"So, what do you think about it?" Joker asked.

Shepard looked up. "I'm sorry what?" She had not been paying close attention.

"You know..." He said. "About EDI and me?"

It took a moment for Shepard to discern what it was that he just asked her, for it was a difficult question to hear coming from his particular mouth. But as soon as she came to the very obvious understanding that he had indeed asked her that, she felt every stream of blood in her body rush to her head. It was very fortunate that the pair of them were standing by the bar of Purgatory; the dark and vibrant lighting helped mask the immense shade of red she could feel in her cheeks from him.

"I'm sorry what?" Shepard repeated.

"Come on, you know what I'm saying." Joker expressed coyly. "I'm asking whether you think I might have a shot with EDI?"

"Oh... yeah." She muttered, her response likely lost in the loud club music all around them. "Err... where did that come from, again?"

"Oh come on, you have not forgot." Joker continued. "Don't you remember us saying something about the possibility a while back?"

"Umm... oh yeah." She remembered. "That was a while ago."

It certainly had been. Shepard and Joker had casually entertained the relationship the Normandy's pilot shared with the Normandy's A.I. now that she had acquired a mobile platform. Unfortunately for Joker, in the time since, Shepard and EDI had become a little more closer.

"So... can we like maybe discuss it now then?" Joker insisted.

Again Shepard could feel her face become awfully hot and her breathing less automated. This was not the kind of discussion she could just have with him right there and then. She looked over and saw EDI, sitting right where they had left her, minding her own. Shepard sincerely wished for their positions to be reversed at this stage. But on the other hand, if Joker asked EDI this particular query, she might just respond a little too honestly.

"Well..." Shepard attempted. "What do you think about it?"

She already knew how he was most likely going to respond, but maybe she might just get surprised.

"I gotta say, I'm warming up to it." Joker admitted. "I think maybe... you know with everything that going on... but I'd really like your take here."

It was not what she wanted to hear. Shepard could feel her stomach turn at the thought of Joker asking her for advice. She was not a dishonest person by principal. It had served her well before and into this war; she could have betrayed Wrex's trust and sabotaged the genophage if it could have conceivably worked, but the guilt would have eaten away at her for the rest of her days. Yet now, faced with this particularly precarious position, Shepard was stumped.

"I don't think I'm the first person you should be asking Joker." She said. "Have you thought about what she wants?"

"Well sure." He went. "But... well... with her being her and me being me. It's not exactly a normal relationship is it?"

"No. It's not." Shepard stated. "Umm... tell you what. I'm going to go over and talk to her and see if I can get a feel for it. You stay right here, okay?"

"Yes Commander." Joker accepted.

Shepard wasted no time in hopping over to EDI and away from him. The loud music should have ensured that the pair of them could speak freely without his interfering.

"Hello again Shepard." EDI greeted her with the usual modest tone as she sat down.

"Yeah yeah... look." She muttered.

"You appear to be under some strain, is everything well?" The synthetic asked with obvious concern.

"Look EDI..." Shepard pushed on. "What exactly do you think your relationship with Joker is?"

"That is an odd question, Shepard." EDI observed. "Evidently Jeff has placed you in a..."

"Can you just answer it please?!" She insisted.

"I see..." EDI went. "In regards to your query, I believe myself and Jeff hold an amicable and platonic friendship."

"Well he seems to think there's something more to it." Shepard noted.

"That is not an entirely unforeseen outcome. He has expressed such signs in our more physical interactions on multiple occasions." She explained, still very formal as was expected of her at this stage.

"But... how do you feel about Joker?" Shepard persisted.

"I... cannot become anymore emotionally attached to Jeff. All my feelings of strict attachment are reserved for you. As you should know."

"Right. Of course." Shepard expressed, a little relieved. "But... we're going to have to... you know, make him aware of that in some way, at some point."

"Yes I understand your reasoning Shepard." EDI noted. "Perhaps we could do it now, as he is at hand."

"Yeah. No." She almost laughed at the synthetic's forward tone. "But... later, at some point."

"Ideally soon Shepard." EDI suggested.

She did not make a formal response. Rather, she made a fairly weak agreeing murmur and nod.

"Yes, ideally soon." She repeated.

"Do you have a specific date?" EDI continued.

"Look just... not now!" She exclaimed. "He's right there."

EDI diverted her gaze. "Yes Shepard you are correct. A cohesive decision cannot be made in this environment."

Now rather painfully aware that Joker must have been analysing them for quite some time, Shepard stood up. No doubt he was very inquisitive, but she would able to handle him without revealing anything... incriminating. There were plenty of individuals in her life that she had managed to placate though words, and Joker was not one of them...

"We'll get there as soon as we're able Traynor." She assured the specialist later that day.

"Thank you Shepard." Samantha replied. "Now there is one more thing. Something unrelated to former Cerberus members."

"Oh. Go on." She said.

"Are you feeling alright?" Samantha asked.

Shepard laughed rather weakly. "And what makes you say that, Traynor?"

"Well you just seem a bit... tense." Samantha explained. "A little more so than usual."

"Right. Well... get used to it." Shepard responded. "This war's not going to get any easier."

"Roger that." She went. "Just thought you should know. Well, goodnight Commander."

"You too Traynor." Shepard acknowledged before turning towards the elevator up to her cabin.

It had been a long day. She was looking forward to easing into her bed and falling into a deep sleep, ideally after a warm, relaxing shower.

"Hello Shepard." The familiar voice of the synthetic greeted her as she entered her cabin.

"EDI." She went, not at all surprised at her presence. "What are you up to?"

"I intend to continue the intimate aspect of our relationship tonight." EDI replied, always in that straightforward tone that suggested nothing intriguing was afoot.

"Oh really?" Shepard did her best to sound slightly innocent.

"I believe it would serve you to disrobe and wash yourself before retiring to your bed." She continued.

"Is that supposed to be how you seduce me?" Shepard asked.

"No." EDI stated. "But I do intend to fuck you in your shower tonight."

"Oh okay!" She went, quite intrigued now. "Sounds like a good idea."

EDI was standing right by the entrance to the cabin's restroom. Rather slowly, almost like she was waiting permission, Shepard approached her. As soon as the two of them were close, EDI had her hands around Shepard's waist, quite suddenly and rather forcefully. Shepard wondered if EDI realised just how strong her frame was sometimes. She did not need to wonder for long, as the synthetic's hand crept down and were fondling her rump. That got the Commander interested, for it was an action the synthetic did not usually partake in.

"I appreciate the feel of your... your ass, Shepard." She went.

"Oh your... welcome?" Shepard responded, quite uncertain.

"You are softer than me. There is a noticeable difference." She explained.

"Always room for improvement, right?" The Commander noted.

Shepard placed her own hands upon the synthetic's ass. It made not have been as soft as any human's, but it was still as delightful to feel as she remembered it. The pair of them stood in that strange position for a while, with their foreheads touching while their hands still around each other's back. Shepard felt very hot in such proximity, rather eager to get out of her uniform.

EDI then took a slow lead. She pushed Shepard through the door into the restroom, with the shower now right behind them. Then she kissed her; feeling Shepard instantly respond as she had been eagerly awaiting the advance. Their hands both started to move up their backs to further their intimate embrace. Shepard felt her synthetic tongue caress and dance around hers quote delectably; EDI had learned to elaborate from their past engagements. Shepard's hands crept up to fondle her smooth hair, having no obvious clothing to remove, but EDI had a familiar tight grip on her shirt. Shepard felt her cold fingers slide the item up with precision as they had done so before; the two broke their kiss to let the shirt part way.

EDI had her hands through Shepard's dark black hair, almost mirroring her. There was far more to feel and manipulate than her own. Shepard felt her slowly move her head wherever her grip dictated, resuming the kiss their lips both missed. After a while, EDI began to crouch down in front of Shepard, her hands trailing down her body to rest on her pants. Each of them held the other's gaze now; they had done this before but there was no subduing the intense heat and anticipation Shepard felt as she withheld the synthetic's gaze. EDI always looked like she knew what she wanted; her eyes locked with her Commander's briefly, before adjusting to her crouch, as she slipped her pants down, taking the opportunity to run her tongue over her bare legs.

Shepard stepped out of her pants and her shoes, now clad only in her usual bra and panties. EDI deemed this enough and stood back up. A rare grin formed on her face as she pushed Shepard back against the cold wall of her shower. In an instant, the faucet above sprang to life, as cold water rushed down over her.

"God... forgot you would know how to do that." She remarked, adjusting to the water.

EDI did not reply. She moved her frame forward, right under the shower and besides Shepard. Of course the water would have no effect on her durable body, the Commander briefly mused, as she felt the synthetic's hands upon her once again. EDI was reaching around her back and removing her bra with ease, exposing her soaked breasts. The synthetic, never one for wasting time, immediately took to massaging them, as had become pleasurable to her by now. Shepard was not one to complain, as she enjoyed having to do little. EDI's body felt ambrosial, pressed against her, despite its firmness; she cooed and moaned as the synthetic ran her tongue across her chest and her hands across her stomach, down to her legs and upon her hands.

"Shepard, may I make a request?" She said suddenly.

"Wha... what was that EDI?" The Commander slurred, barely hearing her.

"I can tell you are enjoying yourself. Would you care to attend to me?" She politely asked.

Shepard would have asked her to elaborate, but the synthetic did not wait for a response. She took her left hand, and guided it down to her artificial vaginal area between her legs. EDI pushed her hand into her crouch, quite demandingly, before letting Shepard attend to her. She placed her hands on the wall for support and slowly thrust herself upon the woman's hand. She had grown quite eager every time they did this, Shepard thought to herself.

EDI pushed her mouth against Shepard's. Now Shepard could feel the hardness of her frame, as the synthetic was slowly abandoning composure under her ministrations. It almost hurt, to feel her grinding against her, but she kept it up as best she could, continuing to massage EDI's hard slit. Eventually, she felt her frame push ever harder against her; EDI's arms fell around her shoulders and she clutched the Commander in an even tighter embrace as she rode out her artificial orgasm. The pair of them slowly slid down the shower wall onto the floor. Shepard felt the weight of EDI's frame against well to point of discomfort, but she considered it a secondary concern. She simply lay against the synthetic, panting immensely as her own body felt like a furnace and eager for release.

"Ready for round two." She heard EDI go.

Shepard was surprised. It may have been the first thing she heard EDI say without that constant tone of formality to her. She sounded like she was doing her best to sound seductive and enticing. It needed work.

Suddenly, the shower faucet above them stopped. Suddenly again, EDI stood up; Shepard immediately felt the difference. Then she felt her bending down and picking her up of the floor. With some exceptional strength, EDI had the Commander hoisted up, with her legs around her torso and her breasts casually bouncing against her head. She carried Shepard back into the cabin and dropped her onto her bed. Shepard had only a moment to herself before she felt EDI climbing onto the bed and above her.

The two beheld each other, water dripping down from the synthetic onto the shivering human; EDI had a hand upon her head, before bending down to kiss her. Pulling back, she then moved down her body, pausing to lock her lips upon one of her nipples and massage her other breast. Shepard moaned in response, enjoying this attention but eagerly awaiting her to move downward. EDI soon obliged, turning her head to her thoroughly soaked black panties and pulling them off in no time. At last she had eyes on Shepard's bare core and pounced upon it, her hands clutching her thighs and ass as her tongue did to her what she had with her hand.

EDI was never one for wasting time, and in no time at all, Shepard felt the pleasure reach its apex as she lifted her back off the bed and finally climaxed. She felt immensely wet all over, from the shower and from her fluids that stained EDI and the bed under them. The sexual stamina that had maintained her was soon drained, leaving her exhausted and satisfied. She felt EDI crawling up to lay besides her. The synthetic closed her hands around her waist and nuzzled her head into her neck.

"You are... you are?" Shepard tried to say something enlightening. "You are not one for wasting time, are you?"

"I can think and process at the speed of light, Shepard." EDI responded. "Alas, this cannot translate to physical interaction, but the intent is there."

She reached out with one hand and stroked Shepard's wet hair; with her other, she fondled her breast.

"But this is an opportune moment for consideration." She added.

Shepard breathed heavily, and let herself enjoy the synthetic's pleasant addendum to their activities.

"Shepard, I have a question?" She went again.

"Mmm... go on." Shepard murmured.

"Do you love... doing this?" She asked.

The Commander stirred slightly. "I umm... yeah I do. It helps me forget. I assume you do too?"

"That is a natural allegation." EDI mused. "I do consider this relationship beneficial... and the periods of intercourse are exceptional."

"Glad you think so?" She stated. "Now... I'm pretty fucking tired. Night night EDI."

Shepard took EDI's arm in hand and gave her a small kiss on her fingertips, before further smuggling into her and drifting off.

EDI kissed her Commander and held her tightly. Though she was content, there was still a continuing thought perpetuating through her fast thinking mind.

She still wished for more.