“Are you absolutely sure, I'm alright?”, Shepard repeats. The medical officer rolls his eyes at him: “Yes commander, the scans show nothing out of the ordinary. Why are you so insisting on this? If you cannot tell me, what to be looking for, I have much less chance to find it you know?” Shepard has to admit that is right, yet gnawing on his lower lip he still stalls, uncertain. Kylara had not been with him when he woke up, and he is a little worried. One of the nurses that sometimes hangs out with the crew walks by, asking: “Everything alright with you, Shepard?” He half shrugs, and the medic sighs: “He insists I should scan his head, but he's not telling me, why!”, he turns back to the commander, “All the routine tests already came back negative, I really don't know, what else I can do, unless you tell me, what your symptoms are! If you have any.”

Shepard drops his shoulders, ready to leave, when the nurse gives him a concerned look, and then asks in a low tone: “What about the cerebral hormonal balance? Was that inconspicuous as well?” The medics whiskers perk up. Shepard eyes them both tense, gulping uneasy. He'd always avoided such scans. They were actually rather common among active fighters, to rule out signs of mental fatigue like depression, when they felt exhausted or unfit with no physical indication. But he never thought he'd need that. And also, having even one active mark on that test could lower your chance of rising in the ranks, as it was still seen as a sign of weakness and unreliability for service. Then again, if he wanted to make sure...

“Oh. Alright, I guess we could run that on you.”, the medical officer returns with a knowing expression, and ushers for Shepard to follow him. The nurse however, also tails them with concern on his face, and so as they move through med bay, more and more people follow the little cortege, curious as to what might be the reason for the tension. Shepard feels his heart sink at all this attention, and already considers skipping the test, when the medic simply tells him: “Okay, now sit down here, rest your head against the plate and relax. It will only take a moment.” A little crowd gathers around him, but since everyone acts as though they were working on a station close by, or carrying samples to their co-workers, Shepard has no way of telling them off.

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So he sits down in the scanner instead, praying for the results to be negative as well. The medical officer presses a few buttons, Shepard hears some beeps and boops, and then a slight ringing in his ears for a second, that cuts off just as suddenly. “Okay, now for the results...”, the medic hums, tapping some more, as Shepard gets back up, turning to the holo-screen that will show the outcome. A chart pops up, and various bars start rising on it, some stopping right away, others after a few inches, and some climbing more. And more. And more.

Suddenly an alarm is going off, though not one like an emergency, but it is quiet an audible signal, chirping in three shrill beeps repeatedly, as four of the bars keep climbing higher and higher. There are several gasps, and the medic cries out: “Holy orbit! What in the galaxy...” Shepard watches on tense, cursing at himself, scared that he just endangered his career, his crew, maybe even his life. And Kylara's. A few heads turn to face him in shock, and he tries to look innocent. But then the bars finally halt, way off the chart as it seems. The medic has his mouth covered with his hands, then turns to the commander to growl: “Shepard!”, like an angry mother.

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Shepard's eyes nervously skip from the chart to the medical officer and the surrounding crowd, and he gulps: “Well... is that bad?” He hears someone giggle. The medic finally takes down his hands, giving the commander a scolding look, as he asks: “Shepard, what the nova is wrong with you? Did you come here just to flex on us?” Somebody snorts and tries to hide their laughter, most other onlookers still stare in shock. Shepard repeats confused: “Flex?” “Seriously, what did you do?”, the medic demands, “Did you inject yourself with roids and try to break some record or what?” “It's a miracle he's still standing on those legs.”, someone murmurs.

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“I really don't know, what you're talking about!”, Shepard pleads, “Please, just tell me, is this bad? Is something... corrupted?” “Like your mind?”, the medic scoffs, shocking the commander, “Oh you bet your ass it is! What is this, the result of some drugged out holo-porn marathon?” Several people burst into laughter, and Shepard's pale expression starts to turn red instead, as the nurse finally informs him: “Those results show that you've recently had sex. And quiet a lot, and very intense, it would appear.” “Go Shepard!”, someone shouts, and somebody else jokes: “Can't just be a sexy beef-cake in peace, has to rub it into everyone's face too!”

“Uhm, uh, well...”, Shepard stammers embarrassed, feeling exposed, but relieved that he hasn't actually outed his new girlfriend. But then he suddenly hears Kylara call for him: “Yoohoo, Shepard darling! Hey!”, and when he turns to the sound, she's running up to him, skipping happily, to jump up into his arms, nearly making him fall. But then he grabs her bum, as she wraps her legs around him, hugging his shoulders tight, and placing a big kiss on his lips. There are some gasps and whistles, and he feels humiliated at first. But then as he concentrates on holding his partner steady, feeling her soft lips and tongue rub over his mouth, he thinks: 'Screw it!', and kisses back, embracing her more, even squeezing her bottom a little, making her chuckle.

Then he lets her down, smiling at her, as she beams back at him. And keeps hold of his hands, one finger gently tracing the lines in his palm, giving him a jolt. “Hrr-errm!”, the medical officer clears his throat, but Shepard remains trapped in his lover's bronze eyes, looking at him fondly. And after another sweet peck, Kylara just pulls him away with her, walking hand in hand, still looking only at each other. Someone frowns: “I didn't know Trobyte's are passionate lovers?” “You're a fool, if you think she was the only one involved!”, somebody replies, and another voice claims: “You're a fool to think she was involved at all!” “Shepard must be such a whore!”, one person mutters just enough over their breath to let it resonate, without exposing them.

Kylara meanwhile whispers: “It looked like you needed rescuing. I hope I've not made it worse though.” “No, don't worry. But I'm surprised. I've never seen you this giddy! What happened?”, he demands intrigued. She just beams at him more, and returns: “You happened! You make me giddy, Shepard.” They smile at each other some more, and head back to Shepard's cabin, to deepen the connection forming between them. And perhaps really break a record this time!

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