Shenko

Shenko is the non-binary ship between Commander Shepard and Kaidan Alenko from the Mass Effect fandom.

Prologue
During the events of Mass Effect Kaidan is only interested in females, therefore Kaidan isn't available to enter a romantic relationship with a male Shepard.

Alenko and Shepard are both assigned to the SSV Normandy, where the team prepares to travel to Eden Prime for a shakedown. Shepard heads to the cockpit to find the pilot, Joker, and Alenko and they discuss the odd circumstances regarding the mission. After Shepard is informed that she's being considered for a Spectre position, she lands on Eden Prime with Alenko and another Marine, Richard Jenkins. Minutes later, the group stumbles upon an ambush, resulting in Jenkins' death. Shepard has the opportunity to comfort Alenko.

The two come across Ashley Williams, the sole survivor of the military population on Eden Prime. The three team up to find their objective, a mysterious beacon. Upon locating the beacon, Alenko comes too close and is lifted and pulled towards it. Shepard immediately rushes to rescue him, pushes him out of harm’s way, and touches the beacon in place of Alenko. Shepard sees a series of chaotic images and passes out.

Later, Shepard wakes up in the Normandy med bay, evaluated by Dr. Chakwas and questioned by the ship’s commanding officer Anderson. Alenko is seen waiting in the hall outside the med bay where he commiserates the loss of Jenkins, but expresses his thanks that Shepard wasn’t lost too. Paragon Shepard remarks to Alenko that she couldn’t have done it without him.

First Post-Mission Talk
Alenko and Shepard chat again after their first completed mission, where Shepard learns about Alenko's background and history as a biotic. He talks about a girl he was interested in at the biotic camp, and says she was beautiful but not arrogant about it, like Shepard. At the end of the conversation, Alenko asks the Commander is she gets this personal with all crew members, and Shepard progresses their relationship by responding with a flirty 'no'.

Mass Effect 2
Two years since the Normandy was destroyed and Shepard was presumed dead, the Commander wakes up in a Cerberus facility that is under attack. After escaping the station, Shepard talks to the leader of Cerberus and has the chance to ask where Alenko is, but they don't get much of an answer.

Horizon
Shepard has now assembled a team to combat the Collectors. The crew responds to an emergency signal from a colony called Horizon. Using this opportunity to try out some tech that may neutralize some of the Collector’s weaponry, Shepard and two squad mates arrive on the colony to see it deserted with Collectors hauling the immobilized bodies of the colonists aboard a ship. After making their way to the tower to realign the colony's defenses and fighting off waves of enemies, the only surviving colonist arrives on the scene with Alenko following shortly behind.

Alenko greets them with a moderately antagonist tone and greets Shepard by saying that everyone thought she was dead. Unlike Alenko, Paragon Shepard is happy to see him and asks how he has been doing, which only serves to further anger Alenko. Renegade Shepard is more dismissive but still clearly is glad to reunite. Alenko then gives the Commander a mild rant, saying that he thought their relationship was real and he loved her but finishes off with accusatory statements, thinking Shepard faked her death and told no one. At this point, Alenko acknowledges that he heard reports that Shepard was affiliated with Cerberus but didn't believe it until now. The squad is shocked that he already knew, and Alenko reveals he was stopped by his superiors from inquiring but there were still rumors of Shepard's involvement. All responses to Alenko assert that Shepard is not truly working for Cerberus but they are the only group taking action but Alenko is loyal to the Alliance and isn't having it. Alenko goes on to claim Shepard has betrayed him and the Alliance to which Shepard responds with an attempt to get Alenko to analyze the situation and see the bigger picture. By this point, the tension is at a high and Alenko thinks that Cerberus is manipulating Shepard with the Reaper threat and that they may even be behind the Collectors. Shepard points out that he is being too emotional and needs to listen to reason. Alenko reasserts his loyalties lay with the military and that the Council will decide Shepard's sincerity. In a last desperate attempt, Paragon Shepard asks Alenko to join the team but is rejected while Renegade and neutral Shepard just say goodbye. Alenko departs but not before telling Shepard to be careful. Shepard calls in Joker and angrily asks for pickup.

Email Follow-Up
After the events of Horizon, a romanced Shepard gets an email from Alenko. He apologizes for what he said and mentions how it took him two years to move on. Alenko goes on to say how much has changed over the years, but their shared night before Ilos meant everything to him. He ends the email wishing Shepard to be careful with Cerberus and implying he wants to meet up with Shepard after everything has calmed down.

Mass Effect

 * Kaidan tells Shepard that he prefers adventurous women.

Mass Effect 2

 * If he was romanced in 2183, Shepard keeps a picture of Kaidan in her cabin on the Normandy. She can be seen fondly gazing at it the night before the suicide mission if she doesn't pursue a romance with someone else during her hunt for the Collectors.

Mass Effect

 * FemShep – “Why not? We've got oceans, beautiful women, this emotion called love. According to the old vids, we have everything they want.”
 * Kaiden Alenko – “When you put it that way, there's no reason they wouldn't like you. I mean, us! Humans! Ma'am.”
 * Ashley Williams – “You don't take much shore leave, do you, L-T?”
 * — A conversation between Kaidan, Ashley, and Female Shepard on the Citadel.

Mass Effect 3
"You’re real enough for me."

- Kaidan to Shepard regarding their doubts about authenticity.

Fanon
Shenko is a commonly-written ship but other ships are often favored over Shenko, as some in the fandom don't like Alenko as much as the other romance options. Some fans find Alenko not as interesting or don't like his behavior towards Shepard in the later installments.

On AO3 Shenko is the second most written ship for Female Shepard, the top ship for Male Shepard, and both female and male variations of the ship are Kaidan's first and second most written ships respectively.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

ART

TUMBLR

WIKIS
 * on

Trivia

 * In ME3 Kaidan can be romanced by either a male or female Shepard, making this ship slash or het.