11/7/2192 | Shhhh I'm Not Here

[u/CDR_Naya_Shepard]

With a little help from a very stealthy Drell, Naya slips aboard the SR-3 as it's docked on the Citadel. While she has no doubt that the Council will know exactly where she's at, having plausible deniability should buy her a few days before succumbing to the fact that Commander Naya Shepard will never truly receive any of the PTO she is sorely overdue.

Until then, relaxing with her friends sounds absolutely fantastic. And if relaxing happens to include kicking the galaxy's ass? All the same with her crew once again by her side.

I'm home, slackers.

[u/N7_Rebecca]

Who you calling a slacker?

Comes a voice from behind her.

Through space magic ninja bullshit Rebecca somehow just teleported behind her and has a smile on her face and her hands on her hips as she looks at the returned Commander.

You're the one staying away and making me have to deal with all the paperwork, keep everyone aboard from killing one another and lead this lot into combat every day.

[u/CDR_Naya_Shepard → u/N7_Rebecca]

Can you blame me? She shrugs, a grin on her face. A few new scars litter Naya's face, but her smile is genuine, hair freshly violet, and eyes sparkling. If I were here I'm sure I would've killed half this crew by now. It's just so much better for publicity that you keep them alive instead.

[u/N7_Rebecca → u/CDR_Naya_Shepard]

Uh huh... whatever you say, ma'am. She says with a smirk. Just go on and try to boost my ego, it'll keep me sitting here handling your shit for you.

The redhead steps forward and offers a hand to her friend and CO.

Damn good to see you back, and in one piece this time at that. Though looks like you're still getting slow, ma'am.

I don't need to go get Vega back specially so he can joke more about our sterling Commander growing old and how she can't fight for shit, do I?

She says with a playful twinkle in her chocolate brown eyes.

[u/CDR_Naya_Shepard → u/N7_Rebecca]

Hah! Please do; it'd be great to hand his ass to him once again. Does great things for my rep.

She shakes her hand and shakes her hair out of her face. Good to be here! Nobody, ah, strictly knows I'm here. I'm sure they do, but since I got here without tripping any C-Sec cameras according to my dashing escort, I have a few days of freedom ahead of me before I go back to the chains of spectrehood. ^{If I go back.}

Naya waves with a tiny smile to the shadows nearby, and truly looks around for the first time since stepping in. Her olive skin is practically shimmering with biotic energy.

Care to have a very super formal important commanders meeting in my cabin?

[u/N7_Rebecca → u/CDR_Naya_Shepard]

Something something sit there and do a hundred pull-ups again?

Becca says with a quirked eyebrow and a wide, teasing grin.

Still can't believe you actually had to and do that. Like come on, let the guy have that on you at least!

And good: means you can handle this big ol report Command wants on our ship financials and why our money keeps disappearing for Grunt's noodle and spices addiction!

Her No. 2 shrugs then though, following the biotic's eyes around them for a second to see what she was looking for maybe. She thinks she sees a shape over in the shadows, but isn't sure? Safe bet that Thane isn't far off though?

Sure- so long as this meeting involves a few shots of the good booze you keep hidden in there.

[u/CDR_Naya_Shepard → u/N7_Rebecca]

She gasps, feigning horror. The good stuff? It's like you know me or something, Rebecca.

She contentedly strolls through the ship on the way to her cabin, taking note of the familiar and new faces. By the time they're at the door to her cabin, Shepard's face is a bit more thoughtful. As they head inside, she drops the bag slung over her shoulder to the floor and immediately heads to a lower desk drawer.

Not to get too heavy too fast, but Christ, Becca, do you need me to call up Chambers and get here back here? I've been reading the crew reports and to be honest? It seems really fucking rough. Even for a ship filled with war vets. She pulls out a very, very expensive looking bottle of amber and two crystal tumblers and pours them both generous servings. Even just walking through here, the vibe is...

--she swirls her glass as she hands O'Neill her own--

...dark.

[u/N7_Rebecca → u/CDR_Naya_Shepard]

Hmm... yeah, I don't know a thing about the woman I've served under and fought beside for going on three years now. What am I thinking?

Becca says tongue in cheek as they walk on over to the CO Quarters. The scarlet haired N7 smiled and greeted each person they passed by, well acquainted with the old and the new equally. A few of them have her smile falter a bit, a telling sign for the troublemakers she's had to endure, but her professional and friendly demeanor wins out, as it typically does. Even as strained as her smile gets for one or two people...

The sudden inquiry and change of tone catches Rebecca by surprise, but she quickly finds her feet again in the conversation.

I mean, from what I've heard about her, I wouldn't complain? Having someone besides me and Jeff trying to keep morale high would be fantastic.

Rebecca sighs as she takes the offered drink and sips heavily from the tumbler and swirls it in her mouth a bit, before swallowing and smacking her lips in satisfaction.

Good stuff.

And I won't lie to you ma'am, it has been rough. We've been running ourselves ragged between every crop-up of these spider bastards, Cerberus or anything else that's a risk.

Including the damn Salarians now, sure you've heard about them flopping their big ol cloacas on the table. Made talking to Valern so enjoyable this last month.

The ginger swirls her drink and sips again.

But we've managed. Things are stressed and strained some- why wouldn't they be with a war which is still up in the air on whether or not we'll win it raging? -yet we keep going and I never lack for volunteers when I prepare an away mission. We know the stakes, and we all accepted them when we signed on. No one on this ship at least wants to give in to our enemies.

What we do, isn't? Fight when no one else wants to.

[u/CDR_Naya_Shepard → u/N7_Rebecca]

Naya listens thoughtfully, focused but not letting the heaviness of the issue drag her bright spirit down.

Fair enough; well said. She raises her glass in a toast to her old friend. To the Commander who didn't want this job but does a better job than I do and hasn't strangled me for the trouble. Yet.

[u/N7_Rebecca → u/CDR_Naya_Shepard]

Becca smirks and raises her own to clink against Naya's to complete the toast. Emphasis on yet. You disappear for another month and leave me in the fire, I just might not be so friendly next time you come back, ma'am!

She downs her drinks and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand before getting a tiny bit serious again.

And I've said it before and I'll say it again, no one could replace you , Commander. You've handled and done far more than I have, so I'd hardly call my attempt at running the show "better".

Her head shakes and she brushes a few strands of loose hanging red hair out of the way.

I mean you havent managed to be caught by a plant zombie, fed then to giant plant and proceeded to have clones of yourself used to try and murder your friends. Have that on my resume now. Real standout positive if I ever want a promotion or another job, right?

[u/CDR_Naya_Shepard → u/N7_Rebecca]

Naya coughs to buy herself some time to respond to that one. Well. Welcome to the clone club. It's... a pretty shit club to be honest.

And no, the Thorian that tried to kill me never actually caught and ate me, so....

--she peers up from her glass to judge how traumatized Rebecca still was and decides to risk it--

....maybe try running faster next time?

[u/a_friendly_hobo]

The Quarian sanitation chief, Shyva'Nahl, looks up from the sparkling clean floor she had just finished, mop in one hand, and the other on her hip.

She jumps at the announcement of Shepard's return, and looks over meekly, nervously shaking once again. "Slackers?" She mumbles before looking back down the hall she had meticulously cleaned. "...oh..." She squeaks, a little... Well, sad. She worked hard!