'She's a big girl, James...she can take care of herself.' Garrus said with a smile, knowing that it would wind James up even more.

EDI was quite shocked at how agitated Lieutenant Vega had become. His vital signs and biometrics were all over the place right now. He was pacing the Observation lounge like Wrex when he had learned that Grunt was to come aboard. After all, EDI had not witness any sexual advances made by him to the Commander. They flirted with each other on a constant basis, always playful but nothing had ever occurred between them. Although EDI had seen the Lieutenant masturbating after serious encounters with Shepard on several occasions, so much so, that EDI was now convinced that every time he took himself in hand, it was Shepard he imagined.

'He was going to shoot her Garrus. He was a second from blowing her away.' James emphasised the last couple of words as if he was speaking to a small child and getting even more agitated when it widened Garrus's grin.

'And if he had, she would have got back on her feet and turned him into a nasty stain with on walkway and torn Udina's head off while she was at it.'

James opened his mouth to speak, closed it, opened it again and then threw his hands up. 'Fuck! Well I don't trust the bastard. He's crapped on Lola more than once, he looks at me wrong one time and I'll break him in half...Major or not!'

This outburst was interesting to EDI. The Lieutenant was a hard soul to get to know, EDI had found as he very rarely spoke to her, except on occasions when it was needed. He engaged her platform a little more often when they had been on mission together, as he did with the other squad members, but it was mostly 'business talk'. She suspected that he wasn't comfortable with synthetic life, but didn't hold it against him. He talked a lot but rarely about himself. However, she had never seen him rage like he did about the inclusion of Major Alenko into the crew.

To EDI, this bore all the hallmarks of jealousy, desire and rivalry. All things she had studied in various others aboard the Normandy over the past weeks. And here it was, clearly displayed for her...and from a person who had never once laid a finger upon the object of his desire. Why had he not done so already? He flirted with the Commander, and EDI had discovered that flirting was a very common way of initiation a relationship, especially if the desired target flirted back, which Shepard had. What stopped him?

'You know Scars, on Mars he did nothing but question her and her loyalty to the Alliance. How she didn't just fist him in the face, I don't know.'

Garrus sighed, clearly bored of the circular nature of the conversation. 'As I said Vega, she's a big girl, she can take care of herself...after all, I've known her longer than you have and I've seen what gets left behind when someone pisses her off.' He stopped for a moment and the grin returned to his face. 'You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say you have a thing for the Commander.'

James's biometrics spiked again at Garrus's accusations and EDI had to stop herself from confirming the suspicion to them both.

'Bullshit pandejo. I just have a serious problem with anyone that dares to mess with my commanding officer and her crew.'

'Oh Jimmy, I didn't know you cared!' Garrus replied with a mocking coo in his voice, biting back laughter.

EDI smiled. Loyalty was an admirable quality in a mate and it was something that Shepard seemed to inspire in many of her crew, though not always in such a sexually provocative way. True, Major Alenko has crossed the line from loyal crew member to lover. Lieutenant Vega seemed ready and eager to step up and defend her honour as if he was involved with her on physically too. But they weren't the only ones either. Liara seemed to have a quiet adoration for the Commander, although she never spoke of it and had been gently rebuffed by Shepard, EDI always detected a subtle chemical change in Liara whenever she spent time with the Commander, with an increase in her neurological activity too. Only Specialist Traynor had seemed gotten over Shepard's 'spell', as Jeff had put it. He had commented that Traynor was like a moonstruck puppy with the Commander when they had first met, only to have her suddenly become comfortable and friendly with her instead. He joked that she probably found out that Shepard wasn't a lesbian or something...and EDI has almost told him he was correct, and that Traynor was now spending a lot more time doing something similar with Reporter Allers instead. But she had remained silent on that matter, instead asking Jeff if he had ever 'fallen under Shepard's spell'. He had laughed, told her no, looked around to check that no one was listening and proceeded to say:'The Commander had nothing on you!' before winking and pretending that he'd never said a word.

'If this Major-human is such a threat to you, why don't you just eliminate him?'

James and Garrus turned to see Javik standing in the doorway. EDI had been watching his progress from his room in the cargo bay. Her dealings with the prothean had been limited as he was prickly to talk to, at best. And she had wondered at why he had stopped to listen to the exchange between the human and turian before he had finally spoken.

'What?' James asked, clearly as confused as everyone else.

'In my cycle, if someone challenged you, you fought them and killed them so that they would not challenge you again.'

James looked between Javik and Garrus, his mouth open in surprised. Garrus merely shrugged.

'Shit!'

'I believe the one you seek is in the hanger area, sparring with the Commander. She should probably witness your triumph so she will take you as her mate instead of the other.'

EDI watched as James's vital signs flagged at Javik's statement, although his brain activity started to peak instead. He was thinking about it. EDI could tell. He was considering the idea...but she knew he wouldn't right now. His adrenaline levels were still low.

'You know what,' he finally said. 'Fuck you, fuck you both.' and left. EDI tracked his movements, curious on if he would take up the challenge; his psychological profile seemed to indicate that he would. More investigation was clearly needed.