Author Note: Zody Shepard and Kaidan Alenko's story. Ranges from the time they were 17 to Shepard's death 15 years later. Some of the chapters might be familiar to you, I combined them to make one long story and also added new scenes. This chapter contains A Price Too High but also new parts. Of Brandy and Song will appear in a later chapter. Those of you who are apart of KAAS will recognize some parts are prompts.

Since my writing style jumps forward constantly, I made up dates to provide prospective. Hopefully, you won't be confused with all the scene jumps.

This story is rated M for language, violence, and some slight smut later on.


September 17, 2168

Gagarin Station, BAat

Rahna stared at the glass of water sitting on the table in front of her. It had sat on there, untouched long enough for the glass to begin to sweat. Tiny droplets of water appeared on its surface and had run down to form a pool on the table. Licking her dry lips she thought about how cool and refreshing a sip would be.

They had deprived her of food for the entire day and her last drink was from yesterday evening. It had been one of the instructor's ideas to use food and water as an incentive to make them work harder. They did not seem to care that without enough calories in their systems they could not make a static spark much less move an object. A few students could still perform even under such stress. Rahna was not one of them. Her instructors had told her to use her biotic powers to pull the glass to her, but she simply could not. She was too hungry, too tired, and really did not want another nose bleed.

Glancing around the room she noticed none of the other instructors were looking her way. She could sneak a quick sip and no one would be the wiser, right? Her delicate arm trembled as she reached across the table. Just as her finger tips touched the surface of the cool wet glass, her arm was seized by large clawed hand. She looked up, her dark eyes widen in horror at the turian, Commander Vyrnnus. His grey metallic face was painted in geometric blue markings. The mandibles on the sides of his jaw flared out angrily.

She yelped, of all the instructors here he terrified her the most. It had nothing to do with the fact he was a turian and everything to do with him being a tyrant. He was notorious for screaming, berating, and hitting the other students. For the most part her friends had all ran interference and kept her as far away from him as they could. One in particular.

"I said use your biotics, you stupid creature!" With a quick twist he snapped her arm, the bone cracked like a dry piece of wood. The classroom went deathly quiet as all eyes turned to them. "Now, you have no choice, use your damn biotics!"

Rahna screamed and collapsed backwards to the floor, cradling her arm and sodding. Vyrnnus stood over her menacingly. From his left, he heard a chair clatter to the ground and a teenage human boy jumped between them. His arms spread wide to block Vyrnnus' view of the whimpering girl. Of all the human teenagers here, he knew it would be that one who would come to Rahna's rescue.

Kaidan Alenko stood defiantly in the way of a large angry turian and Rahna. He was young, not much older than seventeen years of age, dark complexion, and far too glib for his own good. He stared up at Vyrnnus, his eyes flashing in a rare act of rebellion. Compared to the might of a seasoned turian commander, a teenage human boy stood little chance.

"You will pay dearly for this." Vyrnnus hissed.

Kaidan stood his ground as Vyrnnus raised his arm. At the last second before the back of Vyrnnus' hand connected across the side of Kaidan's face, he closed his eyes. He knew this was going to hurt and did not want to see it coming. The strike was as bad as he anticipated. Flying across the room, he crashed into the next set of tables sending teenage kids scrambling out of the way. The room exploded as into chaos as students and instructors alike backed to the walls, making room for the fight.

"Kaidan!" Rahna screamed as one of the students pulled her away.

Shaking his head, Kaidan tried to stand. Stars appeared in his vision, he was willing to bet he had a concussion. Licking his throbbing lip, he tasted blood. Kaidan had never been in a real fight before. Sure, there had been a few school yard scuffles but nothing on this level. He looked up in time to see Vyrnnus bearing down at him. "We should have bombed you humans back to the Stone Age." He growled.

Kaidan stared up at the turian as he tried to scramble backwards on his haunches. The gravity of his misjudgment was beginning to sink in. The look in Vyrnnus' small round eyes told Kaidan that he was not getting out of this without having to spend a few days in the infirmary.

Other instructors and guards came running, trying to talk Vyrnnus down. The turian played no attention to them. All he seen was the insolent human boy. "Humans are so weak and arrogant." He hissed. "Only a human would stand against a foe he knew he could not defeat."

Humans had barely been a part of the galactic community for fifteen years, but they acted like they already knew everything. Prideful and undisciplined, they never took the time to learn anything for themselves. They stood on the shoulders of those who came before them and claimed all glory for themselves.

Kaidan tried again to stand but was catch by the neck by Vyrnnus and hoisted into the air. Turning to the table nearest them, the turian slammed Kaidan on top of the table. Kaidan grasped uselessly at the hand around his neck. Vyrnnus lifted him and slammed him again against the table, it groaned in protest and threaten to give out from under him. The turian stopped beating him against the table and began tightening his grip on his neck. Kaidan tried to breathe but the turian's hand was too tight. He gasped for air and scratch at Vyrnnus' arm. It held fast like a vice grip around his throat. No longer was Kaidan thinking about his young Turkish friend, he was beginning to fear for his own life. A glint of metal appeared out of the corner of his eye and he was suddenly very aware of Vyrnnus' military-issues talon pointed at his face. Kaidan knew without a doubt Vyrnnus was about to use the knife on him. Fear clinched at his heart as he realized no one would get to him before Vyrnnus shred his skin to ribbons.

Someone was screaming his name and Kaidan did the only thing he could think of. He closed his eyes and drew on every ounce of power he could manage. Blue mass effect fields swirled and danced over his skin as he reached deep. The glasses and other learning material that still remained on the table began to levitate as Kaidan dropped the mass around him. He had to use everything he had, he could not afford not to. Gathering that power into a ball he sent it straight into Vyrnnus' shocked face. The turian's head jerked back, Kaidan could have sworn he heard a crack as Vyrnnus let go of his neck and crashed to the floor.

No one moved as the room went deathly quiet; all eyes were on the scene that had just played out before them. Kaidan sat up, every bone and muscle in his body aching. Smelling blood Kaidan whipped his nose; red stained the back of his hand and the cuff of his shirt. He wondered if the nose bleed had come from his biotic display or the beating. Wincing he leaned over the edge of the table to stare down at Vyrnnus. His neck was in a funny angle and he was not moving. Looking around the room, Kaidan saw everyone, humans and turians alike staring at him, too shock to move.

"Shit." Kaidan whispered.


They sat him in the office with a guard outside the door. No one knew just what to do with him. Vyrnnus was dead, Kaidan had snapped his neck. He would have been impressed at himself for the incredible display of power, if he had not been so scared. Everyone agreed it had been in self-defense; Vyrnnus had gone too far, not only with Rahna but also with his punishment on Kaidan. Vyrnnus had probably gotten what he deserved but the fact still remained, Kaidan had killed a turian commander. There would be a political shit storm if this information was release to the public.

Some pencil pusher had come and seen him earlier, telling him there was no need to discuss what had happened at BAat. That his parents would not want to know that he killed someone. He had gone on to say that out of the goodness of their hearts Conatix Industries would not tell them, if he did not speak of it either.

He might have been young but he knew what was happening. Conatix Industries had realized their mistake, they had let this go too far. They planned to shut everything down and seal the files. They probably wanted to just bury this place, forget it had ever happened. But there were too many kids here, too many young mouths to silence. Lucky of them they had distilled enough fear in the students that they could continue to manipulate them. Kaidan was not sure what they would tell the others but he was certain it was something designed to play off their fear and the fear of their parents. Biotic were treated on a mild level of mistrust anyways. A reminder on how 'alien' humans were becoming.

Kaidan stared at the grey metal door, desperately wanting to know if Rahna was alright. He could still hear the sound of her arm breaking; see her on the ground cradling her arm. He rubbed his eyes. God, his head hurt.

He did not have to wait much longer; the door hissed open. The guard who had been posted outside waved his hand at him for him to follow. Leading him to the docking bay, Kaidan could see the other students loading onto the transports. When he entered the docking bay hushed whispers erupted among the students. It did not take a genius to figure out what they were talking about. News of his deeds had spread quickly. There were not that many other kids here after all, and they all knew each other. Human biotics were rare.

He spied Rahna in the crowd; her arm was in a cast, but she looked okay. He waved his hand and called out to her. Relief overcame him, as he grinned broadly. They had made it out; they were going to be okay.

Looking in his direction, she went pale and turned away, moving so that his view of her was blocked by another student. Kaidan's joy turned to confusion; she had never looked at him like that before.

Trying to peek around the other teenagers he could barely see Rahna grabbed the sleeve of their mutual friend, Aaron. Drawing him close she whispered in his ear. Aaron nodded at Rahna and cut out of line jogging up to Kaidan.

He looked nervously up at the guard, who did not seem in the least bit interested in either of them. "You okay?" He asked whispering.

"I'm fine, is Rahna okay?" Kaidan asked rising on his tip toes to try and see around the line of students.

"Kaidan, you scared the shit out of Rahna." Aaron explained, his brow knit and his voice sounded worried.

He looked at his friend bewildered. "What are you talking about?"

"You killed Vyrnnus, broke his neck with a single kick." Aaron recounted as if Kaidan had not been there.

Confused, Kaidan said. "I was trying to protect Rahna. He broke her arm."

"But you killed him." Aaron repeated.

Kaidan's temper flared. "Like I don't know that, look, I just want to talk to Rahna and see if she is okay." Kaidan said trying to push passed Aaron.

It was Aaron, not the guard who grabbed Kaidan firmly by the shoulder. "She doesn't want to talk to you."

Kaidan started at him in disbelief. "What?"

"Rahna told me to tell you, she doesn't wish to see you anymore. She said she is afraid of you and what you have done, of what you could do. Don't make this harder than it already is."

Aaron did look regretful, but Kaidan had a feeling it was less to do with telling a friend goodbye and more to do with the fact he did not approve of Kaidan's actions.

With that Aaron turned and went back to their friends, Kaidan's former friends. He watched them board the transport, not once looking back at him. He knew killing Vyrnnus was wrong, but it had been an accident. He had done it to protect someone he cared about, someone who couldn't defend herself. Vyrnnus had been right about one thing, he had paid dearly for his actions.


September 19, 2168

Mars Orbital Station

The shuttle terminal was extremely busy. Thousands of people waited for their transports to take them to their destination. These souls would meet only briefly before journeying to the far corners of the galaxy; some to Mars, some to Earth, and some to only-god-knows-where.

If anything was shattered, it was young Kaidan. He felt broken and completely miserable. He sat with his head in his hands waiting for the intercom to announce his shuttle. His head still hurt, it had been pounding since the accident. The bright lights of the terminal only made them worse. However, he did not dare close his eyes; when he closed them he could still see the look Rahna had given him. The utter fear in her dark eyes, directed not at their tyrannical instructor but at him. How could something that seemed like the right thing to do, turn out so wrong?

This nightmare was still not over, he had to go home and face his parents. Should he tell them exactly what happened? That he was the reason that BAaT was closed down? That he killed someone, all for a girl who never really loved him?

Movement made him dart his eyes to the seat next to him. A young girl, maybe a couple years younger than he was, had plopped on the benched roll seating next to him. She wore her gloss black hair in two long braids. Her skin was tanned from warm sun and light freckles peppered her nose and cheeks. An older man who shared enough of her features to be her father was pointing back at her.

"Wait right there. I'm going to go talk to the man and I'll be back in a minute," he instructed sternly.

The girl's shoulders hunched, it was clear she was not happy about being left behind. Satisfied that she was not going to leave her seat the man turned and disappeared into the crowd. The girl dropped her chin to her knuckles almost mirroring Kaidan's pose. Looking over at him she blinked as if noticing him for the first time. She gave him a crooked smile and sat up straight.

"Hey there," she said.

Kaidan looked around wondering for a moment if she was speaking to someone past him. When he looked back at her she was still staring at him waiting for a response.

"Hi," He said shortly. He was more accustomed to strangers giving him annoyed or disgusted looks at worst or trying very hard not to look at him. He was still wearing his BAat uniform after all.

"Where're you headed?" she asked innocently.

"Vancouver."

"Earth?" she asked her eyes lighting up with interest.

Confused he blinked at her. Vancouver might not be the biggest city on Earth but he would have thought all humans would know at least where it was.

"Yeah, Canada."

Her smile spread to lighten up her whole face, "Are you from there?"

He nodded in response.

"That's cool," she was surprisingly perky, "We only came this close 'cause we needed a new harvester and Mars is the only place we can get a good one. Dad tried to order one but they said they couldn't deliver it for at least four months. Not much use for a harvester if harvesting is already over," she laughed at her own joke, then continued when he just stared at her blinking.

"So he said he'll just go pick it up and bring it back with him. I begged him to come along. I wanted to see Earth so badly," she pointed out the port window to the star that shined brighter than the rest. He was mildly surprised, he probably could not have picked out which star was his home world.

"I mean it's right there, but Dad says we don't have the time or money to go sightseeing."

Against his better judgment he contributed to the conversation with more than just one word answers, "You have never been to Earth?"

"No, born on Min-." She started.

"Princess, let's go!" The older man had returned and was waving her over.

Standing up she smiled back at him, "Gotta go, see you around."

Kaidan almost laughed, it was a common form of saying good-bye, but there was no way he would ever see that young ravened hair girl again. She faded from his thoughts almost as quickly as she and her father faded into the crowd.