Chapter 14

Shepard stood over the galaxy map in the command center. Footsteps tapped across the metal grates as Ensign Jane Alexander moved to the terminal behind her. Memories of Kelly and Samantha made Shepard look to the side. A week out and she was still surprised to see Jane's owl-like face.

"Need anything, Commander?" she asked.

"No. Thanks."

Shepard turned and walked to the elevator. The crew deck was a lot less crowded having dropped off the engineers. The crew better enjoy it. It was going to be another cramped ride on the way back if they found the survivors. She'd have to think of something better than sharing bunks. It may work for a few days but not over a month. They'd need to set up cots, maybe use the lounge and observation deck, any nook and crannies.

Anchor came around the corner from the mess hall. Shepard grimaced as she heard his footsteps pass by the elevator and continue up behind her. She walked to the observation deck, and he came in on her heels.

"I think we're passing Gagarin Station," he said.

He strolled past her to the observation deck's window.

"What are you up to, Lieutenant Commander?"

He gazed out the glass. "That station's seen a lot of uses. I wonder how they're doing on supplies. Hard enough getting by on Earth. Must be a hard life on a station."

Shepard folded her arms and glanced back at the door. He's been on good enough behavior so far, but she couldn't help trusting her gut. Maybe it wasn't Anchor affecting her gut though. It was what he represented – a new act in her life, a new chapter opened. It should be exciting, and it had been exciting the first few days in space again. But reality was starting to return. Compared to what she before, maybe everything here on out would be small and muted. She'd reached her high point. All that remained was mediocracy.

She sat on the bench facing the window. Anchor put a palm on the window and leaned forward. Shadows deepened, and it was Kaidan leaning against the window with his hand spread on the glass. His head turned slightly as if hearing her there, and a chill ran up her neck. Her hair started to rise as his hand dropped away from the window. He statred to turn. Shepard's heart beat in her throat. Anchor tapped on the glass. Shepard shivered, and the image faded away like fog.

"Commander, there it is. Jump Zero."

Shepard's hand slipped into her uniform pocket, and her fingers dug around in the lining. She touched the cool metal of the silver button she'd found in her cabin. Anchor twisted against the window, probably to see it better as it entered the window.

It was distant. She wondered what she had expected to see. It was too small to see any detail or appreciate its size, just a tiny shining spot among the stars. Anchor stood back with his hands on his hips.

"Hard to see. A few other stations out here we're sure to pass, but nothing like that one for all the history and human investment. Right, Commander?"

"Hmm." Shepard leaned back in her seat.

Anchor strolled across the window. He took a seat beside her, leaned back, and crossed his leg over his knee.

"They trained biotics there once. Not me. I have amazing dexterity, but I'm too weak," he said.

Shepard didn't say anything. Biotic dexterity, true dexterity, was a difficult skill to master. She'd only seen one biotic who's biotic dexterity she'd call amazing. Anchor probably couldn't biotically tie his shoelace even with his hands touching the laces. She could barely do that though, and she wasn't weak.

The spot drifted by. Even at thruster speed it shot by quickly. They still had an hour or so until FTL. Joker's ten month return tour made him pretty damn good at charting FTL jumps. Fifty hours nonstop and you needed an offload. No one wanted to be here when it saturated, and without relays there was a lot of dead space.

"Did you go there, Commander?" Anchor asked.

"No."

He knew that. He seemed to know quite a lot about her records. Maybe he was just trying to promote conversation though.

"Major Alenko was in that program I heard."

Shepard's spine stiffened. He gave her a fanged smile.

"You were his CO, right?"

"How do you know about that? Those files are sealed."

Anchor shrugged. "It's common knowledge. It's not as though it's a secret. I'm sure he'd have talked about it if you asked."

Shepard stared at him a cold moment then stood. Anchor put his foot back on the floor and twisted in his seat as she passed.

"Something bother you, Commander?"

"I've taken enough of a break. No doubt there are things requiring your attention as well."

"Did I say something wrong?" Anchor stood. "Something about the major maybe? About the sealed files?"

His doe-eyes clashed with the half smirk playing on his lips.

"Get up to the commander center. We'll be out of non-quantum comm range at the end of next week. Check with the Alliance for the latest fuel exchange system update. Our engineers can't have any questions left before we're on their own."

Anchor gave a lazy nod and moved to pass her. Shepard caught his arm.

"Lieutenant Commander?"

Anchor looked her in the eye and his mouth stiffened.

"Lieutenant Commander?" Shepard repeated.

"Aye, aye, ma'am."

Shepard nodded and released his arm. "I thought we weren't going to have any problems, Anchor."

"Apologies, Commander. Permission to leave?"

"Yes."

He brushed past her out the door with arms fixed rigidly at his side. Shepard touched her face. Hot skin radiated against her fingertips. He clearly knew what he was bringing up. They hadn't shared enough casual conversation for it to be offhanded. That slippery smile made her teeth grind. He couldn't actually think she'd confide in him. He must be trying to get under her skin. It had worked.

She glanced back at the window. A spectral shadow blotted out the stars. It turned toward her.

"Shepard …"

Shepard rushed out from the observation deck. She slammed her fist on the close button and rushed to the elevator. She kept her back to the observation deck until the elevator doors finally opened, then she bolted inside.