Chapter 10

Whenever Shepard stood on the bridge of the Normandy, it felt like coming home. Thinking on it, he'd spent more of the last few years on this bridge than anywhere else, save the Captain's quarters.

In the center of the bridge, a large display showed a digital representation of the entire Galaxy. Shepard mused as he glanced at the various hotspots, areas in need of Council assistance.

He sighed, "didn't think I'd still be alive after the last war. I'm surprised you all haven't moved on to other assignments."

He looked to his right, down at his communications officer, an attractive tan brunette, and a genius in technical engineering as well.

Samantha Traynor smiled at him, replying in her English drawl, "nonsense Captain. You're smart, lucky, and I'm pretty sure you cheat. The Reapers never had a chance. What else could we want in a commander?"

The SPECTRE laughed, "point taken, but thank you all the same."

"I think we're coming up on Grissom Academy."

Shepard nodded, stepping away from the Galaxy Map, "Let me know if anything comes up."

As he made his way towards the cockpit, Shepard could already hear Joker bantering with the ship's AI, the recipient of the pilot's unending romantic fixation.

"I'm telling you EDI," groaned Joker, "you're worrying for nothing. The Captain got the hard part squared away. These new mission details are just working out the kinks."

"I admire your confidence, Jeff," replied the lithe AI seated next to Joker, speaking in calm, dulcet tones, "but we should not take this mission lightly."

To Joker's left, David Archer nodded his reply, "you should be careful."

The pilot shook his head, groaning, "oh great, the 'AI whisperer' is concerned as well."

"Go easy on them Joker," said Shepard, "they're just worried. Granted, I don't anticipate as much drama as the run to Ilos, but we should be on our toes."

"Yeah," admitted the pilot, "and I guess nothing's ever really so simple when you're around."

"There's that too," quipped the SPECTRE, "but apparently it's my luck and ability to cheat."

Shepard smiled, looking at David, "how do you like it aboard the ship?"

Archer nodded, "it's beautiful. But I'm looking forward to being back at the Academy again."

"Right, I suppose Grissom WAS your home for the last few years, and you met someone there as well. What was her name?"

David grinned sheepishly, "Talitha…"

Shepard nodded, "huh, I knew a Talitha. We both grew up on Mindoir."

"I know Captain," replied David, "we met each other because of you."

"Really?"

"Apparently," chimed in EDI, "the other students at the Academy learned about their relationship to you..."

"And you found each other?" finished Shepard.

The young man nodded coyly, "sorry…"

The soldier clapped a hand on David's shoulder, "it's nothing to apologize for. This is a good thing."

"Coming up on Grissom," said Joker, lowering the cockpit's blast shields, so they could see the approach without the need for sensor displays.

The new Grissom Academy was a hulking space complex, stationed in orbit around one of Eden Prime's moons. The planet had once been a sprawling utopia, a testament to the power and success of Humanity's best. The Reaper War had devastated the world. The newly formed Orthos had taken up residence on the moon overlooking Eden Prime, and had been instrumental in the ongoing reconstruction.

Shepard could see ships going back and forth along the dockyards stationed in Eden Prime's orbit, transports relaying supplies from the planet's surface to the Orthos base on the moon, and finally to the newly reconstructed Grissom Academy.

"Well," quipped Shepard, "we always seem to come back here."

Joker groaned again, "yeah, and it always ends in trouble. Here's hoping the Geth and the Protheans leave well enough alone this time. I don't get hazard pay."

"We…PAY you?" scoffed the Captain, "whatever for?"

"That was a joke," chimed EDI, smirking at the exasperation on the pilot's face.