The air was silent and still. The Normandy was powered down and vacant as Kaidan returned to her. Even the avatar of the ship EDI was partially elsewhere at the moment as Kaidan re-entered the sleeping shape. The sound of his boots echoed back across the CIC and for once his presence did not activate the ship schematics as he walked by. The floor lighting was dimmed but just enough to guide him by.

About to hit the button for the elevator, his hand freezes mid-air as a thought hits him.

How are you going to put this in her cabin?

"Crap." He mutters to himself in the silence.

Given the sensitivity of the data he was not comfortable just leaving them unsecured. And he did not relish the idea of prancing across three quarters of the Citadel with a potted plant in hand to track Shepard down like an errand boy. He was sure Garrus would never let him live it down either.

"Uhh… Edi?" He knew she was still technically in the ship but since gaining mobility (and form) it became hard to remember she was still primarily the ships AI. A second passes as his voice dissipates across the empty room. The AI had said she was still within the ship hadn't she?

"Yes Major." He was not sure but did she sound …annoyed?

Interrupting a woman's shore leave. Never a good idea Alenko.

"I um have some sensitive material for the Commander I need to…"

"You will find the Captain's Quarters unlocked Major." Yes she definitely sounded little more brisk than usual.
"Oh. Uh thanks. I won't be long I just have to drop some stuff off."
"Understood. Shepard already notified me while you were enroute. Additionally she ordered me give you full access as of 0600 this morning."

"Uh. Allright."

"Signing you out Major." Which sounded very much like a "Now leave me alone."

Wondering how many different ways he could work the terms "payback" and "cockblock" into his next conversation with Joker he hit the elevator with a chuckle. Shepard had ordered him off the ship and EDI had begun to enjoy her new found freedom. The pilot was doomed.

If the bridge was quiet the loft was positively motionless. The open skylight showed the stillness of the bay above them. He had never given much thought to the skylight before but seeing the room as it was now he appreciated the attention to detail Cerberus had put into it. Without the blue lights of the aquarium or the motion from the above starlight the small room was tomb like.

Shepard had been back since this morning he noted as he entered. The bed had been made to regs, hospital corners and all he noted with a small shake of his head. The glasses and mugs had also been cleared away. Taking a quick glance around the room something else seemed off to the Major but he did not know just what yet. The datapads that had been scattered across all the exposed surfaces-desk, coffee table and workstation had been piled at the edge of the station.

Kaidan had planned to put the flower pot in the back corner but he notices it is occupied by a small box. Not the meter long footlockers that fill all empty spaces in the ship since their initial departure from Earth. But a small metal crate with an Alliance ID tag on the side. Tilting his head to get a better look at it. If it had been in the room last night he certainly had not seen it.

N7 5923-AC-2826 P.E contents Elysium proclaimed the plate. Well that made sense since there only was one N anything on board it should be in her cabin. A personal effects locker was not uncommon on a ship but the size of it indicated that these had not been in her position on Earth given her status at the time. Curious Kaidan peers into the box and notices an actual paper book. Rare on Earth this thing is tattered with age but still legible. Placing the pot down on the table he wipes his hands before picking up the dog-eared old thing. Asian characters on the page and a translation The Art of War Sun Tzu. Flipping the cover open with a touch of reverence he is not exactly surprised to see handwritten notes scrawled along margins in two distinct hands.

2157 D.A reads the first in simple block letters.

2174.3.11 Thought you might like this. Good luck in OCS. –A. The same block letters.

The second handwriting is smaller as if written with deference to the first. The image of a teenage Shepard stealing away moments in her rack to add notes to an outdated paperback made Kaidan smile. Another piece of the puzzle that was Commander Shepard. Before being an N school candidate, before Elysium there was a young marine trying to be the best soldier she could.

Curious about the other personal effects he reluctantly decides he has done enough snooping for one trip and places the antique back in the crate before unloading Kahlee's data and the bright red flowers. Other surprises can wait until later Kaidan tells himself since he now knew that he had been granted access to the loft as needed.

Resting his hip on the edge of the desk he notices his omni blinking . Pulling it up he is not surprised to see the update from Shepard.

Meeting with Tevos now. Call you in later. Thank you. Shep

Looking up across the room, the out of place detail that had eluded him earlier suddenly dawns on him. All the model ships had been rearranged in their case.

A/N Weekend got away from me so sorry for the short chapter. Welcome all new readers and favs !

Also I am not as creative as I thought I was. Booted up the game the other night and noticed the flowers all over the Citadel are the same as I described: / Oh well still fits better in my head even I don't get original idea points.

Also if you haven't heard DLC Citadel is due out NEXT week! I have only seen 4 images released but it had both Wrex and Kaidan in it ( girly squee)and Seth Green spilled the beans that he recorded for it too, as did the late Robin AKA Zaeed so yea I think it will be the huge sendoff bioware promised us (heres hoping.)