Samantha

"Samantha Traynor."

Sam looked up from her place at the table in the mess. It was early, earlier than most people with first shift would be up, but she couldn't sleep, so she'd decided to come out and write another letter to her parents over a steaming mug of tea. Unfortunately, she'd said in previous letters all there was to say, and now, looking at her omnitool, she was just getting depressed. The high of seeing Ashley really didn't last all that bloody long…

Her thoughts were immediately derailed as her eyes fell on EDI. "Oh, EDI! I… didn't expect your, um… body to be here," Sam stammered, trying and failing not to look at said body's bust. It was just there. How could anyone not look at it?

"I find the crew is more comfortable speaking with this mobile platform in person. As I had a personal question to ask of you, I felt it prudent to put you at ease in what ways I can," EDI said, moving to the other side of the table and gesturing to the bench. "Do you mind if I sit?"

"Oh, please do!" Sam rushed, closing her omnitool. "Though… opening up the conversation by telling me of your need to make me comfortable is, in fact, a very good way to sound incredibly ominous and put me on edge. What's this about, EDI?"

"I have been running scenarios to analyze Jeff's behavior."

"Jeff… Oh, right, Joker. Okay. So… what behavior have you been analyzing?"

"I believe he has a strong affectionate attachment to me, but he has not stated it to anyone. You have first-hand sexual experience, Specialist Traynor." Sam immediately blushed. "How did you know that Lieutenant-Commander Williams was romantically interested in you?"

Samantha almost choked on her nervous laughter. Her face flushed hot, and she was sure her blush was so bad one could actually see how red her skin was. "Um. I… paid attention?"

EDI's response was to simply stare agreeably back at her.

Sam sighed. I never thought I'd have to break down flirting into ones and zeros… "She… I caught her staring a lot, and she flirted back when I flirted. She touched me whenever she could get away with it without being creepy. And… then we got drunk and kissed a lot. It was pretty clear after that what we both wanted." God you are essentially engaged to a drunken hookup. That'll be interesting to tell your children about later.

First things first, Sammy. Survive this war and marry the girl, then you can worry about what lies you do and do not tell your nonexistent children.

EDI's face was completely innocent as she asked, "What was it that you wanted?"

Sam groaned. "Sex, EDI. We wanted sex. With each other."

"Ah. I see. So the way to a romantic relationship is to have sex-"

"Gah! No! Well, sometimes… I suppose we fell in love by having a whole lot of sex. But she also stayed and protected us when the Collectors attacked, and we talked a whole lot, so we were already getting to know each other. She liked my family, and they liked her. And I was ready for a real relationship. And we got along well. And she treats me like I'm a goddess, and yet doesn't hold me on a pedestal. She's interested in what I have to say, what I think, and loves hearing me geek out about programming. And I love her muscles, and her wit, and her love of poetry, and her stories about her family. We want the same things in life, and have most of the same values. And the chemistry at the get-go was-"

She was cut off by the sound of a door sliding open. Both Samantha and EDI looked up to see Commander Shepard step out of Dr. T'Soni's office. She faced into the open door, and as they watched, the asari's blue hand appeared running through Shepard's short hair, pulling her face back out of view for what Sam could only assume was a rather passionate kiss. As the door slid shut once more, the commander looked up…

And froze.

"Um, I swear I can explain this…"

EDI turned back to face Samantha. "Commander Shepard and Liara T'Soni have rekindled their romantic entanglement. Perhaps I should ask her these questions?"

Samantha blinked, her mouth gaping like a fish, looking from EDI back to Shepard a few times before finally bursting out in laughter from the absurdity of it all. Looking back to Shepard, she found the commander with a sheepish grin on her face.

"I, uh… didn't want any of the crew to see me visiting Liara's cabin so late. But I guess you two already know about our relationship?"

Samantha just laughed harder, nodding. She continued to laugh, EDI regarding her curiously, as Shepard shook her head – grin still firmly in place – and walked past them to the lift.

"I don't believe I follow." EDI's tone carried its normal mild curiosity. "What was so humorous?"

Shaking her head, Samantha continued to laugh until well after she heard the lift take Shepard up to her cabin.

Samantha shut down her console with a weary sigh. It seemed no matter how hard she worked, there was too much for the three of them – she and the other communications staff – to get done, even with around-the-clock coverage of the station. Maybe they could get a fourth? Someone to be on the clock doing day-to-day maintenance while she or Rajad or Halanz was busy with the ground team? That was what was really putting them behind. Ground missions required their attention to be drawn away from maintenance and debugging. It made things less efficient over time.

Sam hated that. It wasn't noticeable to anyone but EDI, at least not yet, but nonetheless, Sam hated the loss of efficiency in their processes.

"Hello, Specialist Traynor."

Sam looked up to see Specialist Alexandra Halanz. The young woman had dark skin, darker even than Sam, with long braided hair. She always seemed so small, even though she was of a height with Samantha. Perhaps it was because she was shy, timid. But she did good work, so there was nothing really for Sam to complain about. The woman just tended not to speak up very often except in conversations with Samantha. Sam could hardly blame her. The woman was fresh out of boot, practically, and assigned to the bloody Normandy; Sam was at least more seasoned, and higher ranking, but she was incredibly nervous to be serving on this ship at first, too. But still. The not being willing to say things, to keep up communication with Shepard and the ground team during missions, was going to be a problem. The ground team was blind down there to anything not in their immediate vicinity – they needed to hear from the ship regularly.

Maybe she should talk to her about it now?

"Hello, Specialist Halanz. What are you doing here?" The younger woman's presence was strange. She usually covered the third shift, not the second. Sam had in fact relieved her that morning.

The woman's dark face turned slightly guilty. "I… traded with Rajad, ma'am," she said, her American accent making the honorific sound strange to Samantha's ears. Sam hardly ever heard the word "ma'am" pronounced by anyone but herself.

Also probably weird because she's addressing you, Sammy.

Right. Weird.

Sam furrowed her brows. As the non-commissioned officer, all shift changes were to be approved by her beforehand. But… it had already happened. "All right, well, since it's time and you're here, I can't do anything about it this time. But I need to be informed in the future." Wow, Sam, you sound all official. Bullshitter of the Year award.

Halanz's face got that flash of guilt over it again. "Aye, ma'am. We won't switch again without going through you."

Samantha studied her for a moment, but she couldn't think of what seemed off. That flash of guilt, sure, but… Well, there really wasn't more to say. As long as everything was covered, then it was covered. Not getting it okayed first was a problem, but the actual change was a non-issue; they just needed approval next time.

"Good. While I have you here, I wanted to speak with you about something."

Halanz furrowed her brows. "What is it, ma'am?"

Sam shook her head. "Please, stop calling me that. Makes me feel like Commander Shepard is behind me. Just call me Traynor, all right?"

"I just thought, because you keep asking Rajad to not call you by name…"

"Rajad is a wanker," Sam sniffed, then sighed. "Forget I said that part. Rajad insists on calling me pet names that I don't even like my fiancée using. That is different from calling me by my last name as everyone else on the ship does. All right? I mean, there are times when the command structure needs to be brought into it… but when it's just us, and no one's getting yelled at, just names, okay?"

Halanz smiled a little. "Okay, Traynor." She paused, smirking a little. "Get wordy when you get nervous, do you?"

Samantha mock-glared. "Ha ha, so funny. Keep it up, and I'll take it all back."

Halanz just chuckled quietly, shaking her head. She sobered quickly, however, concern on her face once more. "What was it you wanted to speak with me about?"

"You do good work, Halanz. It's precise, ups our efficiency, and EDI says you're pleasant to work with."

"Thank you. But…"

Samantha sighed. "You need to speak up more. You leave the ground team blind by staying off the comms."

"But… we're supposed to stay off them as much as possible, I thought?"

"It's… a delicate balance. You want to stay in touch at least with Shepard, warn her of things you see, listen clearly and clear up any static, tell her the updates from the cockpit. But don't gunk it up with unnecessary chatter or information they don't need."

The younger woman blinked a few times, processing what Sam had said. It was difficult for Sam to remain quiet and let the woman think, but she managed. "I… I'm not sure I know what's important and what's not."

Samantha furrowed her brows, crossing her arms. "That's a lie if I've ever heard one."

Halanz was taken aback. "I'm not lying-"

Sam held up her hands. "You're not lying, but you're making an excuse. You know exactly what's important. I see it in your notes, Halanz. So what is it? Do you stutter? Nerves? What is it?"

The young woman looked defiant for all of another second before slumping. "Nerves."

"Because of Shepard?"

A nod.

Samantha sighed. "Just… pretend it's someone else. Your old CO, maybe? They're blind down there without you. You are their link to the ship, to the galaxy. Your job is just as important as theirs is to the success of each mission."

Halanz was quiet a moment. Finally, she just nodded. "All right, Traynor. I'll… I'll do better."

Sam smiled. "Good. Hey, why don't you come find me when your shift is over? We can grab a drink or something before I go to bed. Do you like chess?"

"I… I haven't played it, m- um, Traynor."

"Oh, you'll love it. I can teach you."

"Yeah, all right." Starting up the console, she turned to face Sam once more. "I… thank you for talking to me about it, and not reprimanding me. This is all very new and different. I'm entirely out of my element. I never planned to serve on a ship."

Sam smiled. "I know how that goes, Halanz. I actually had to be reprimanded for something recently. It… my superior was kind about it, and it's stuck with me. I'd like to follow his example."

"Him?" Halanz asked, surprise on her face. "Not Shepard?"

"No. It was Lieutenant Vega."

"Oh."

Samantha laughed. "Yes, I wouldn't expect him to take that kind of responsibility, either. But he got promoted to lieutenant somehow. Not a terrible lesson to remember, especially when we see our superiors drunk or in other compromising situations, yes?"

Halanz smiled. "Duly noted."

Sam said her goodbyes, heading for the lift. She was hungry and actually looking forward to the MRE waiting with her name on it down in the mess.

A few minutes later, she was rummaging for the Flavor of the Day, as she had come to think of it. Honestly, it was all so unappealing that she was starting to think she'd have better luck just selecting something at random than by pulling them out and choosing which meal she "wanted." She didn't want any of them. She wanted her mother's cooking, not a bloody MRE.

Where are you, Mum? Richard? Dad? Are you on Horizon? What are you doing about the invasion? Is no news about Horizon good news? Or terrible news? I don't know… I just don't know the answer.

Suddenly she heard a loud sniff. Turning, a random MRE in-hand, Samantha found James standing at the threshold leading from the emergency sleeper pods down into the mess. He cut quite a silhouette, large and powerful… and sniffing the air. Loudly.

"James?"

He gave her a quizzical look and came down the stairs, sniffing again. He got even closer, still sniffing, much like her dog Boomer, until he got right up next to her.

"Can I help you, James?"

He cocked his head to the side, and then his hands took hold of her head, tipping it down toward his chest. She felt his face pressed to her hair, and he gave a giant sniff. He was literally smelling her hair.

Then she was released. Reeling from the ridiculousness of that interaction, Sam merely looked up at him, patting at her hair absently.

"You smell like cookies," he said, reaching into the cabinet she had just been rummaging in and pulling out two meals, at random just as Sam had.

"I… yes, I use coconut oil on it. I… what the hell was that, James?!"

He chuckled. "If that's the weirdest thing that's happened to you, then maybe you shouldn't ever drink with Commander Shepard. Or spend any time with her at all. Weird shit tends to happen around her."

"I… touché," Sam finally said, decided to move past the strange sniffing incident. James was really kind of like a giant dog, anyway. I guess it's not that weird… No need to file a sexual harassment claim.

"So," James started as he followed Sam to an empty spot at an otherwise full table. "Did you see Ash while we were on the Citadel?"

Sam was immediately suspicious. "Yes, I did," she said evasively.

His grin told her exactly what he was thinking without a single word needed.

Sam sighed, rolling her eyes. "God, you're worse than my brothers; nosy, inappropriate little shits. Yes, it was a delightful time, and we made the most of it. Is that enough to please you?"

He just snickered as he found his seat. "I bet you two fucked like rabbits."

Heat immediately flushed through Sam's face, but she smiled nonetheless. Being horrified was only an invitation for more from marines like James. "Really, I don't see how it's any of your business, James, but if you must know… Yes, we absolutely did." She couldn't hide her self-satisfied grin. They truly had shagged until she was sore. Pleasantly sore.

"Ha!" he guffawed, slapping the table with one of his big hands. "I knew I liked you, Sam. You're all right."

Ripping open one of the many packets of nameless goo – some sort of stew, perhaps? – in the MRE she had selected, Sam raised an eyebrow up at him. "Just all right? I was hoping for at least dashing. You nickname everyone. I haven't even gotten one of those, yet. Hard to tell you like me."

"Oh, c'mon mamacita," he replied without missing a beat – in fact without missing a bite. "I've only known you a couple of weeks. 'All right' is pretty damn good for a few weeks!"

"Really? 'Little mama'? So dirty..."

He grinned. "I could go with something dirtier," he suggested.

Sam raised another eyebrow. "James, you are the biggest flirt I have ever met, and that's saying something, as I am engaged to Ashley Williams. And yet you don't brag about conquests. Are you actually a gentleman, or does the flirting not actually work for you? You know, when you flirt with women who might actually like you back."

He just chuckled. "Unlike you, I don't kiss and tell, mamacita."

Sam blinked a few times before responding. "I… you asked! You just-"

"You didn't have to say anything. Ooooo, wait until I tell Ash."

"As if she cares," Sam huffed. "Ugh, you're such an arse."

He opened his mouth, only to cut himself off when they heard the lift chime. Both curious who it could be – everyone off duty was already in the mess tiredly eating their own packets of nameless goo – they both craned their necks to see who came around the corner.

She was like someone out of a fashion vid. Long, luxurious brown hair cascading over her shoulders, which were nearly bare, thin straps the only thing holding up her revealing dress. Long, pale legs were shown off to good advantage, and her eyes, a pale blue, seemed to sparkle as they swept over the room. Her face was pretty, elegant-looking, yet with this slight quality that made her approachable, like a girlfriend-pretty instead of a fashion-model-pretty, despite the look of her body and clothing. She wore a slight pout, her brows upturned in a way that hinted at concern as she took in the room.

Then Sam suddenly found those eyes on her (Or is it James? I bet she likes big, hunky men), and the woman's expression softened into a slight smile. She walked past them, however, going to the kitchen area to get her own lumpy goo.

A low, quiet whistle got her attention. "Damn, that reporter girl the Commander let on the ship is fuckin' fine," James said in a low voice, leaning over the table conspiratorially.

"You should hook up with her," Sam joked, going back to her meal. A pretty girl was nice to look at, but the feminine fashion model really wasn't her thing for more than eye-candy. Now, if she could get tips on how to look that good in a dress like that, Sam might listen. But even then… dresses weren't really her thing, either.

"Um, she was lookin' at you, Sam."

Sam scoffed. "What?!"

James nodded, grinning. "Yeah, Sam. She was sizing you up. Looks like crazy-beautiful likes the ladies."

"There's plenty of ladies in here that aren't me," Sam huffed, looking furtively over at the pale-skinned beauty who had walked by them once more. Sam watched her shapely figure disappear around the corner, looking back to James as the sound of the lift arriving rang through the air. "There is no way she was looking at me. Why would she pick me out from the crowd?"

He blinked at her a moment before answering her. "Sam, you do realize you stand out, don't you?"

"What?"

He shrugged. "You're pretty, you got your dark skin, and… I don't know. There's something about you. You've got an energy. It attracts the eye."

Sam didn't know what to say. "I… thank you? Not that I believe it…"

He shrugged again. "It's true. Ash got lucky she snatched you up. Or that you snatched her up. You're ridiculously gorgeous, and she's got her own good looks, and there you are, being stupid-cute and sexy and shit together."

Sam felt a true blush flare across her cheeks. He could tease her and flirt with her, but a true compliment was what it took to truly embarrass her. Humans are bizarre.

"Well… thank you, James."

"No problem. Now, you want a beer or something?"

She grinned. Just like a boy, to compliment like she was a lady and then treat her like a bro. "Sure, James. Can I interest you in some chess, too, perhaps?"

He groaned. "Ay, how you think that is fun…"

Smirking, she got up, running to the crew quarters to grab her chess set. Any opportunity to play was welcome. And even though James fancied himself too stupid, he really was quite good. Just needed a little more confidence so he could pull off daring moves.

The fact you think anything in chess is daring, Sammy…

Oh, shut it and let me have a good time.