Thanks to all that read and reviewed. Please excuse any spelling issues due to my evil dyslexia. I kindly ask that you write me where the errors are if possible. Thanks for your anticipated help and future reading.

Chapter 3:

Flux Revisited

Needless to say, Joker was not exactly exited about going back to Flux, seeing how he did not have the best track record there. As long as I get to spend some time with the Commander, it doesn't matter. Joker was not waiting long at the table, when Laura walked in looking stunning. She wore black slacks with white pinstripes, with a red collared shirt that caressed her every curve. Joker looked down at his own apparel in disgust. Idiot, you knew this was slightly date like didn't you?

Laura sat at the table without a word, but only smiled at her pilot. For Joker, it was the first time he really had looked at his superior officer. He gazed at her face, studying her every feature as intensely as his old flight school holo-books. Her lips were thin, and naturally pink and slowly faded to her pale white skin. Her nose was skinny and small, but sported a thin scar across the bridge. Her eyes were the next feature on the pilot's to admire list. They were still the same striking brown that he knew, but the left iris cut into the pupil like an arrow.

"Well Joker?"

"Right, words. They help don't they?"

"That's what they say."

"Well Commander, you know my story, and those holovids don't count for much. What can you tell me about yourself? For starters, how did your eye come to look like that?"

"As rude as that was, I was born with it. Believe it or not, this crack shooter right here, can only see out of her right eye."

"Really can I check that story?" queried Joker.

Laura nodded, and closed her right eye. Joker paused, and stuck one finger out, and began moving it back and forth in front of her. Satisfied, Joker was about to put his finger down when Laura grabbed his wrist with a smirk. Joker yelped in surprise, "I thought you couldn't see."

"Shadows, nothing more. Just don't ask me to use a sniper rifle on the left side."

"Moving on," said Joker, trying to learn as much as he could. "What about all those stories about you and the Blitz?"

Laura sighed heavily and looked down at her folded hands, "Pirates, thugs, privateers, whatever you want to call them, all organized to attack Elysium. I rallied the people and we bunkered down. We barely held them off until reinforcements arrived. I got the Star of Terra, it was a bunch of crap."

"Hey, Commander, if you don't want to talk about it I-"

"No Joker," she said and bit her lip. "You deserve to know. Do you know how many colonists lived on Elysium?"

"Millions?" queried the pilot.

"Seven million. I only gathered several thousand. I didn't even save half of the populace, and I got a medal? Half of them saved themselves or died. Women, children, all lost. I-." And there it was. The first time that Joker had ever heard Shepard stutter. The effect on the pilot was immediate, he moved his chair closer until he was finally sitting next to the Commander. Once there, he wrapped his arms around Laura in an attempt to comfort her. Shepard finally broke down, and laid her head on her pilot's chest, and began to softly cry. "Everyday, I hear the cries of those that were trapped outside of our bunker as the orbital bombardment hit them. I fight for those that I lost"

"We all do Commander."

Laura wiped her tears away, and tore her head from its imprint of Joker shirt. "Some date I am."

"Not a problem Commander."

"No, I mean it Joker. I don't think I would have acted this way in front of the rest of the crew. Only you make me feel comfortable enough to actually discuss the topic. I usually just take the praise, and change subjects."

"I'm flattered Commander," said Joker, looking at his watch. "I think we should get back to the Normandy. No use in you getting drunk, because then there would be two people hobbling back to C-Sec."

Shepard laughed and helped Joker to his feet. "Come on smart-ass." As Joker was assisted, he could not help but feel like a teenager again. What are you getting so excited about idiot? She's just helping you because you're a cripple. As nice as her touch is, you have to realize that she puts the mission first, and so should you.

As they made their way to C-Sec, the two chatted about the many races that inhabited the Citadel. Joker was surprised when Laura revealed what she had learned about the asari from Liara. "They can mate with any species and any gender? Freaky."

"I thought you of all people would be accepting of different things Joker," responded Laura. "Don't tell me you never thought about getting your hands on an asari."

"Get my hands on one and then do what? I didn't know they could what was it? Meld? I thought it was like any other species. And as you can probably tell, physical activity of such nature would hurt."

Laura blushed at the plot's remarks and avoided eye contact. Joker did the same, but couldn't help smiling like a jackass. Joker was about to wonder why they did not take the fast transport system, when two thugs approached them. "Well, well. What do we have hear?" queried the taller and more ugly of the two.

"Looks like a happy couple," said the slightly less tall one who was no looker either. "One blushing maiden, and the other a scruffy cripple. How cute."

Idiots. They don't recognize the Commander out of her uniform. It was very obvious that two were very drunk, judging by their disheveled looks, and the smell of urine mixed with alcohol. The tallest of the pair reached for Laura wrist, while the short one advanced towards Joker. The pilot swiftly lifted his right crutch into his assailant's groin, followed by the left crutch to the top of his head, knocking him unconscious. Before Laura could register this and focus on her attacker, Joker had already clipped him behind the kneecap, and followed up with another strike to the face after the giant human was down on his knees.

"My hero," joked Laura, pretending to swoon.

"Yeah, now I'll take to you to my secret lair. I call it the Normandy," he replied with a grin.

Finally entering the elevator from The Wards to C-Sec, the two listened intently to the news, hoping for any signs of Saren. Instead, the reporter mentioned Feros ad several problems Exo-Geni was having there. Great, already trouble waiting for us. After exiting the first elevator, and entering the second up to the docking bay, Joker could not help but wonder if they were ever going to catch Saren.

When he voiced this query to Laura she responded determinedly, "He can't do anything he wants now. He can only hide for so long. We'll find him, even if we have to go planet by planet. Joker nodded in agreement. And I'll b right there with you Commander.

Once settled back in the Normandy, Joker went to his chair, and Laura went to her quarters. Joker was just beginning a systems check, when Wrex came lumbering behind him. "So kid, how was Shepard?"

"Meaning?"

Wrex chuckled darkly, "How did it work exactly? Being cripple and all."

It was Joker turn to laugh, "I didn't have sex with the Commander if that's what you mean."

"Heh, then Garrus owes me twenty creds. Stay with it rookie, she sees something in you. What that is, I can't tell."

"Thanks Wrex, but shouldn't you be doing something?"

"When the shooting starts, let me know, and I'll do plenty," said Wrex as he walked away.

"Charming."

Halfway through his systems check, Williams came slinking in, drawing the stares of the other crewmembers. "So how did you convince the Commander to take you on a date?"

"Come on Williams, I know you look at me too. I don't blame you, I'm a looker."

"You're something alright. But if you hurt the Commander you're in for a world of hurt. Girls stick together you know."

"Don't you mean run in packs?" teased Joker, ducking a smack to his head. "I'm a little more worried about her hurting me. If I keep waking everywhere with her, my arms are going to be huge."

"Just watch yourself," called Ashley over her shoulder.

Like I have a choice. One wrong with the Commander, and everybody on this ship will tear me limb from limb. They can keep my legs though. With the status check finally finished, Joker was happy to hear Laura footsteps behind him. "Just say the word Commander, and I'll give you the stars."

"Cute. Eany meany miny Feros. How long do we have until we reach it?"

"I'd say about a day Commander."

"Then goodnight Joker," said Laura, and then she kissed her pilot's cheek. "Thanks for dinner and kicking some ass."

"My name is Laura Shepard. Single, white female who enjoy walks on the Citadel and dinners at Flux. I love guys that crack jokes and occasionally kick ass," teased Joker imitating the personal dating holo-ads.

"That's enough of out of you," she said kindly. "Wake me and hour before we arrive. Goodnight Joker."

"See ya." Idiot, you couldn't say something better than that? Apparently not.

Let me know what you think please. By the way, i don't own any of the characters Bioware does! Hurray Bioware!