Note: I'M SORRY ABOUT THE MESS UP.. And thank you for bringing it to my attention that I posted the same chapter twice.. NOW IT'S FIXED. And I should be uploading a chapter perhaps every two days since my weeks are kinda busy. Thank you again and I'm so happy you guys like the story so far! ^_^ Next chapter, in which he meets another member.. Enjoy!

Well... That went smoothly.

Vega didn't want to walk out of the cargo bay, ruining his already really bad image to the crew. He forgot his stuff... including his clothes, and his.. more private things. All of it was in a duffle bag.. back in his room... back in the building.

He sighed, putting his head into his hands. Smooth, Vega.

He felt like a rookie again.. just like in Boot camp. When he couldn't find the bathroom.. and the older recruits snickered at him, because they went through this before. He didn't.

The burn of embarrassment was enough to keep him hiding in this cargo bay for a while. He'd probably avoid the big team at all costs until he managed to muster up courage to defend his wounded pride. But that would take a while. He had a lot of pride. And a lot of it was somewhere on the ground.

The only person he's met so far that he liked was Cortez. He was new to the team too. And.. Cortez didn't seem to keen on tearing his head off, like the rest of the team did.

The quiet man was just across the cargo bay. Polishing up the beaten and scuffed shuttle. He cleared his throat. A greedy hunger panging in his stomach, making it rumble. But he didn't want to leave the cargo bay.. reluctance went through him. He didn't know who else was lurking like a shark in the shadows of the elevators.

You're being ridiculous. Get a grip, dude. You ran a shuttle into a wave of Geth and you're afraid of getting in an elevator?

He stood up, trying to steel his nerves, but the little angel on his shoulder spoke against it.

YES WE'RE SCARED OF GETTING IN AN ELEVATOR. The Krogan looked ready to bite us in half, are you Loco? Stay down here until they cool off. They aren't used to you yet.

No! They already think you're a scared little kitten, get up there like a man and get something to eat!

You're an idiot. That means nothing to them, they're big time soldiers! They'll just mock you more because you'll fuck up on making a sandwich.

Both sides of his shoulders had a point. He felt Cortez stare at him quizzically. He sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. Just do it.

It was the slowest damn elevator in existence. That was for sure.

At least it was roomy.

He spied around the well lit elevator. Large, could probably hold about eight Krogans with elbow room. And it could probably handle the whole crew, well, at least the soldiers. Not the entire crew including all the maintenance people.

The doors finally slowly started opening. Low and behold it was clea-

In the corner of his eye, he saw a figure. Of course his eyes snapped to it. A sick feeling went down his throat. The Prothean. Staring at him with disapproving eyes. He eyed Vega up and down, his mouth twisting into distaste. And in truth.. James didn't know which eyes to focus on.

He cleared his throat. Realizing he was standing there for several seconds. Finally, he got his legs to move. His body feeling heavy. Dragging himself across the Normandy, uneasy on the fact there was literally no one else there. No maintenance, no cook, nobody.

His throat remained dry. Knowing Javik was following him, like the shark he was worried about. He was already regretting his life at the moment, and he was sure that the famed Prothean would only make matters worse. He finally managed to discover the kitchen, luckily, only in one glance so he didn't circle around the body of the ship. He almost made a run for the fridge. The beautiful thing, standing there in all of it's glorious rectangular form. He opened it up, feeling the cool air coming out of it, and he nearly cried.

So. Much. Food.

He just grabbed anything he could.

"So.."

The smooth voice made him jump. Javik leaning over the bar stool, staring at him. He had a drink too, in his hand. From where Jame's had no idea. But, it was there.

"You're the fresh meat?"

Oh.. what a big appetite you have, grandmother.

James cleared his throat, rubbing on one of his big arms, confident in his muscles. That brought a little bit of his ego back. He was hot. Wow... you sound like a high school jock.

Turning around, he set down a plate, starting to make his sandwich while knocking the fridge shut again with his foot, earning a clunk when it closed. Not fucking up yet. Good job.

"You haven't answered me." His voice was calm, but he was well aware that someone like Javik could lash out in a second, it didn't take anger to bring violence. He was well aware of the Prothean's views on humans. Or.. 'Primitives'. In general.

"Yeah. I'm the Rookie." James sighed, slapping the bread down on the plate, and then jerking out the lettuce. "Have you met Sokatai?"

This made Vega pause. He looked away from the tomato in his mighty hands, staring at the Prothean who was too damn calm. "..Who?"

A smirk crossed the Prothean's lips. He knew something he didn't. "..Commander Shepard?"

"Wait.. Commander Shepard's first name is.. that?" "Yes.. You didn't know?" The way Javik leaned back, being smug made the burn of embarrassment come back, right across his shoulders, unnervingly in the same area that Shepard had her arm resting on him. Strange.. "She goes by Saka. But, I suggest you continue calling her as a superior, Fresh meat." "Damn.. is there anyone on this ship that isn't out to kick my ass?" His voice was sharp, irritation growing in his chest. He was fed up with it. Everyone hating him just because he's new. Javik actually laughed at that. Flashing his teeth.

"Hah! Not likely. You see, those of us that remained in the ship heard about how you.. ah.. panicked? Your first impression.. not too good." He stood up, crossing his arms and he walked directly in front of James, making him stand a little taller. "Stay away from Shepard, primitive. She is.. enough to handle alone. We do not need your clumsy mess ups to slow us down, and distract her."

A sharp comment came on his tongue.

"Thought you hated Humans, Javik." "I do. Shepard is.. tolerable. A worthy creature to have leading you into a fight." ".." The way that Javik was staring off into space.. hinted about more. "...Do you like Shepard?" "What?"

Four eyes locked back on his, intense, looking at Jame's questioningly. "..Just the way you're talking about her, and not hating her because she's a human.." He planted a bunch of meat on the bread, on top of the lettuce. His appetite was dying but he wasn't going to throw away a good sandwich.

A deep sigh left the ancient alien. His face tensing up in ways that hinted he was aggravated. "Do you humans only ever talk about primitive reproduction?" That nearly made him choke. "What? That's sex, Javik. This is called a crush." His tone was light, a trademark smirk crossing his lips as he managed to verbally mock the Prothean. "I do not have time for this.. if you want me to explain how a crush can grow then I will-" "Alright, alright.." He raised a hand, palm out to stop the Prothean. Tiredness growing in his chest. Stupid argument. "I get it.. And yeah, that is a lot of what we talked about." He put his hands on the table, hunkered over his food but still staring at the Prothean. It was like a staring contest. Whoever backs away looses. "Because it's fun to talk about. So. Do. You. Like. Commander. Shepard?" He gave himself an A+ on how calm and smooth his voice was. Just like the classic playboy. "..." Javik remained quiet at Jame's strong voice. The anger passing in his eyes, and suddenly he smiled. That was a bad thing. He shouldn't be smiling.

"Respect is a word you obviously do not understand, Vega."

"Fuck you. I know respect." His voice came out as a sneer, the alien was really getting on his nerves. He just wanted someone to back the fuck down. "Do you though? Hah! You are a child on a training wheel! You do not know how to respect others." Vega narrowed his eyes. "Do you mean a bike with training wheels?" "Same difference." He waved Vega off dismissively.

"Obviously not you damn Prothean!" He slapped down the rest of his food, taking in a deep breath that burned down his throat. Adrenaline running through his veins and he pointed accusingly at the alien, making him go rigid. They both got under each other's skin. Fed up with this little skirmish. "Look I don't know what I did to make you so pissed off Javik but-"

"HEY!"

A very, very husky female voice rang through like a dog's bark, making him flinch, and Javik just smiled, keeping his eyes on Vega before turning to the voice.

Vega's eyes darted over, a very angry looking Shepard marching towards them. She wasn't as angry as she was worried, he noticed, as she grew closer. A mix. Walking in on such a tense scene. She shot a dark look at Vega, no doubt suspecting he started it. Until.. she looked at Javik. What the hell? Was written over her features. "Javik..." "Commander." He responded calmly to her warning tone.

Vega looked back and forth at them, and then her shoulders slumped. "That's it.. time out for both of you now, go back to your room Javik, and meet me at the airlock in fifteen, I'm out of fish." He nodded, a smile still on his face. "Wipe of the shit grin." Shepard politely ordered.

"Of course Commander." He tilted his head in a slight sign of respect, before eyeing Vega who was simply fuming. "Vega." He chuckled, turning around and then walking out with a swagger.

Well, at least the big kid came on the playground, scaring off the bully.

"...You okay?"

He looked up, Shepard standing there looking at her with an expression he couldn't quite place. She looked.. disappointed. "..Yeah.. Hey, uh.. So, Shepard. I'm sorry I just.. everyone seems out to get me." "..Yeah.." She leaned over the bar, and he noticed how her thick long hair was free, pressing over her shoulders. "..Call me Saka, please." "Huh?" He looked at her, picking up his plate, he just threw away the sandwich, not in the mood to eat anymore.

"Everyone on the Normandy calls me Saka. I hate the name Shepard.. so.. formal. It doesn't cover my roots." "..I thought you were Hawaiian." He admitted. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, and he noticed how she was smiling, real wide. "Hah! Nope! Mongolian." "Woah, seriously?" He smiled, hands on the bar and she grinned, standing up straighter. "Mhm. Neat, huh? And ah, don't worry about the others.. they'll warm up to you eventually it's just.. I guess, well.." She raked a hand through her hair, thinking, and he put a hand up to stop her but she didn't pay attention to it. "We've been in the fight for a long time. Some of them, since it all started with Saren.."

"You just need to give them a chance. We're still.. in fighting mode. But it's good. To have a fresh face. Someone who isn't so beaten and bruised by the fight, ya know?" She put a hand on his shoulder, and he felt himself flex, just to impress her, for whatever reason. "Yeah. Thanks, Shep-.. Saka.." She chuckled. "Javik's an ass, don't worry about him. Everyone else will warm up eventually. Just.. word of advice, don't mock science in front of Liara, don't get in a fight over biotics unless you're ready to know what it feels like to be spaced, and don't get in an argument about rifles with Garrus, because.. he really does know his stuff. And listen to Tali's rants when she starts one or she'll be offended. And she always has a shot gun on her. Always."

He actually laughed. Loudly. The uneasiness fading slightly. At least Shepard was on his side.. that was a good thing. "And uh, Vega,"

He looked at her, eyes a little happy. "Yeah, Lola?" "Lola?" "Mean's crazy." She snorted, smiling lopsidedly. "That's.. probably accurate." They both laughed quietly, smiling at each other. "Well. I think you should stay on the bench until the next mission. I'm taking the big guns.. Wrex, Javik, and Garrus. So.. You get to come in next time, a'right?" He sighed deeply, that tiredness growing in him. "Yeah.. No problem, Lola." "Oh, and ah.. Hey, try to meet Thane while you're on the ship, alright?" "Yeah." "Great, because we're blasting off in about an hour."

He paled.

Just come out with it. "I left my stuff In the building." She barely batted an eye. "Go get it, then."

"...Right."

"Yeah."

"Shepard?"

The voice broke the awkward silence. Javik was back, armored and ready. He eyed both of them, and their closeness, the tension completely gone from the air. "Ready to go." "Right."

She nodded at Vega, who watched her walk away. Her rectangular form, and definitely more than a little bit of muscle underneath her skin. Especially in the legs and core. Javik walked by him, staring at him tensely. They disappeared quietly, no more noise. He sighed deeply.

Stupid Prothean.

He'd probably eat the fish anyways.

Note: GAH.. this is a long one and it's probably a little confusing at times.. I'm sorry. I kinda didn't know how to finish it. Also, next chapter may not involve Vega all that much. The idea of Javik eating fish...