HERS

"Tell Alenko and Jenkins to meet you in the cargo bay. They are going to accompany you on this mission," ordered Anderson. Shepard mentally flinched. She had been trying to avoid this Alenko guy for days while they made their way to Eden Prime.

Why did Anderson like this guy so much? He's just another meat-headed career soldier. Probably has a girl in every port, as that old saying went.

Shepard wasn't afraid to care about someone, she convinced herself. However, there were regs, and he was a subordinate. And probably a jerk, she added mentally for good measure.

They dropped in hot onto Eden Prime's surface, presumably to fight some strange and unknown alien to get to a Prothean beacon. She was glad that Jenkins had been here before or she would have blasted every one of those gas bag creatures into oblivion. When they started finding charred bodies, Shepard grew uneasy. They ducked behind some rocks as they came to a bend in the trail. Motioning, she sent Jenkins ahead up the trail.

Two combat drones came flying up and, before Jenkins had gone 10 yards, targeted him. She watched him fall and her mind steeled. She had seen men die before, and this was no time for fear. She charged ahead while the drones were still focused on Jenkins, her biotics flaring. She threw one drone into a rocky wall and turned to deal with the second.

Before she could, Alenko had thrown and disposed of the oncoming enemy. She looked back and saw him enveloped in a fading blue corona. I never thought biotic power looked hot until today…. Damnit, Rachel, why the hell are you thinking about that? Pull yourself together! One of your team just got shot down!

"Negative contacts," he said plainly as he walked up to Jenkins.

They both looked at the fallen man's body, and Shepard said matter-of-factly, "We need to get him a proper burial, but we can't let this distract us. The dig site is supposed to be just ahead."

She walked on, knowing he was trailing behind. I wonder if he noticed my ass.

HIS

"Alenko! Jenkins! Suit up and meet me in the cargo bay. Now!" a sharp voice rang out from his omni-tool. It was Commander Shepard.

"On my way," Kaidan acknowledged as he left his work station. Ever since that awkward introduction to his XO, he couldn't get the pretty commander out of his mind, and he hated himself for it. He was a by-the-books soldier and he knew there were at least 10 regulations strictly forbidding relationships between himself and her.

Standing in the cargo bay getting last minute instructions from Capt. Anderson, he couldn't help but notice the woman standing near him. I've never seen anyone else fill out armor like that before. The thought ran through his mind before he could stop it. This isn't the time, Kaidan.

Kaidan and Jenkins followed closely behind the commander until they came to a bend in the trail. Ducking behind some rocks, Kaidan watched as she sent Jenkins ahead. He glanced over at Shepard to see her lithe body, crouching as well.

She has a body of an asari dancer, not a soldier. She's not muscular like the other female marines I've seen. God, she's got a nice ass…

Suddenly, Kaidan was torn from his reverie by the sounds of shots and seeing Jenkins go down. He jumped to his feet as he saw Shepard charge ahead, a blue light surrounding her. He saw which drone she was targeting and knew she wouldn't have enough time to get the second before it targeted her.

He unleashed a throw against that second drone with a power he hadn't expected. Unexpected passion flowed through his body as he worked to calm the biotic power. He saw her look back at him. He quickly looked down at his omni-tool. "Negative contacts," Kaidan said. Do I sound breathless?

He looked down at Jenkins and closed the dead man's eyes. Jenkins was a good guy, and it hurt to see him like this.

"We need to get him a proper burial, but we can't let this distract us. The dig site is supposed to be just ahead," said Shepard, a little too coldly, he thought. She turned to go, and he followed.

Wow. I guess the sole survivor of Akuze must not ever let anything get to her. But she still has a body that won't quit. Damnit, Kaidan! She didn't see him smack his palm to his face.