Chapter 5: Opposites Attract

Outside of Apollo's, Kaidan and Eve were looking over the menu.

Eve decided to speak up, "You know, this isn't what I meant when I asked for you to come around again. I can't really take a look at your implant out here."

"I know, but I thought it would be nice if we came out here. Especially since I think I still owe you from poker."

"Oh yeah. That was the only hand I won, and I got your shirt." She grinned.

"So, Jane's the first human Spectre and a hero, and Anna is a galaxy-wide champion of Skyllian-Five. Are all the Shepard women so accomplished?"

Eve pointed at herself, "Well, I'm a doctor for the Alliance, and I've got a few degrees in molecular and cell biology. Oh, and I helped create a cure for the Genophage."

"Really? All of you are going to live on in history. I can't say the same for myself..."

She placed a hand on his shoulder, "I certainly think that being the second-ever human Spectre is history worthy."

"Thanks."

Eve quirked a brow, "So... What are ya drinking?"

…...

Jane Shepard was taking care of a medi-gel sabotage in the makeshift refugee camp, when she noticed Anna and Vega playing poker with a few of the refugees. She decided to drop-by,

"Hey Anna, don't clean everyone out, okay?"

"I'm not. I'm actually not playing this round."

Jane raised a brow, "Really? Why?"

Vega answered, "She's my good-luck charm, Lola. She's even taught me a few things."

"Ahh... Well, don't get too carried away."

Anna shifted forward, "Oh, Jane. I think Garrus was looking for you. He's by the docking bay, I think." She smiled, she knew something that Jane didn't.

Once Jane left, Vega directed his attention back to Anna. "Anita, when are we going to tell Lola about you know..."

She responded playfully, "When I'm sure she won't stab you with the knife she keeps in her boot."

"She keeps a knife in her boot?"

"Of course. I have one too. So does Eve. They're matching. Our mother got them for us."

Vega rolled his eyes, "Your whole family is loco."

…...

Sure enough, Garrus was looking for Jane. They had a 'date,' that included a sniping competition overlooking the Presidium. She had let him win the competition, and was rewarded by an unforgettable, "I'm Garrus Vakarian. And this is now officially my favorite spot on the Citadel."

When they returned to the Normandy, the rest of the crew was already there. Eve was nearby to greet them, "Why you two certainly look bubbly. Anything I should know?"

Jane whispered, "I'll tell you later Evie."

Soon enough though, they were off and headed to an Ardat-Yakshi monastery, where they were reunited with an old friend, who pledged herself to Jane's cause. They even came across some ex-Cerberus scientists. Things always seemed to be non-stop.

…...

Eve sent a message to Kaidan, "Hey, Alenko. I'd like another look at that implant of yours. I think I've figured out how to increase the cool-down speed even further. Stop by the med-bay when you've got a sec."

A little later, Kaidan had all sorts of strange gear strapped to his head, but he was still trying to have a conversation with Eve. He liked to chat, probably more than Jane.

"So, uh, do you think your sister has changed? You know, since she worked with Cerberus, and was somehow revived by them..."

"Well that's a stupid question – and yeah, there's stupid questions, Alenko. Of course she changed. I mean she was dead for two years, I've looked at her medical records – her body has undergone extensive modifications. It may have been two years for us, but to her it was one day. Everyone had changed, everything she had known, poof – gone in a blink of an eye. Everyone grew, changed, did things in two years, and she never had that chance. You can't fault her for changing due to that. Who knows what that did to her psychologically. It's pretty difficult to imagine, going through that I mean."

Kaidan shrugged, "Hmm... I suppose you're right. I've had a talk with Jane about it too. I think I can accept what you both have said. Thanks."

"No problem. Happy to clarify. Now, what I'm doing here should help improve your performance. You seemed a little sketchy out there."

"Now there is nothing wrong with my performance, my amp has worked just fine for years."

She exclaimed, "It's as old as a dinosaur!"

"Some things get better with age."

She murmured, "Hmm... Maybe we'll see if that's true."

…...

Some time had passed since Jane and Garrus professed love, so Jane decided to break it to her sisters over an evening of gossip and wine. Jane needed another breather, they were heading to the Perseus Veil, and things were starting to get very hectic on the Normandy.

"So, Anna. You remember how you told me Garrus was looking for me on the Citadel?"

"Yeah. He took you shooting didn't he?"

She looked confused, "How did you..."

Eve spoke up, "He asked us for our opinions about it. He seemed nervous, did he ask you to marry him or something?" She had a big grin on her face.

"Ah... No, not quite that. But we're close, I think. Or maybe it's more like we promised to. Cultural differences, you know..."

"That's confusing as hell, but we're happy for you..." Anna trailed off, "Umm... There's something I've wanted to tell you too. Ah, damn..."

Jane waved her hand encouragingly, "Go ahead. No hostility here. Too much wine."

"Fine... I've, ah, been seeing someone, Vega. James Vega. I know you don't like him much, but hell, we're good together, I think. He seems to be pretty serious too. He wanted to blab to you right off the bat, but I discouraged that. You had a lot going on at the time."

"Awe. Annie." She hugged her, "You didn't have to worry. Yeah, it's true he's kinda an asshole. But, he's a good asshole. I've encouraged him to go ahead with N7 training too, if he gets the chance. And he seems to have feelings, so he can't be a total asshole. I thought he was a big asshole at first, opinions change."

Eve crossed her arms, "Oh man! I was going to use that for blackmail, Anna. Now I have nothing to hold against you." Eve turned to Jane too, "Well, since we're all getting everything off of our chests... Can I ask for your blessing to pursue one of your team members too?"

Jane nearly spit out her drink, "Who Evie?"

"Major Alenko. He seems nice, sincere, polite..."

Anna snickered, "Otherwise your polar opposite."

"Hey!"

Jane spoke before they could start arguing, "Well this might just be the alcohol talking, but Kaidan is a good man. If you were to pursue something, I don't think he would hurt you. But, he doesn't seem to me to be one for something casual. So if that's not your thing, don't go for it. Not that I'm saying you should totally go for it if you're looking for something serious either... Wait. I don't think that made sense. Ugh. Just, just don't tell anyone I'm letting you guys break protocol, and I won't have any major issues. At least right now."

…...

Jane was an early riser, always was. So it was no surprise to Vega, that he found her in the mess, eating breakfast, at 5am.

"Hey, Lola. I was looking for you."

"Really? What's this about?" She quirked a brow, still remembering her drunken confessions with her sisters the night before. She didn't drink enough to blackout and forget the entire night, but she had been close.

"Ah..." He stammered. He sat across from her, not looking her in the eye, but rather off to the side of one of her shoulders. "Anita. Anna, said that she and you had a talk last night. And I was just checking..."

She interrupted him, "All of it is true, what I said. Even if I was a little buzzed at the time. I still think it's true, you're an asshole." She smiled, "And you're good for my sister."

He turned to look at her after that, mouth wide and open. He shut it and opened again, trying to find words, but just shut it one last time. He got up.

"Gracias." That was all he could get out, and he left.

…...

Later, acting upon her sister's encouraging words, Eve walked up to Kaidan in the lounge.

"Hey, there you are."

He chuckled softly, "Are you flirting with me, Doctor?"

"Well if you have to ask, then I'm obviously out of practice."

She sat next to him on the sofa, looking out into the void. He turned to look at her, a smile teasing at the sides of his lips, "Hmm... Maybe you can practice some more with me."

She raised an eyebrow, flirting back, huh?, "Oh really? Well, let's see..."

…...

Within no time they had met with the Admirals of the Quarian Fleet, and swiftly dealt with the geth dreadnaught. They were on their way to rescue an Admiral Koris, when Anna introduced herself to Tali in the war room.

"Hello? Admiral Tali'Zorah? I'm Lieutenant Anna Shepard. I'm one of the Commander's younger sisters. I've heard a lot about you."

Tali blinked, she was confused, but the Lieutenant couldn't tell behind her mask, "Oh! Nice to meet you Lieutenant Shepard." She shook her hand, "I wasn't aware that the Commander had family in the Alliance, I mean other than her mother."

Anna rubbed the back of her neck, "Yeah. It seems as though Jane was keeping us a secret." Us? Tali wasn't hearing things, she was most definitely being plural. Anna continued, "Hey, do you mind if I invite you to have some lunch with me down in the mess? It's not great, but we have plenty of dextro food reserves, since we've had plenty of turians on board. I'd love to hear more about Jane, you know, before things got out of hand. Garrus and Liara both seem to be reluctant to share info about her back then."

Tali nodded, "Sure, that sounds great."

…...

Tali and Anna were sitting across from one another in the mess, they were talking for quite awhile.

"Keelah! You should have seen her face when she found out that she had to seduce an asari, a murderer at that. I think she was an Ardat-Yakshi... Anyways, she came on board to change into the only dress she owned, so she'd fit into the bar scene, and her face, Keelah..." Tali was giggling, so much it caused Anna to giggle at her giggling.

All of a sudden they were interrupted by Joker, who had just walked out of the med-bay.

"Holy shit, Eve! My legs feel amazing!"

Eve laughed, his face was priceless, "And you doubted me?"

"Yeah. I just wish it didn't cost me 30 credits too... Oh, hey Tali! Look, no braces!" He grinned as he walked over towards Tali and Anna.

Tali replied, "Yeah, and you look a lot straighter too Joker. Good to see." Eve walked up to Joker, and patted him once on the shoulder, "I'm taking full credit." She grinned.

Anna finally decided to interject, "Oh! Tali, this is Doctor Eve Shepard, my twin baby sister. The last Shepard sister."

Eve smiled again, "I complete the trilogy."

Tali didn't reply, but just tilted her head. Joker decided to for her, "Yeah. I didn't know Jane had two younger twin sisters either – which is hot by the way. She didn't even tell her Gare-bear. I found out from EDI. They're all kick-ass. This one," he pointed at Anna, "has won millions of credits playing Skillian-Five. And this one," he pointed at Eve, "could be more of a mad scientist than Mordin. She even sings while she works, just like him! It's crazy, I know. Oh, and did you know that we have a living prothean on board? I'm not making this stuff up, I swear."

…...

Rannoch took over two weeks to deal with. The Normandy crew had to deal with politics, insane battles, and the loss of yet another dear crew member – Legion. Jane was fairly certain that if she would ever tell someone everything that happened, including the bit about entering a geth consciousness, no one would believe her. But regardless, Hackett was only concerned about the outcome – that Jane had successfully brokered peace between the geth and the quarians.

Jane had convinced Tali to stay aboard, and she had enthusiastically taken the offer. Tali'Zorah vas Normandy belonged on the Normandy. They decided to celebrate by double-checking Tali's old upgrades to the Normandy – they were in a crawl space.

"So... I think Garrus is upset about what happened on Rannoch."

Tali bumped her head, the space was cramped and she couldn't get a good view of Jane, even-though they were next to one another, "What? What do you mean?"

"Oh no. Not about the political bullshit. I mean about me putting myself in danger."

Tali nodded, "Well you do do that a lot, Jane. I don't blame him for being upset. You nearly got killed by a Reaper, on foot. It must be hard being so invested in someone, who is constantly battling with death."

Jane sighed, "Yeah. But I have to... How, how do I fix it? It's a lot harder than this wiring. This crap is a piece of cake compared to... relationships." Jane elbowed Tali, "Any ideas?"

…...