So here it is a Joker and EDI chapter...this was surprisingly fun to write, because EDI was a challenge to write. Her thought process is slowly becoming more human at this point so she still thinks like a machine and doesn't quite understand human behavior, but tries to emulate it. I hope Joker is snarky and slightly endearing at the same time. I could see him biting his tongue a few times with her just because he's trying to make a good impression. Anyway, thanks for the reviews, alerts and favorites. Javik's chapter is next...boy, is he a hard one to write, I do like him as a character, but darn he's tricky. Enjoy!

Prism Elf

"For Luck"

EDI was confused. She was sitting in the cockpit of the Normandy, at least her pyshical body was located there, but her 'mind' was the entirety of the Normandy. She could hear the crew talking and the hum of the engines down in Engineering, she could see people moving about and the monitors of CIC, and she could feel the armor plating and shields hugging the Normandy's outer hull. She was the Normandy in every sense. Though parts of her, the parts that were free to think and act on their own programming, the parts that wanted to learn, sometimes conflicted with the make of her programming that wanted to…protect the ship at all cost. It was troubling and thrilling in the same sense. She had a purpose beyond carrying crewmembers from one destination to the next.

Glancing out of the corner of her 'physical' eye she saw Joker sipping at a cup of coffee. It was his second cup of the day. His eyes darted over the monitor in front of him and every once in a while he would make an adjustment to the screen by swiping his hand over the orange holographic touch screen.

She approve of the way Jeff handled the Normandy smoothly and effortlessly, like he was extension of the Normandy himself, much like she was. It was one of the reasons they seemed to get along so well, that and humor. But joking aside she was happy with course of her life and direction it seemed to be taking.

"Jeff, I have an inquiry." EDI stated her gazed remaining fixed on the pilot.

"Oh, really, is this going to be one of those questions that Shepard would be to answer. Because as much as love answering your questions she seems…" Joker started, but before he could really get going EDI shook her head.

"No, I believe only you can answer my question, unless you think Shepard would know the answer."

"Well, she is the commander and you know they are usually better equipped to handle random questions from unshackled AIs." Jeff replied taking another sip of his coffee. "Especially ones that are personal and moral dilemmas."

EDI shook her head. "No, Shepard is under a lot of stress. Her suit read outs as well as my own observations confirm as much. I would rather direct my question toward you."

Joker sighed his hands flitting effortlessly over the controls. "I know I'm going to regret this, but ask away."

"Do you believe we have a chance of surviving these next few hours?" EDI asked she sat back in her seat regarding him with just her physical eye.

"Shit, EDI," Jeff placed his coffee cup down and swiveled his chair to look at her directly. "Why are you asking this?"

"Because I'm confused and need clarification. Are we simply flying toward our destruction or we will be the salvation of the universe? Does Shepard really believe that we can truly stop the Reapers? Or she is simply saying what she thinks we need to hear?" EDI voiced in rapid tense voice. "I cannot wrap my thoughts around her thoughts and actions."

"You mean Shepard's thoughts and actions?" Jeff asked leaning forward slightly.

EDI nodded. "Correct, I wonder…"

Jeff raised his hand and waved away her next string of questions. "Look, why not ask her. She'd be the best person to tell you what is going through her own head."

EDI canted her head regarding him with an inquisitive look. "I told you, Shepard is under stress. My questions might only cause her more."

"If your questions cause her to go on a shooting spree, you'd only be the straw that broke the camel's back. Hell, if she does go crazy just get her next to an airlock and we'll space her. No problem." Jeff smirked, but EDI only canted her again.

"I do wish you wouldn't deflect me with humor. Or at least a poor attempt at it." She smiled and then crossed her arms pondering.

"Hell, we have a couple hours before we reach Cerberus headquarters. Trust me, Shepard could probably use the distraction." Jeff swiveled back toward his flight monitor, making another adjustment with the flick of a finger.

EDI shook her head. "I cannot."

"Sure you can, either buzz her over the intercom or go up and knock on her door. Last I checked she still has an open door policy." Jeff responded.

"No, Jeff, you don't understand. I would be intruding upon her and Kaidan." EDI said staring down at her monitors.

It wasn't as if she had not thought to go ask Shepard the questions herself, but Shepard was indisposed of at the moment. EDI did wonder though what it would be like to have someone that close…not physically…well, maybe that too…but mostly to have that emotional and mental connection that Shepard and Kaidan seemed to share. For two organics to be able read and feel as they seemed to do, it was intriguing and fascinating. It was something similar to what she felt with Jeff. Connected and drawn to each other almost as if by invisible wires or cables. In normal circumstances they were pleasant and friendly even bantered, but on the battlefield just like her and Joker flying the Normandy, their thoughts were meshed. They moved with an ease and knowing of the other person, never needing to speak, a simple look conveyed a thousand lasting words.

"Oh, yeah don't want to…interrupt them then." Jeff coughed and EDI noticed that his face flushed a lovely shade of red.

EDI smiled. "Jeff, your face is red."

"It's called blushing, EDI."

"Blushing, a sudden rush of blood flowing though the capillaries of human cheeks, usually brought upon by embarrassment, anger, cold or by a state of arousal." EDI continued smiling at him. His eyes narrowed slightly at her. "Which is causing your blushing?" she asked innocently.

"Shit, EDI, at this point all of it." Jeff said barking out a laugh.

"If you are cold I could fetch you a blanket."

Jeff laughed again and shook his head. "No need, Mom, but thanks."

"I hope you do not associate me to that of maternal figure." EDI offered.

"Trust me, I don't." Jeff muttered, but EDI's ears were everywhere and she caught the barely breathed words. She grinned to herself.

A peaceful silent enveloped the cockpit. After a few more minutes of pondering EDI turned to look at Jeff again.

"Jeff, you never answered my original question."

"Not this again." Joker moaned. "Which one?"

"Do you believe we will survive this?"

Joker sat back taking his hands away from the flight panel for a moment. He reached up and scrubbed a hand over his face before turning his chair fully around to face her. "Honestly, EDI," he began, "I don't know. I really don't know. We really are going to need a lot of luck to pull this off successfully."

"Luck? But luck has nothing to do with the odds being for or against us, Jeff."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "Luck has everything to do with it. Look, EDI you can count numbers and play the odds out over and over in your head, but the one thing, that you, me, Shepard even, can't rule out is luck."

"But luck is not tangible it is not even finite. It is considered to be imaginary or superstitious at best. It is not to counted on." EDI replied coolly. She didn't understand. Luck was something indefinable. "I don't understand."

Jeff sighed again and laced his fingers together. "Okay, you understand hope right?"

EDI nodded, "Yes, hope is the idea that when all odds are against you, you still might be victorious. Example, Shepard brings hope to the galaxy in that she has united the races to stand together against the Reapers. Even though the numbers and odds are still in the Reapers favor, people believe she could see them to victory."

Jeff nodded and smiled. "Good, so think of luck as hope taking place. When Shepard wins a victory against the Reapers that was deemed impossible it took a good bit of luck for her to pull it off, right?"

EDI blinked and stared at her console processing the information Jeff was giving her. "So you are saying that luck is the physical manifestation of hope."

"Well, it's the best way I can think of to describe it."

"Then I believe I understand." EDI nodded and smiled. "I do, when looking through records of human history and the dependency on hope and luck it does correlate."

"Good, glad we could clear up that little road block. Wouldn't want you to forget to recycle the oxygen or something." Jeff smiled and turned back towards his own control panel.

Edi rolled his eyes. A particular little habit she had picked up from observing Jeff. "I only mentioned that once to Shepard and her reaction was quite amusing. But I do have another question, Jeff?"

"Really?" Jeff exhaled slowly and then took a deep breath. "Okay, lay it on me."

"Would you explain the human concept of 'kissing for luck'?" EDI grinned wickedly as Joker turned a most entertaining shade of red.