Dalora could not help but smile as she almost literally dashed out of the work bay. The end of her shift could not come soon enough. She also couldn't help darting her head in all directions, hoping to find him and at the same time walking as fast as she could to her apartment. As much as she wanted to see him, wherever he was, she couldn't let him see her like this. He had been gone for over two weeks and she absolutely did not want to be covered in grease, industrial compound and sweat when they would finally meet after all this time. Two sides in her waged all out war in dying to find him and at the same time praying she could take a shower first. Her emotions were so close to topping over she didn't notice the people around her, just a single tunnel vision in the direction to her apartment. She was so zoned she was almost startled when an Alliance pilot appeared out of nowhere and enveloped her in a tight embrace. She almost cried. It was so good.

"Lucas! Lucas, you're home!" Dalora squealed.

"Oh gosh, you don't know how bad I wanted to see you." Lucas chuckled. Truth be told, Lucas Von Seraph was overjoyed to see her. The problem was that he also badly wanted to sleep. His head was pounding with fatigue and it was only the blast of water from a quick shower that momentarily woke him up. After a day or two traveling in a star fighter, anyone would start to turn a little ripe.

It was very well established that the two were thrilled to see each other. Despite her obvious emotions, Dalora still wanted to get out of her dirty work clothes. Unknown to her, Lucas was making it his utmost goal not to keel over and pass out. He had hated himself everyday for the past two weeks for leaving Dalora alone and he wasn't about to let his body screaming for rest to drown out his need to make her happy. He kept telling himself it would only be a few more hours, just a few more hours.

Lucas found his body rebelling against him when he tried to place an arm around Dalora's waist, only to miss completely and simply land on his side. Dalora didn't seem to notice. In fact, she simply latched onto his arm and held him close as if afraid he would slip away like water.

"Wait here, I have to take a shower first." Dalora said as they both stepped into her apartment. Fiasco the kitten was more receptive to Dalora despite the fact that she almost didn't notice the kitten. In contrast, the feline then seemed to regard Lucas with an air of caution.

"Hey there, little guy. I doubt you remember me even though I'm the one that picked you out." Lucas greeted the cat. Fiasco only mewed malcontentedly.

Lucas did his best to catch a catnap on the couch while Dalora hurriedly tried to get through her shower ritual. It wasn't till after Lucas startle to settle that Fiasco suddenly decided he was okay with the newcomer and actually tried to take a catnap himself on Lucas.

"Hey, you can't be tired yet." Dalora stated, stepping into the room.

"Sweetheart, you can't imagine." Lucas thought and looked up at her. Despite the aches and sores that still hounded him, he couldn't help but smile.

"Oh God...you made her beautiful...I don't know why, she just is." It didn't matter that she was wearing a simple white sweater and black felt slacks or that she just had simple silver ear rings. The soldier immediately became self conscious about what he threw on. Black Alliance military sweater and matching cargo pants with the same military boots. Usual outfit as always.

"Come on, I'm sure you are sick of rations, let's eat out!" Dalora announced, continuing to drag him. Lucas was just a little sad about leaving the couch. He swept Dalora up in a hug instead.

Dalora did not know where the night went. She didn't really care, she only knew that those few hours before midnight were not long enough. One moment they were chatting away at a restaurant the next they're both standing at a large window just gazing into the foreboding beauty of space. Despite the comforting light of the numerous stars and the sudden sparks of passing celestial wonders the only thing she could think of was that Lucas was finally home. She wondered when she ever felt this happy and realized that throughout her life, from an orphan captured by Batarians to a mercenary working for the very scum she swore to eradicate, this was what she was looking for all her life. She was looking for someone she knew who would love her unwaveringly. She almost didn't register it when Lucas took her up and placed her in her bed.

"I will see you in the morning." he whispered softly in her ear, carefully pulling the covers to her chin. Just before he left, he kissed her on the forehead.

Lucas wasn't sure how he felt. He was relieved to be home. He was ecstatic to see Dalora again. Regardless, his ever brooding conscience was still grinding in him despite his overclouded mind. The reason for that became apparent when he simply collapsed onto his couch, too tired to reach his bed. The commando suddenly yelled out in agony, grasping a spot on his chest. He realized his sweater was becoming wet and discolored. Apparently, medigel wasn't quite perfected yet. He took off his sweater and forced himself to find a spare pack of medigel he knew he had lying around. On his chest, dangerously close to his heart, was an angry large scab that had a larger counterpart on his back. His sudden collapse on the couch had aggravated it and it had erupted anew. Fresh blood was slowly running down his front. It was a silent witness of an enemy sniper round that broke through his shield and armor, punctured his chest and shot out of his back. The field medic that examined him said if the round was just a half inch closer to the right his heart would have ruptured in an instant.

Lucas knew he was in a transition period. He had to stop doing things the way he had. He had never really feared death. His religious convictions made him confident in his immortal soul and the same convictions almost obligated him to the sense of willingly trying to lay down his life for others under fire. Before, he had little to live for. His had disappointed his parents and buried himself in his work for the Alliance, further isolating himself. He wondered if he was an adrenaline junkie, always willing to take the most suicidal missions, no matter how much he complained about them. He walked away mostly intact from each one and still he would not turn down the next one to come up. He could even admit he barely survived an atomic explosion.

But now things were different. He was realizing the profound effect a single woman can have on a brooding man's life. He could not keep putting himself in danger. He owed Dalora something. He could never hurt her and he realized that almost beyond his own volition, he had been drawn to her. He couldn't build her up like this and then hurt her so much if he died. The painful wound was almost closed now, he just had to be easy on it. He wondered if the burning pain close to his heart was a kind of penance for his carelessness.

--

Dalora realized she had not stopped smiling. Everything seemed different, brighter. Even the tar like industrial fluid and grease stains seemed to glow. The woman suddenly realized this was probably what it felt like to be high. She remembered Lucas mentioning it had something to do with endorphines. If such was the case, her brain was happily drowning in them.

"Hey, I saw you with a guy last night." Theresa's voice suddenly interrupting her work. Dalora looked up at her, still grinning.

"So, guess you're human like the rest of us, huh? How'd it go?" the pilot asked. Dalora smirked and walked up to her.

"For your information, nothing like what you're suggesting happened."

"Oh really?" Theresa asked skeptically.

"Oh yes. You see, at least I can be confident that he loves me for who I am, not for my prowess in bed or my physical assets. I have no doubt about that. Can you say the same?" Dalora shot with a smirk, finally glad to vent her full opinion. Theresa left abruptly with a scoff, clearly offended. Dalora didn't care, she was glad she could get back to work. Almost immediately she felt yet another shadow fall over her just when she started working on the landing gear of another craft.

"Hey, could I talk to you for a moment?" a voice asked. Dalora inwardly sighed. Honestly, how helpless were most Alliance pilots? She looked up at yet another woman pilot, this one looking much younger, almost a new recruit. She had short blonde hair with soft green eyes. Dalora relaxed and decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"What can I help you with?"

"Oh nothing. I just noticed that Theresa has always been giving you a hard time. Thanks for sticking up to her like that. Someone needed to pop that inflated ego of hers."

"Well...thanks." Dalora answered, shaking the pilot's hand.

"My name is Sarah Wallis." the pilot introduced herself.

"Dalora. Dalora Algre."

--

Lucas rolled off the couch, just beginning to wake up. It was nice to sleep in something soft for once but his mind was already grinding out faster than his body would ever hope to catch up to. In all honesty, he felt that he needed to do some soul searching on a decision that had been pestering him for awhile, a decision he had not made up his mind on. He only knew of one thing to do.

He set his omni-tool to play every single gregorian chant he had loaded onto it. In a few moments, his kitchen was wafting with the rich smell of authentic chai as he continued to meditate, continued to pray for divine guidance. His eyes still closed, he walked into the one room of his apartment that he treasured above all others, his library. He had some serious reading to do.

Language is a very simple but very important thing. It is so subtle, but like theology, the slightest variation can have catastrophic ramifications. He knew that his decision very much involved language, all the more reason he continued to pray. He pulled out an old Greek text and started to read the ancient language, one that was painfully taught to him during those bygone years in the seminary. He found it ironic as he read the text and listened to the chant on his computer. The two languages clashed even though they spoke of the same words.

"Pater Noster qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum.

Adveniat regnum tuum,

fiat voluntas tua,

sicut in caelo et in terra..."

"Pater hemon ho en tois ouranois, agiasthetoo to onima sou.

Elthatoo he basileia sou,

geneetheetoo to theleema sou

oos en ouranoi kai epi gees..."

Lucas harbored no hostility to those who were skeptical about faith. However, no one could convince him otherwise that what he believed in was real. Of course, that was also why he tried to be as ecumenical as possible. It was his strongest belief that God was much bigger than they could ever hope to fathom, but yet still the ancient creeds dictated where his ideals were anchored. It also made him wonder if his Lord had time to deal with a decision as trivial as this. Well, was it that trivial? It didn't seem that way to him.

Still in prayer, his mind in the heavens, his soul lifted elsewhere, he looked up beyond the book he was reading and his glance fell on the image before him. No sooner had that happened, he could almost feel a divine whisper speak to him, as real as he could have imagined it. It was a reassuring voice that also contained a chuckle and Lucas realized that he really did know the answer to the question all along. Lucas also decided that the epiphany for the day was that God really did have a sense of humor. He couldn't prove that theologically, but at least it couldn't quality for heresy.

--

"Talana, set a course for the nearest relay." Jima ordered her Asari helmswoman. The chirpy navigator nodded in response.

"Yes, Spectre. It shall be done." Talana responded, a bit of excitement ringing in her voice. Jima knew that Julland had been right as soon as they lifted off. Everyone on the crew seemed more than happy to be running the Shiloh in space again. She looked up at her Turian XO when he stepped up to her, having returned from the galaxy map.

"How did you manage to pull this one off, getting away from duties and all?" Julland asked. Although he couldn't see it, a mischievous smile stretched across the Quarian's face.

"Haha, I just notified the Council that I wanted to take my crew and do some much needed practice routines." Jima shrugged.

"Jima...you're a genius."

"Thank you."

"Hey Spectre, you got a destination in mind?" Talana asked from the helm.

"Yes. Do you know the fastest route to the Alliance installation, Jump Zero?" Jima asked. Talana gave a broad smile.

"As a matter of fact, I do."