M-Angel: Here's the next chapter, friends!

Knight: It's kind of short, we know. It was written on a cell phone, remember. Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Theft

As I was walking to the cockpit to chat with Jeff, EDI suddenly appeared next to me.

"Are you really who you say you are?" She asked.

"Yes." I replied to the AI's avatar. There was a pause.

"I have a confession, Miss Lavargus," She said. "I've been monitoring you."

Okay, that's creepy. "Why?" I asked.

"Because I believed you may have been a problem," She said. "XO Lawson was right when she says there was nothing on you. I did a double check. You didn't exist until recently. You have no family. You have no record of your birth. You have nothing to say you should exist,"

"I know you're not a spy. However, are you running from something? It is my only conclusion." she said.

"No," I said.

There was a pause.

"Then I have no idea if I should take you as a threat or not," She said. "The crew trusts you, even Jack holds some trust in you. And Jeff trusts you."

Ah-ha!

"Mr. Moreau doesn't trust very easily. He tries to distance himself from everybody. One exception is the sibling-like relationship with Commander Shepard," She paused.

"I am only looking out from my crew...and Jeff,"

I smiled.

"Jeff is a good man and friend," I said. "I'm sure he sees me the same. I wouldn't hurt him or anybody on this ship. Hell even Garrus has grown on me,"

"I don't see how somebody can be grown on another organic," She said doubtfully.

I blinked and did a facepalm.

"I'm just gonna talk to Jeff," I said. "Okay?"

"Very well, Miss Lavargus," She said.

I paused in my steps. "And EDI," I said, "Call me Serena,"

An hour later Jeff and I were disturbed by Shepard as she walked in. She saw me sitting at the co-pilots station.

"Giving lessons, Joker?" She asked. Jeff's seat spun around.

"You know me, just doing my part." He said. "Besides, it's not as if she's that bad on the eyes either."

This caused my face to heat up, which caused Shepard to smirk.

"Just remember you're on duty, flyboy," She said in a joking voice. He laughed, "Don't worry. I doubt she goes for cripples anyway," He said.

I groaned. "You do know that she is right here, right?" I asked.

"What? Did you hear something, Commander?" He asked.

"Smartass," I said and got up.

"It's better to be a smartass than a dumbass, right?"

As I walked out I heard him say. "I hate to see you go, but love watching you leave,"

And… cue to blush.

I had just gotten out of the shower when the Commander's voice came over the intercom.

"We will be docked on the Citadel for two hours for business. I am giving all non-essential crewmembers an hour and a half shore leave. That is all," She said.

I got quickly dressed in a pair of black slacks and a white shirt and got ready for docking. I needed some things from my place at Ylara's and Ya'isha's home, and it might be fun to visit. So as soon as we docked, I left with some others to enjoy a break.

When I got to the Presidium, to the condo that I had lived in for the last year, I was surprised to find Nala home from school already.

"So," She began as I was packing my bag. "Mother Ylara said that you're working for Commander Ann Shepard. What's she like?"

"She's like me," I said. "Very nice and a dang good fighter,"

Nala laughed. "But you suck at fighting," She blurted.

I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow.

"David is rubbing off on me," She said apologetically. I chuckled.

"Do your mothers know about David?" I asked as I put a holo of me and my Asari family in my bag.

"Yes," She said. "He's fifteen, but mentally six years old," She said with sadness in her voice. "He's 'special'," She said with a smile. My eyes softened to her.

"Yes he is," I said.

"Serena?" Came Ya'isha's voice. I stuffed the last of my possessions in the bag and went down. I smiled when I saw Ya'isha holding baby Ni'ema.

"She says she knows you," She said pointing to a person in the doorway. It was Jack. Behind her was Miranda. I frowned at them and shook my head. I hugged Ya'isha and kissed baby Ni'ema on the forehead.

"Bye," I said and walked towards the two women and glared at them. As soon as we were in the transit car I went to speak.

"Sorry," Miranda said. "I thought-"

"You thought I was going to check in on my 'real' boss," I said. "You have worse trust issues than Jack,"

"Hey!" Jack began. "Don't compare me to the cheerleader,"

I glared at the biotic.

"Don't you fu-" She began.

"Why are you even here?"

"Wanted to see the fireworks," She said. "Moreau said it got heated last time you two were alone,"

I shook my head and glared at Miranda. "I'm loyal to Shepard. She doesn't have to worry about me backstabbing her in her sleep, unlike I do with Cerberus,"

She glared at me. "I wouldn't betray Shepard," She said. "She just has to fight the Collectors and destroy the Reapers,"

"You say it like it's easy!" I yelled at her.
"For Shepard it will be," She said. "She just needs to keep her head in the game and out of the clouds like that Turian,"

"She's a woman and she has needs," I growled. "Garrus will watch her back better than anyone,"

"He's a liability," Miranda snapped.

"Bullshit!" I growled. "He's not a liability. He'll keep her focused,"

"What happens if he dies?" Miranda asked. "Shepard will lose focus. She'll be compromised,"

Jack smirked. "Moreau's right," She said. "This is fun!"

"I should've just put it in her," Miranda blurted, causing me to whip my head her way.

"Put what in her?" I asked, and she didn't answer. I grabbed her by the neck. "Put what in her?"

The transit car came to a stop at the docks. Jack got out.

"She thinks you should've been chipped," She said. "She wouldn't have to doubt your loyalty."

With that she left, leaving me stunned.

I unpacked my things in the room I'd been given by Shepard. It was supposed to be an officer's room, but it looked pretty empty to me. I was still thinking of what Miranda had said. Should I tell Shepard? I wondered. It would cause problems, I was sure. After the Collectors are taken care of, I decided. One thing was for sure I was staying the hell away from Lawson and locking my door as I slept.

"EDI," I said.

"Yes, Serena?" She answered as she appeared in my room. "From now on I want my door locked as I sleep,"

"As you wish." She said. "Is that all?"

"Yeah." I said as I put the holo-picture me, Nala, and baby Na'ema on my desk by my terminal.

I walked out of my room and saw Shepard pulling at her... dress? My mouth fell open. She was wearing a black knee-high dress that showed her cleavage a bit. I blinked. It was a shock to see the ever-hard Commander in anything but her uniform or armor. I shook my head and walked up to her.

"Garrus seen you in that yet?" I asked. Her face got bright red.

"Not yet," She said. "Thankfully he's busy." A woman appeared out of thin air beside the Commander.

"Serena, this is Kasumi Goto." She said. "Kasumi, Serena Lavargus,"

She looked at me.

"Yeah, I've seen her before," She said. "She appeared on the Citidel last year. Made Udina nervous, how she appeared out of nowhere. Don't know why,"

Shepard raised an eyebrow at me.

"The theory is I got drugged somehow and was brought to the Citadel to be a slave," I shrugged. "Never found proof though."

I watched Shepard's hand tighten into a fist. "I hate slavers," She growled.

"So what's with the dress?" I asked.

"Got a mission to do for Miss Goto," She said. "A party,"

"Sounds boring," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

She chuckled. "Yep." She walked into the cockpit. I walked in with her and sat down in the co-pilot's seat. Joker turned around.

"Aw, you shouldn't have Commander," He said. "It's not my birthday,"

"Laugh it up, Moreau," She groaned.

"Sorry," He said, "I couldn't help myself,"

He cleared his voice. "Ready when you are, Commander," He said. "Shuttle is waiting and ready. Just yell when you need a pickup,"

He turned back around as she left. As soon as the door closed he started laughing.

"Okay," He said, "I've gotta know. What's the deal with that ridiculous dress? Did Shep lose a bet?"

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"Did you see that thing?" He asked. "That's not something an Amazon like Shepard wears!"
"Some women like wearing dresses. It makes 'em feel good about themselves." I said.

"Yeah, like Asari," He said.

"True," I said, "But you'd know that best,"

He raised an eyebrow. "How so?" He asked teasingly.

"I've seen those Fornax vids you keep under your chair!" I laughed.

He suddenly pulled his SR-1 baseball cap down over his eyes, all the while his cheeks grew red. "Y-Yeah, so?" He stuttered. "It's not like I have… What makes you the judge?" He asked defensively.

"Nothing," I said. "You're a man Jeff. But even you have to saw those vids are boring when compared to the real thing,"

He looked down. "Wouldn't know." He muttered.

No freakin' way...he's a... No way. "You mean you're a..." I paused and looked at him, his cheeks a bit redder. So were mine.

"Yep," He said. "It's not like I haven't tried." He scratched the back of his neck.

"Dammit!" He cursed. "Can we drop this?"

I shrugged. "Sure," I said dismissingly. I heard him let out a breath. I got real close and whispered in his ear.

"When you are ready for it, come find me, babe," I left and the door closed.

"Shit!" He yelled.

M-Angel: Okay, ready to be called a feminist. I know it's coming.

Knight: I can't believe you! Glass bones aside, Joker is the most awesome character in Mass Effect!

M-Angel: You aren't mad about the…

Knight: And you made him a virgin! How dare you!

M-Angel: Now I hope ya'll remember to leave a review! Love you guys! *hugs*

Knight: This blasphemy will not go unpunished! ... Ok, I'm done. Have a good one, guys. *high-fives Dragonscale*