A/N: I couldn't decide which POV to write this chapter in, so I did a little of both! First Shep, then Kaidan.
Thanks again for the lovely reviews, y'all seriously make my day!
Also, I guess this chapter is still technically set before Mass Effect 1. You'll see what I mean. :) Enjoy!
SHEPARD
What an incredible ship, Evelyn thought. Human-turian design, state-of-the-art drive core, and not to mention the stealth capabilities. Shepard was amazed that Captain Anderson chose her to be his XO on his new frigate, the Normandy, and she couldn't feel more honored. She had reported for duty less than an hour ago in her dress blues, and was one of the first to board, second only to the commanding officer himself. Just as Anderson finished showing Shepard around the ship, he handed her a data pad, and gave his orders.
"Here's the list of personnel assigned to Normandy, and their scheduled arrivals. Meet them out on the docking bay, as we discussed earlier." The two continued to talk as they headed to the entrance of the Normandy, where Shepard would be greeting the new crew members. "Joker should be here any minute now."
"Joker?" Shepard inquired. No one was listed under that name on her docket.
"Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau." Anderson sighed, "You'll understand the nickname soon enough. Anyway, I have a meeting I need to get to. I trust you'll get the crew all settled, XO."
"Aye, aye, sir." She responded, saluting. Anderson smiled warmly and nodded as he headed out.
Less than a minute later, Shepard saw a man walking with a limp headed towards her. He stopped in front of her, saluted, and unexpectedly said "best pilot in the Alliance reporting for duty."
And now she understood the nickname. "Welcome aboard, Flight Lieutenant Moreau."
"That title is just so ridiculously long. Just call me Joker."
Evelyn smiled. "Only if you promise to live up to it," she bantered back.
"Oh don't worry, Commander, I will."
"Good, I'm glad that's settled," she said in a facetiously professional manner. Shepard could already tell she would enjoy Joker's company.
Next to report was Engineer Adams, who was already quite familiar with the ship. Shepard had him show Joker around, so that she would be able to wait for the other crew members.
Since no other crew members were waiting to speak with her at the moment, and Evelyn took the time to look over the data pad Anderson had given her.
Her eyes scanned though the list of crewman left to report, and a name caught her attention. Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. He was the one who showed me around Vancouver.
"Evelyn," a familiar voice called to her. It snapped her from her thoughts, and she looked up and saw Navigator Charles Pressly standing in front of her.
"Pressly!" she gave him an excited embrace. It was the kind of hug one might give their favorite uncle, or in this case, a close family friend. Pressly had been good friends with her father, and Evelyn had served with him on the Agincourt.
"It's been what, half a decade? You've grown so much as a marine since the last time I saw you. Your father would be proud."
"Thanks, Pressly." She smiled widely, flattered. "That means a lot coming from you. I'm glad you're here."
"Me, too, Evelyn - I mean, Commander Shepard." Pressly paused slightly and shrugged. "Sorry, that's going to take some getting used to."
"That's ok, Navigator." She had known her pseudo-uncle would be stationed with her, but still needed more time to adjust to their new professional relationship. "I completely understand. The last time we served together, you outranked me and calling me by my first name wasn't a big deal. This will definitely be an adjustment, for both of us."
"Thank you, Commander. Now, I suppose I should get to know this vessel."
Evelyn nodded. "Indeed. Dismissed, Navigator."
Her mind immediately returned to the trail of thought that had been interrupted.
There's no way it's the same Kaidan Alenko. It's been ten years, anyways. You're some chick he took out once. He probably doesn't even remember you. That's, you know, if it is him anyway.
From across the walkway, Shepard saw the silhouette of a man in dress blues that she that she hadn't forgotten; for the past decade, she had been reminded of this marine off and on. He was back-lit and Shepard couldn't make out any details. She did not take her eyes off him, and the closer he got, the more clearly she could see him. He looked different now, older, but it was absolutely the same Kaidan. The only man who had taken her on a date, and the only man who to ever make me blush. She quickly dismissed the memory of him kissing her on the cheek.
"Commander Shepard," he said, saluting her properly.
See, he doesn't remember you.
"Lieutenant Alenko, welcome aboard." It had been him to say that to her last time, jokingly, as he helped her into the canoe. She started to lose herself in the memory, and didn't even notice him smile, as though he was recalling the same moment.
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"
Her heart raced. Her mind froze. Her voice spoke without her own permission. "Granted."
"Do you remember me?"
Her heart rate slowed a little, relieved, and a smile crept across her face.
"Of course I do. You showed me around Vancouver."
"I did," he nodded, and continued, in slightly nervous manner, "I'm looking forward to serving with you."
"As am I, Lieutenant," she grinned and could feel a blush rising up across her face. Damn it! She looked down at the data pad, hiding her embarrassed face. Keep it together, woman. You're his CO. Those feelings you have – had – can't be acted upon. It could ruin both your careers. You have to let them go.
"Well, uh, I suppose I should head on in and get settled," Kaidan continued, his voice less confident than before.
"Right," Evelyn returned from her thoughts and looked him confidently in his amber eyes. "Dismissed, Lieutenant."
"Ma'am."
See, you can keep it together. No silly man is going to mess up your career.
KAIDAN
Kaidan had spent the past few weeks anticipating today – the day he would officially join the crew of the Alliance's new prototype warship, the SSV Normandy. He still couldn't believe Captain Anderson chose him for his Staff Lieutenant, but was proud of himself for being assigned to marine detail on this ship. Kaidan took in the views of Arcturus Station, which had grown to be one of his favorite places, as he headed to the docking bay where Normandy was, not knowing when, of if, he would return to this place.
He turned the final corner and stopped at the entrance to the docking bay. The saw a familiar figure in the distance - short red hair, tucked behind the ears, grey eyes, wearing dress blues. Except last time, it was your coat she was wearing, he had looked gorgeous wearing his over-sized coat that night, and was beautiful now in her own, properly fitted, uniform. It surprisingly showed off her curves, and Kaidan found himself having a hard time taking his eyes off her. Even ten years later, he recognized her, and was positive it was Evelyn.
The image of her standing in the light of the station was disrupted by a mostly bald, older officer, entering the frame. Evelyn turned to him, smiled widely, and embraced him, as though he was someone close to her. I wonder if she'll ever be that comfortable with me…I hope she will.
It was then at Kaidan realized that the feelings for her had never gone away, and remembered how all those years ago he and thought if it's meant to be, I'll see her again.
Except now, she was his commanding officer. Kaidan knew this would complicate things, and knew he couldn't act on his feelings. He sighed, regretting his decision not to message her back all those years ago. Now he was some junior officer with a crush on his CO. He was thrilled to be serving with her, but also disappointed that nothing could come of his feelings for her. Given the tone of the message she sent him a decade ago, when the two of them barely knew each other, he was certain that as his CO, she would maintain that same level professionalism, if not an even higher standard.
When the other officer disappeared from view and onto Normandy, Kaidan gathered up his nerve and headed down the ramp. He could have sworn he saw a smile creep across her face as he approached her.
"Commander Shepard," he said, saluting her properly.
"Lieutenant Alenko, welcome aboard."
Kaidan grinned at the memory of him helping her into the canoe when they went out on the English Bay. Nervously, he swallowed. He had to know if her smile was just a friendly welcome she gave to all the crew, or if she remembered him, too.
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"
She responded without hesitation, almost reflexively, "Granted."
"Do you remember me?" Kaidan quickly inquired.
His heart began to pound in his chest; he could both hear and feel it in the brief silence before she answered.
"Of course I do." Her smile widened, "You showed me around Vancouver."
"I did," he nodded. He hadn't planned this far in the conversation. Truly, he didn't plan it at all, and was surprised he got this far. He figured he should just be honest, and nervously admitted, "I'm looking forward to serving with you." Kaidan found himself smiling ever so slightly.
"As am I, Lieutenant," she grinned, and then swiftly looked down at her data pad. Did she just blush? Kaidan thought. Is that why she looked down at her data pad so quickly?
When she didn't look back up after a few seconds, Kaidan cleared his throat and spoke up.
"Well, uh, I suppose I should head on in and get settled." He had meant to sound more confident than it came out.
"Right," Evelyn looked up at him, her grey eyes staring into his amber ones confidently.
"Dismissed, Lieutenant."
"Ma'am."
He shook his head once he was past her and sure she wasn't looking. What was that, Alenko?
"So, you know the commander, huh?" A nearby voice asked. With his train of thought interrupted, Kaidan started to respond, but then realized that the question had not been intended for him, but instead for the officer who had come aboard just before him.
"Actually yes, both personally and professionally. Her father and I were great friends, and we served together on the Agincourt."
"So you were part of the Blitz, too? I guess the captain picked a few people up from there." The soldier must have noticed Kaidan, who had started to head down into the CIC. "Hey, looks like we've got another one!"
Kaidan stopped and turned around. He didn't want to appear to have been eavesdropping on the conversation, but was hoping he would be brought into it. He introduced himself to the two, who in turn introduced themselves as Joker, the pilot, and Navigator Pressly. The navigator then dismissed himself, leaving the two lieutenants hanging out in the cockpit.
"So, Kaidan, what's your story?" Joker pried.
"Oh nothing noteworthy, really." Kaidan bantered sarcastically. "I'm just an L2 biotic."
"Yeah, that's gotta suck." Joker batted back. "Vanguard? Adept?"
"Sentinel."
"Oooh, a tech nerd, too." Joker laughed, "Sounds like we'll get along just fine."
"Is that so, flight lieutenant?" Kaidan replied with a chuckle.
"Definitely. You can bitch about your side effects, and I can one-up you every time."
"That so?" Kaidan's tone was both inquisitive and facetious.
"Vrolik Syndrome. Brittle bones. If I'm not careful, I can break something when I take a shit,"
Kaidan laughed, "Sounds like a pain in the ass."
"For real."
Clearly, crude humor and banter would be a central part of their relationship. Kaidan stayed and chatted with Joker a little longer before going to put his things in his locker. When the rest of the crew arrived, Kaidan met them in the CIC and showed them around the ship.
It was getting late, and Kaidan was pretty sure all the crew was aboard. He was standing in the mess hall, wondering why they hadn't departed yet, when Anderson came on the comm.
"Change of plans, people. We'll be departing tomorrow morning. We have someone who was delayed flying in from turian space. As soon as he's on board, we'll head out. Everyone get some shut-eye tonight, tomorrow is an important day."
Huh. Turian space? Who could be coming from out there? Kaidan wondered. He took a seat in at one of the tables with his rations, and started to eat, when she sat across from him.
"How's it going, LT?" Evelyn asked.
Kaidan made sure to finish chewing and swallow before he responded. "Pretty good, Commander. I spoke with most of the crew today, started to get to know them. You know, add the personal component to the details provided in their service records."
Shepard smiled. "Excellent work, Alenko. I like that you're taking initiative. It sounds like you'll do an outstanding job on marine detail."
"That means a lot coming from you, ma'am." Kaidan beamed back. He was glad to have a normal conversation with her, not one laced with awkwardness like earlier.
"Anyone make an impression?" she inquired.
Kaidan chuckled, "Yeah, the pilot, Joker. His nickname seems to fit him well."
Shepard giggled "Oh, absolutely. I can already tell he'll be great for comic relief when it's needed."
Her laugh warmed Kaidan's heart. He loved to see her happy, smiling, enjoying life. Hearing her giggle reminded him of her reaction to the music playing loudly in his car back in Vancouver. He hoped they would soon have new memories to add to those from ten years past.
As the mess cleared out, the two continued their conversation. They casually caught up on what they had been up to the past decade, talked about their favorite places in the galaxy, other species they had encountered, and realized that they both loved to learn about new cultures.
Soon, the lights were all dimmed and the crew walked through the mess and into their sleeper pods. Anderson came downstairs, on the way to his cabin, and saw Kaidan and Shepard still talking.
"Glad to see my crew is getting to know each other," he noted. "But it's lights out. Get some sleep, you two."
They stood, acknowledged the order, and headed to their sleeper pods.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! As always, feedback is appreciated! Also, I finally commissioned some cover art. Looking forward to seeing it. :)