Joker and Zalora made their way out of the Normandy, through the decontamination area, and down the walkway to the large elevator which would take them down to the C-Sec quarters. The doors opened automatically and Zalora stepped in, waiting for Joker to make himself comfortable leaning against the back wall on his crutches, before she pushed the elevator's button.
They watched the doors slide closed and the elevator began the long descent down to the C-Sec. They were silent all the while, despite the fact Zalora could see Joker wanted to apologise for his over reaction, but not nearly as tense as they had been. Once the elevator got going, Joker took a deep breath.
"Listen, Zalora, I'm sorry about the way I was acting." He looked at her from where he leant, and blinked his dark eyes. "I guess I'm just used to people having a go at me for my disease, thinking I'm worthless and all that. Most don't realize that thanks to modern technology I am a 'productive member of society'." He was clearly being sarcastic about the last part and rolled his eyes. He gave a slight shrug. "I shouldn't take it out on you though. Like I said... I'm sorry."
Zalora listened, leaning near the elevator pannel, and soon smiled. She moved to stand beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Joker... I know how you feel. Honestly, I understand. I mean, I may not know how it feels to have such a disease, but believe it or not, people treat me differently too." She shrugged, and cut him off in his thought. "I know it's not the same thing, Joker, but you have to focus on the good things in your life, rather than the bad." She blinked her baby blues and smiled at him.
"Like what?" Joker shrugged bitterly. "Other than flying the Normandy I have no life, Commander. Nowadays I can't even go down to the Wards, because people are always picking fights, and obviously my legs aren't on my side." He snapped sarcastically and dropped his head back against the wall. "Just once I'd like to know what it feels like to be normal."
Zalora frowned and gave a soft sigh as she leant against the wall beside him, watching the pannels go past as the elevator kept going down. Upbeat, annoying music played overhead. "Joker... you don't want to be normal." She shook her head. "Everyone out there who would consider themself normal, well... they're weak, petty, dishonest. Most commoners have some sort of bad streak that corrupts them, or they blame others for their problems and such."
"Not everyone's like that." Joker said quietly. "You're not like that."
Zalora turned her head to him, looking surprised, bright eyes frowning. "How do you know what I'm like?"
Joker turned his eyes to her, only just realizing that he was about an inch taller than her, no more. He blinked and shrugged slightly. "I've served with you long enough to know you're a good person. All the things you've done... well, none of it sounds like anything you've just described." He smiled a bit.
"That just proves I'm not normal... nothing else." Zalora sighed, and shook her head.
"But you don't want to be normal. Everyone out there who would consider themself to be normal are weak, petty or dishonest." Joker replied, smirking as he quoted her.
Zalora looked at him again, frowning deeply. "Joker--"
The pilot just shook his head and stared into her eyes. He felt like he could get lost in those blue pools, so bright and deep. Almost without realizing it he reached up a hand and touched her jaw. "Yeah, Commander? You're gonna tell me I'm right. Right?" He smirked slightly, not breaking eye contact.
Zalora had shut up having found herself staring into his eyes. So dark yet so full of life - she felt like she was being pulled in, as though he'd thrown her a lifeline with which she could hold onto in times of need. Was that what his jokes were? Was that what this was? A lifeline...
She leant closer to him without thinking, barely breathing, still staring into his eyes, but just as their lips were about to touch, the elevator doors slid open. They yanked apart like someone had thrown ice cold water on them, and without words, stepped out of the elevator and into the C-Sec quarters.
Taking a deep breath and avoiding her gaze, Joker commented. "So who was this guy you were going to meet?"
Zalora pushed her fringe behind her ears and shrugged, glancing at him out of the corner of her eyes, but obviously rather nervous now. "I'm pretty sure the last name was Koshuth, but I didn't catch the first na--"
"Commander. Nice to see you." A turian in a C-Sec uniform with a clip board tucked under one arm approached and held out a hand for her to shake. "Denarvi Koshuth. I suppose you're here to discuss the new agent for your ship?" He asked, a questioning look on his face.
Zalora reached out and shook his hand. It was warm and almost inviting in a way, and she instantly felt like this man was one she could trust. There was no hatred in his eyes, nor mistrust on his features - he was a rare example of an alien who trusted humans completely. "Yes. Yes, that's why we're here." Zalora nodded. "I'm Commander Zalora Shepard. This is Alliance Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau." She gestured to Joker once her hand was free.
"Ah, Joker." The Turian seemed to smile warmly and shook Joker's hand as well. "I've heard a lot about you. Wonderful pilot according to your boss." He chuckled huskily and soon looked back at the Commander. "So what's the problem, Commander?"
"Well, not a problem, as such, but we didn't request any new additions, sir, and your message has come as a bit of a surprise. Why the sudden devotion to our cause? C-Sec has never offered any opperatives before." She quirked an eyebrow.
"Ah, I understand. Perhaps it would be best for me to introduce you to our requsition officer..." Denarvi stated, touching his chin thoughtfully.
"We've already met--" Zalora began, but the Turian interrupted.
"Oh, no Commander, I didn't mean it that way. I mean he may be able to explain much better than I'm able too. After all, it was he who requested the transfer. Follow me please - we can talk to him right now." Denarvi gestured for them to follow him, and started off to the right of the elevator to the stair way that led down to the requisition officer.
Joker had remained quiet throughout the exchange, other than shaking the Turians hand of course, and he now shrugged at the inquisitive Commander, and moved on his crutches to follow the Turian. He didn't want to admit he was annoyed. The damn elevator rides were always so long, but if it had just been a little longer...
The Commander sighed, wanting to know what was going on, and still feeling slightly akward about almost kissing Joker, but followed the Turian never-the-less. Soon enough they found themselves standing before the golden toned Turian in charge of requisitions - actually they'd met before when the Commander purchased things from him, and she was rather fond of him, since he seemed quite intelligent and had a lovely smooth voice.
The golden hued Turian nodded a greeting to them, automatically pulled up their files on the screen, and listened to Denarvi's words asking him to explain what was happening. With a sigh, the requisition officer stood and stepped around his desk.
"Commander, my name is Cyiel-Ryven Zavigaa - oh, most call me Cy, for obvious reasons. I've been with C-Sec since I was fifteen." He shrugged his blades and leant against his desk a bit. "I was good friends with Garrus, even if I didn't always agree with his way of doing things. When he left, I didn't think much of it." He blinked his golden pools and rubbed a spike on his head gently. "You see... usually I'd turn to him for help, but since he's not at C-Sec anymore, I had to pull a few strings to solve this issue--"
"Could you perhaps tell us what the issue is?" Zalora questioned, getting a bit confused. She could see he was distressed about something or other.
The Turian sighed. "My sister. My sister Ellivi Zavigaa. Elli for short. She's... a mechanic... by trade." He seemed tense.
"You said that with difficulty. What aren't you telling us?" Joker cut in before the Commander had a chance.
"She works for the Shadow Broker." Cy winced. "My family tried to keep her out of it, but she's always been a bright girl. She's only young - but she's one of the Shadow Broker's best ever agents. She knows more about, well, everything, than most people learn in their lifetimes." He shrugged slightly. "But she made the mistake of finding some things out about this rogue spectre of yours. And ever since people have been trying to kill her."
The Commander nodded to show she was following.
"Well Elli came to me, knowing I had a friend who was now travelling with you, and wanted me to pass the info on. As you can understand, I didn't really want to get involved, or get Garrus involved, so I told her to leave and hide for a while. Next day she showed up with severe wounds... and I figured the Citadel was no longer safe for her." Cy was looking at the floor. "So I began pulling strings and talking to people here at C-Sec. We cleared it with the Council on the grounds that Elli's information could help you, and now she's been sent to your ship. Please Commander... my little sister is extreamly bright and she's tough, too. She'll help you out immensly, I'm just asking that you keep her safe in return. Please." He looked up, staring at Shepard with pleading eyes.
Zalora frowned, not knowing exactly what to do. On one hand, she wasn't sure if this girl would be a help or a hindrance, and the crew weren't exactly fond of the aliens already on board so how could she bring another into it? And then there was Garrus...
"Does Garrus know your sister?" Zalora questioned, quirking an eyebrow.
"No, Commander. I think he knows I have a sister, but she never seemed to important. Mainly we talked about work, or similar." Cy shrugged his shoulders.
Joker touched Zalora's arm to get her attention. "If she's so young, Commander, we can't leave her for Saren to find. Turian or no, she needs help, right?" He blinked, thinking it would help the Commander to know he'd support her no matter what. "Besides, it'd be good to have someone annoying Chief Williams right now." He smirked.
Zalora smiled a bit and gave a nod to Joker before looking back at Cy. "Okay, we'll do it. Your sister needs help, and if she does know things about Saren, then I guess we can trade information for her safety." She said confidantly.
Cy broke into the Turian version of a smile. "Thank you, Commander! Thank you!" He looked at his boss and nodded. "And you too, sir. I know this wouldn't have been possible without you."
Denarvi nodded happily at Cy then to Shepard. "Glad that's settled. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some paperwork to complete. Good day, Commander." He gave a salute to all present, and soon walked off.
Shepard nodded and watched him go before looking back at Cy. "Is there anything else we should know about your sister, Cy?"
Cy rubbed the back of his neck. "Commander, I won't lie... Elli has to be met to be appreciated. She's your average teenager, hyperactive and usually a nuisance, but she's incredibly bright like I said earlier - give her a job to do, and she'll do it. She's also stubborn, not easily influenced, and will get along with everyone." He nodded slightly. "Please keep her safe, Commander, because I can't." It pained him to admit it, but he was in over his head in this matter.
Zalora nodded. "Consider it done." She turned to go, Joker was already waiting on the stairs.
"Oh, Commander, one last thing. Could you give these to Elli and Garrus? They're marked." Cy pulled a couple of envelopes out of his desk and handed them to the Commander who had held out her hand. "Just a couple of notes, and some credits to help Elli get by." He shrugged.
Zalora smiled, gave a nod to him, and then followed Joker up to the elevator. They went in, activated it, and stood a little apart as it went up. They didn't talk, didn't even look at each other, both swimming in their own thoughts. Shepard was wondering what Elli would be like as a member of the crew, and looking over those two envelopes, while Joker seemed to be thinking over something his mother had said the night before. Neither seemed prepared to mention the fact they'd almost kissed just minutes before.
Once the elevator reached the docking bay at the top, the doors slid open, and the Commander stepped out into the cool, open mid day air. She glanced at Joker, and was about to comment, when someone called out to her.
"Commander Shepard!" A bright, cheerful voice chirped from nearby, and Zalora looked up to see a beautiful Turian girl sitting on some crates nearby, a bag at her side, legs hanging over the side of the crate and swinging slightly. Her base colour was the same as Cy, bronze to gold, but her stylish markings around her face were a lot paler than her brothers, and made her resemble a lotus blossom in appearance. Gorgeous green eyes sparkled in a friendly manner, her lips almost seemed to smile instantly, and her head spikes were somewhat shorter than the average Turians.
If standing, she would have been about a head shorter than Garrus, and was a lot slimer with a very curvy figure hidden beneath civilian clothing. Bandages were wrapped about her upper arms, hiding wounds she'd recieved from her new found enemies, but all in all the girl looked delighted to be there.
"Wow, I totally can't believe I'm really joining your crew!" The Turian leapt down off the crates, heaving her bag with her. "This is gonna be so much fun!" Before the Commander had a chance to reply, the Turian began to dig in her bag. "Oh, before I forget. Here - some comm pads I found with messages of that bad guy, and I've got a lot of stuff on the Geth; I heard you had a Quarian friend, so I thought she might be interested." She grinned at the Commander.
And Zalora just stared back. There was something about this girl that she'd liked instantly. Chirpy, happy, willing to help. She figured they'd get along fine. Finally Zalora smiled and looked over the comm pads. "Okay, sounds good to me. Come on board and we'll get you set up. If Tali's back, you can talk to her about the Geth info." She smiled, blinked her baby blues and walked into the decontamination area of the Normandy. Joker followed on his crutches, and the new girl brought up the rear. Soon they were being decontaminated.
"You're Joker, right?" The Turian chirped, ignoring the beam of light going over them, and smiling at Joker.
Joker blinked and smirked back at her. "Finally, a fan." He joked and soon shrugged. "Yeah. What gave it away? Ruggedly handsome good looks?" He smirked still.
"Nah, more the crutches and the fact you're all googly eyed over the Commander." The Turian snickered, but grabbed his hand and shook it. "I'm Elli! I heard you're the best pilot there is. If theres time, can you teach me some stuff about ships? I don't know much about 'em." The quirked her head sideways.
"Sure, if theres time. Always willing to further peoples interests in the love of my life." Joker patted the wall jokingly.
Elli giggled and soon they were stepping into the ship. "Whoa!" Elli gasped as she looked around the Normandy to begin with. "This is... awesome!" She jumped up and down on her toes. "I'm in a real Alliance ship!"
"I take it you've never been on a ship before?" Zalora questioned, crossing her arms and watching Elli. Joker had hobbled off to the pilots pit to rest his legs finally.
"Oh, well, broken down ships, sure. I been smuggled on a few in my life, and kidnapped by Krogans once, and then there was that time Cy shut me in a locker and I was almost shipped to Noveria - that was fun." Elli laughed jokingly. "Lucky he remembered and got me out before it was too late, huh?" She smiled happily, flashing sharp but beautiful teeth as she did so.
Zalora chuckled and shook her head a little. "Yeah, lucky. Come on, I'll show you around and introduce you to everyone."
They started off down the corridor, and Zalora was happy that most of the crew were back. She introduced Elli to everyone, and was glad to see most people liked her well enough. Pressley, of course, had a hard time talking to Elli, and soon forced himself out of the conversation to flee, but Doctor Chakwas found the girl enjoyable, and more than a few soldiers actually seemed to flirt with the Turian. They ran into Wrex in the crew quarters, putting a pistol he'd borrowed into Shepards locker. Zalora was more than a little confused to see Wrex and Elli actually got on quite well - she guessed it was because Wrex could see Elli wasn't old enough to have remembered the war between their people.
Once they'd spoken to practically everyone on the upper floors, Shepard led Elli into the elevator and took her to the garage. And that was where it happened.
Elli had jumped out of the elevator instantly, eager to see the garage and the Mako, the engines and more people, and poor Garrus had been walking past at that instant, obviously lost in thoughts of his family troubles... The Two Turians collided and went toppling to the ground. Garrus obviously didn't realize Elli was the new addition to the crew, because Zalora was sure he wouldn't have been so courteous if he'd known. Seeing Elli lieing there looking stunned, arms bandaged, wincing in pain, Garrus' good side had kicked in and he knelt beside her. "I'm sorry! Are you okay?"
Elli looked at Garrus and blinked in stunned silence. She'd knocked her wounded arms, and they were acheing more than a little, not to mention how sore her bum was from falling over, but it was all unnoticable since she'd just realized something more important. She'd ran into another Turian. A male Turian. A cute male Turian. And her flirty reflex kicked in as easily as his good reflex had. She reached down and held her ankle, even though it didn't hurt at all. "Ouch! I think I twisted my ankle..." She whimpered a little, smiling sweetly at Garrus. "But it's not your fault..."
Garrus gasped, thinking she really was hurt. And yeah, he'd happened to notice she was a rather attractive Turian, but hadn't quite grasped on her game yet. He frowned as he watched her, and touched her ankle gently to see how bad it was. Elli gasped and yanked her ankle away as though it really pained her, so Garrus looked around for something to help.
"Here. I can carry you over to those crates and I'll take a proper look." He offered.
Zalora had watched the crash and the landing and now the Turians chat. At first she'd been worried, but now she was leaning against the closed elevator doors, arms crossed, smirking. She was a girl, and she knew what Elli was up too. She was enjoying seeing her sworn brother acting so caring about a woman too, since, if nothing else, it had taken his mind off his family problems for now.
Elli smiled sweetly still, and nodded at Garrus. "Thanks, that would really help."
Garrus, still not clueing into the game as it was, scooped the girl up in his arms, one supporting her under her knees, the other holding her firmly around her waist. Like that, with her arms wrapped around his neck, he carried her over to the crates near the Mako and sat her down. He hadn't even noticed Elli wink at Zalora.
Rolling her eyes in amusement as she realized Elli was going to keep Garrus preoccupied for a while, Zalora walked over to the crew lockers, and pushed the envelope from Cy for Garrus into the Turian's locker. Frowning, Zalora glanced at Kaidan's locker, and soon reached to open it, wondering if it was right to clean it out so Elli would have a place to keep her things...
Not sure, Shepard glanced around to see if there was anyone to help her decide. Wrex was still up on the other level for God knows why, and Garrus was busy with Elli. Not many soldiers were down there, and Ash was obviously off sleeping to try and heal her head because her work bench was empty.
Zalora sighed and slowly pushed the button. Kaidan's locker slid open. His armor, weapons, and everything else he'd had with him on that last mission were absent. But his spare uniform was tucked neatly in there, along with his home possessions, some photos, and a note? Zalora frowned and studied the note from where she stood, unsure if she should read it. After all, Kaidan was dead, but what if it was a bad note or if it was something she didn't want to know about him? Driven by curiosity and the hope that the note would somehow give her peace, she reached for it.
Her slender fingers slipped around it, and she brought it out of the locker, unfolding it as she did so. It was a scrap piece of paper, but Kaidan had scribbled something on it in a hurry...
Salem Foster. Merc hired by Alliance. On Normandy for three days, then requested transfer. Never spoke to Zalora. Now serving on off-world. Rehabilitation project - slave reccuperation. File states he was a slave in his past, probably from Mindoir but never confirmed... Salem Foster Salem Shepard?
Zalora stared at the piece of paper in her hands. Salem Foster. The name of the man Ash had said she liked. Zalora had picked up on that name, because it reminded her of her brother. Her brother whom she'd thought was dead... Now that she thought about it, she hadn't seen him killed... And she'd never got the chance to meet this Salem Foster - he'd always been on different shifts, and she'd actually commented to the Captain that it was like he was avoiding her. What if it really was her brother? Kaidan had written it, so it was possible, right? Confused and alarmed, she didn't realize what was happening until it was almost too late...