Chapter 17

Shepard stepped into the cargo bay. Cortez wasn't anywhere around, but she saw James working on a bench in the corner by the armory. Some gauntlets, boots, and a chestshield lay on the workbench.

"Lola."

He worked a rag in a circular motion over a helmet. Shepard set Cortez's datapad next to some gauntlets.

"You polishing that?" Shepard asked.

James shrugged, then held the helmet up for her to see.

"Shiny, right?"

"I guess."

"Hey, I'd rather be working out dents and paint abrasions."

Shepard smiled. "You'd have thought, we save the galaxy, only to wish we were back saving the galaxy again?"

James rest back against the workbench.

"So, uh, Lola." He tipped his head for her to come closer. "You got what you needed?"

Shepard followed his eyes to the datapad. She leaned against the table beside him.

"I think so."

James nodded, turning the helmet, and starting to polish the other side. Stofsky and Gayle ambled by discussing ammo inventory. She was starting to get names now. She knew about Stofsky growing up on Mars and Gayle's wife still stranded on Eden Prime. The bay felt so still with just the four of them.

"I bet this is just killing you. So quiet," Shepard mused.

"And not you, Lola?"

Shepard shrugged. James twisted around for a canister on the workbench. He rubbed more polish into the rag.

"Only Stofsky and Gayle here? Think they're paying attention?" Shepard asked.

"Let's walk around a little," James said.

James set the helmet and rag on the bench. He turned down a row of crates, and she fell in beside him.

"I work at the that bench a lot," James said. "Just not really sure, you know?"

"You think someone's listening?"

"Anchor seems damn fast on the spot anytime he's not wanted. Says some weird crap."

"Anyone else acting off?"

"Just him."

"Any of the crew his friends?"

James shrugged. "I don't know. Never seen them talking to him anyway. Doubt it."

James slowed as they neared the back of the bay.

"That why you wouldn't come up earlier?" Shepard asked. "You think my cabin's bugged?"

"I dunno." James shook his head and sighed. "Just …"

Shepard slowed her pace with him. "Just?"

James stopped and faced her. He glanced back down the aisle of crates.

"Shepard, that message. All encrypted, right? I figure Cortez and I, we don't need to know, but that Anchor guy? Think he'd like to find something on you, you know?"

"Find something on me?"

"Yeah," James said. "Some dirt or something. Figured I better not come up."

"Find something on me, huh?" Shepard pursed her lips. "He's connected to Terra Firma."

James put his hands up. "I don't need to know."

"I think the message was a warning." Shepard put her hands on her hips. "I'll see about removing him when we get back. For now, we watch him. As long as he's just snoopy, we're fine. He seems to have friends on board or acts off, we reevaluate."

"He's a chingaquedito, but might be more." James glanced back again. "He was approved by the admirals, right? Maybe there's more to it than just snooping around in who's sleeping with who."

"We stick with the problems we can control at this point. We can sort the rest out after the mission."

James nodded. They strolled back through the crates to the workbench. Gayle stood at the consoles by the elevator. Stofsky seemed to have left.

"No Anchor yet? He must actually be asleep or something," James said.

The elevator doors opened, and James tensed. Cortez ambled out reading a datapad. James chuckled and glanced at Shepard.

"Could have lost credits on that."

"See you later, James."

She passed Cortez with a quick smile and headed to the bridge.