, but she had remembered his face to be sure. He was an L2, and he would need to be watched extremely closely. "You'll be feeling better very shortly, start drinking water. Ancient I know, but the old ways are the best ways." Kaidan nodded as she inserted the needle, and it was over. She capped the syringe then threw it into the hazardous materials box while Kaidan rolled down his sleeve. He nodded in thanks and slid off the bed.

"Oh, before you go," Karin said. Kaidan looked at her. "How are your headaches?" He shrugged.

"Better than this hangover." Karin smiled and nodded, dismissing him. She sat back down in her chair as he left, eyes lingering on the empty doorway before she turned to look at the mess hall outside of the medical bay. It had begun to fill with bodies moving about, disseminating to their stations, or leaning on the table-top, conversing excitedly with their fellow crewmen. Then the man Kaidan's words floated back into her ear and she chuckled, closing her eyes and shaking her head. Funny. She leaned back in her chair once more, folding her hands over her stomach.

Roger had been funny. Sometimes.