Part 2
"Back to check on me again, Lieutenant Vega?" Shepard looked away from the window to the door.
"That predictable, huh?"
"You're one of the few visitors I get." She leaned against the window frame. "If I can call you that." She smirked.
"Hey, I'd much rather be out getting some real action- no offense." James raised his hands as a sign of innocence. "I'm not the babysitting type."
"I'd gladly let you out guns blazing but I apparently need a babysitter. So you're out of luck."
"How you haven't gone crazy I don't know. I know I'd have gone crazy being locked up here."
"Maybe I am crazy. The Alliance seems to think so…" She looked back out the window, leaning her elbows against the sill. There was a silence.
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"
She nodded.
"I think these sons-a-bitches are idiots to keep you locked in here. You saved millions of people and they repay you by keeping you in a room when you should be getting a medal. You should be out there kicking ass and taking names!"
She looked to James, smiling a little.
He continued. "So what if you worked with Cerberus? You only did it so you could save the asses of the people who turned their back on you. For a woman you've got some real cajones."
"For a woman, huh?" She smirked.
"Well you fill out that outfit a little too well not to be a woman."
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were flirting with me."
"With an attractive woman such as yourself? Never." He came to stand next to her. "For what it's worth, Shepard, if I have to be stuck babysitting someone, I'm glad it's someone kickass like you."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." She nodded and moved to stand in front of him. "Now am I allowed outside to get a little workout?"
"I think they could deal with that."
"Alright. Let me get changed and we can head out."
James nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Shepard walked over to the drawers, still refusing to hang up any of her few clothes. That meant you were staying a while and she still hoped that wasn't the plan. She opened drawer after drawer, searching for her sports bra. As she shifted some miscellaneous things aside she uncovered her picture of Kaidan.
She stood, arms on either side of the dresser, staring down.
"Commander?" James' voice drifted from the other side of the room.
She shut the drawer with more force than she had intended.
"Be out in a minute." She smiled.
For the short time he'd known the Commander he could occasionally see a haunted look in her eyes. She'd been through a lot but still acted like nothing fazed her. She'd seen things that were more suited for nightmares but she managed to stay strong, to keep fighting. And it just made it even worse that they were keeping her locked in here.
She stepped out of the bathroom, wearing only a sports bra and shorts.
"Damn. I knew you were packing some cannons in there."
She laughed. "My eyes are up here, Vega." She pointed to them and made her way to the door.
She fell into her natural role of leadership and he stayed a step behind her. He'd say it was out of respect but in reality he was reserving the right to check out her ass.
On his way to see the Alliance Council, Admiral Anderson passed them.
James saluted him, as did Shepard, despite her stripped rank, and smiled.
"Shepard, it's good to see you getting out. Don't want you getting soft on us."
She rolled her eyes. "I hardly see you and when I do you call me fat."
He laughed heartily and looked to James. "Watch yourself, Lieutenant. This one here will kick your ass the first chance she gets."
She spared James a side glance and smirked.
"And I believe she just issued a challenge." Admiral Anderson shook the Lieutenant's hand. "Good luck." He turned back to Shepard. "I was just on my way to see the Council so I better not keep them waiting."
She nodded and saluted him.
"No need for that, Shepard, we're just two old friends."
"So first you call me fat, now old?"
He laughed heartily and walked away. Not many people saw the Admiral so openly friendly with someone. He stopped at necessary politeness with most.
"Old friends huh? I've never seen anyone with the balls to talk to him that way." He fell into step next to her.
"I've served under Anderson since back when he was a Captain. He's a good friend." She stepped onto the training field. "So are you ready?" She crossed her arms.
"Yeah. Let's see some of those fancy biotics I've heard about."
Without warning she sent a shockwave at the ground next to him.
"Shit, chica, not at me!"
"If I was aiming for you, I wouldn't have missed. Trust me."
"Well how about some head to head, Commander?"
She cracked her knuckles. "You're on."
As Kaidan exited the chambers on the Alliance Council he spotted Anderson.
"Admiral Anderson." He shook his hand.
"Major Alenko, how bad is it in there?"
"They're scared. But I'll let you see for yourself."
"Major?" Shepard came to stand just behind Anderson.
"You hadn't heard?" The Admiral looked to her.
"Anderson, I haven't heard anything these past six months." She turned her gaze on Kaidan. "It's been a while, Major Alenko."
"Shepard…" Despite himself he smiled.
Seeing her back in the Alliance…was strange but…nice.
"Well we better get going." Anderson headed for the doors and Shepard followed.
"You know the Commander?"
Kaidan kept his eyes on Shepard's retreating form. "I used to."
James sensed the deeper meaning in his words and being this was his superior he kept his mouth shut.
Once the door closed, Kaidan turned to James.
"How do you know her, Lieutenant?"
"I've been her babysitter for the last six months. Ever since she turned herself over to the Alliance she's been on lockdown. Funny way to treat a hero if you ask me."
"I'd be careful, Lieutenant Vega, the Alliance takes Cerberus very seriously." He paused and locked eyes with him. "I take Cerberus very seriously."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
Kaidan gestured for Vega to follow and began walking away. "Tell me, how has the Commander been these past six months?"
"If you're asking as my superior then she's been normal. No signs of working with Cerberus- no incoming messages from them and no attempts from her to reach them. She seems to get why the Alliance has to do this."
"Of course she does. She's been here a long time and if she didn't understood protocol by now I'd be concerned."
James laughed. "Yeah. But if you're asking as someone who cares about her…"
Kaidan didn't respond and he took that as a "yes".
"Well then you should know that I had never met the Commander before. Only saw what was in the vids. She comes off as a major badass in those. And not that she isn't, but she's also a lot more caring than I expected. I could tell she was worried about the team who helped her take down the Collector base. And until she heard that they were pardoned she wouldn't stop fighting for them." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "While she seems pretty content most of the time, after she's been alone for a long period of time she gets these…looks. Like her mind is somewhere else. And I dunno…I guess she's pretty damn worried about a lot of things. She's been through a lot. But I don't needa tell you that."
Sounds like the same old Hope, Kaidan thought.
He watched the younger man the entire time he spoke and out of nowhere posed a question.
"You're not considering breaking regulations, are you, Lieutenant?"
"What? No sir! I know the rules and I wouldn't cross that line."
"But do you want to?"
James looked to him, trying to figure out whether he really needed to answer this question. "Major, don't get me wrong, Shepard is a crazy-talented woman, and admittedly she's very easy on the eyes, but I know my place. I'm nothing but a Lieutenant, my job is to obey her, not date her."
"Hmph."
James realized then that he might have hit a sensitive spot. But a sudden loud crash interrupted all surrounding conversations. The Council Chambers had just been hit. But with what?
Kaidan ran to the nearest window and his eyes widened as he witnessed hundreds of Reapers landing all around the bay.
"Holy shit…" James was dumb-founded.
"Shepard…" Kaidan looked in the direction of the room she had gone in. "Shit." He looked around him at the scared and shocked faces. If only they had listened…
"Alright everyone, suit up. There are people out there who need us and the more time we spend standing around the more people die. Let's move!" He paid no mind to what rank any of these soldiers were, now was not the time.
"Vega, come with me."
"Where are we going?" James questioned as they both broke out into a run.
"We're going to find the Normandy. If I know Shepard, she's gonna need it."
The Major spotted an open equipment locker. "No time for armor. Grab a gun and let's move."
He obeyed but couldn't help but question it. "What do you expect us to do? Shoot those huge fucking things?"
"Reapers don't come alone. They have ground forces. And lots of 'em." Kaidan was typing rapidly on the keyboard of a radio and clipped on an ear piece, handing one to the lieutenant. "Joker? Joker do you copy?"
"That you Alenko? Damn it's been a while. One hell of a reunion, huh?"
Kaidan saw that time with Cerberus hadn't changed him. "We're going to need you to pick us up."
"I'm hoping that means the Commander is with you?"
Kaidan was silent for a moment. "Her and Anderson were in the Council Chambers when it was hit. I'm going to try and contact the Admiral now."
"Understood. Sending you the rendezvous location now."
He looked to James. "You heard the man. Let's move."
Upon exiting the building they were met with just what Kaidan expected and more. His brain had switched over to that of a soldier. There was no time to reflect on the fact that this was his home, being destroyed in a matter of seconds. The warped creatures used to do the Reapers' bidding were closing in on them and he knew it would be one hell of a fight to make it to Joker.
"Ready Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir."
Kaidan nodded and ran to cover. This way he would be able to target these bastards without being shot down within a matter of seconds. James followed suit and from this vantage point they fired shot after shot at the oozy inhuman creatures.
As they cleared each area, the number of enemies seemed to increase, and James had crushed the skulls of at least 3 husks this time around by the time the Normandy was in sight.
Kaidan was so focused on his aim that the only thing alerting him to the shuttle's approach was James' call out to him. He began backing towards it, shooting various targets along the way.
"Vega!" He shouted. "Let's go!" He noticed then a husk running up behind the lieutenant; who was too busy with the enemies in front of him to notice any behind. Kaidan took aim and fired, hitting it but apparently only enough to wound it. It rounded on him then, shrieking as it lunged at him.
He fought it off barehanded, finishing it off with a punch packed full of biotics but not without acquiring gashes from the creature's razor sharp nails down his back.
James followed him onto the shuttle. "Damn," he said, rubbing his shoulder. "Those creepy little bastards are quick, aren't they?"
"That and they could really use a manicure." Kaidan reached to touch his back with one hand, cringing at the sting.
"Oh shit." James peeked over at the wound. "That looks nasty."
"I'll patch it up in no time." He opened his Omni-tool and tried to raise the Admiral.
"Anderson? Do you copy?"
"Major Alenko, is that you?" Kaidan could hear gunfire in the background.
"Yes, sir. What is your position? We're at the Normandy."
"I-try to reach-radio." Static filled the line but soon he was able to understand him a bit better.
"Is Shepard alright?" He couldn't help himself from asking.
"I'll patch her through."
"Thanks, Anderson, but I'm a bit busy shooting these sons-a-bitches." A few shots were fired. He could just imagine her as she wiped sweat from her brow and ducked behind a wall. "Alenko? I'm here."
"Shepard…" He couldn't hide the relief in his voice. "I'm at the Normandy. If you can find a way to send us your location we'll come pick you up."
"You know me, Major, I'll find a way." And with that she disconnected.
Once on the Normandy he made his way up to the bridge. "Joker. Prep for combat and be ready for the Commander's signal."
Joker nodded. "Hear that EDI?"
"Of course, Jeff." A computerized voice responded.
"Jeff huh?"
"Oh shut up, Major."
Kaidan chuckled, despite the situation, because unlike so many things that had changed, Joker was still the same old Joker.
Kaidan had gone further into the hangar as the Normandy took off and was cleaning his gun when Shepard came in, Vega in tow.
"What the hell's going on? Where's Anderson? Where we going?"
Kaidan held back a chuckle because the Lieutenant sounded like a child.
But seeing the serious expression on Shepard's face stopped him. She didn't slow her walk and her brow was drawn together in thought.
But James was obviously impatient and as he came to a halt he shouted to get her attention.
"Hey!"
"We're leaving." She continued to the console.
"Leaving?" His voice rose an octave as he hurried to catch up with her.
Kaidan chose to butt in then. "What's going on?"
She turned to look at me. "Anderson wants us to go to the Citadel. Get help for the fight." She turned back and continued typing.
"Bullshit! He wouldn't order us to leave!"
He could sense Shepard getting angrier by the second. He was surprised she was putting up with this right now.
She faced him and stepped closer. "We don't have a choice. Without help this war's already over." Her hand cut across the space in front of them as a symbol of finality.
"Forget it. Drop me off someplace. Cuz I'm not leaving!" It seemed Vega wasn't used to following her commands being as she hadn't had her rank for the past six months.
She cut him off from going any further, jabbing her finger at his chest.
"Enough! Don't you think I'd rather stay and fight?" She shouted. "We're going to the Citadel. You want out, you can catch a ride back from there."
James glared at her for a few moments and Kaidan looked between the two of them. He waved her off then, and waltzed off.
She sighed and turned back to the console and he took a few steps closer to her. But before he could reach her Joker's voice came over the speakers and patched a comm through from Admiral Hackett, ordering them to secure some sort of Prothean Archives and somehow Liara was involved. Kaidan could see this was shaping up to be quite the reunion.
After adding his two cents, Shepard ordered James to get ready. Knowing the travel from earth to mars wouldn't be too long, Kaidan moved to suit up as well.
"Kaidan? What happened?" Shepard came over to him. "You need medi-gel." She searched through the supplies around them.
"Looks like I'm not the only one. You got quite the nasty bump when the Reapers hit the Council Chambers." He touched her forehead gently without thinking.
She stopped for a moment and looked to him.
And hell if those ice blue eyes weren't enough to stop his heart in it's tracks.
He jerked his hand back. "I…I'm sorry, ma'am."
"Oh so I'm ma'am now? Not even Shepard? Ouch." She smirked and went back to searching. Upon finding the medi-gel she opened a tube and ordered him to turn around.
"Shirt off, Major."
He coughed awkwardly and couldn't help but blush. He obeyed despite the embarrassment and removed his shirt. The gel was cold and he almost jumped when she rubbed it on.
"Whoa! Warn me next time would ya?"
"What did you think I was doing?" She laughed a little and he shivered, telling himself it was because of the temperature and not his girlish reaction to her.
When she finished he turned to face her. "Thanks. And now you should use some on yourself."
"A few cuts and bruises never hurt anybody."
He gave her one of his famous eyebrow quirks.
She rolled her eyes. "I see what you're trying to do. Well I'll humor you then." As she applied a small amount he realized the easiness of this conversation. But then the thoughts of doubt and betrayal crept in and he turned away. "I'm going to suit up."
He heard her sigh. "Yeah…"
Ever since the awkward incident with the medi-gel Kaidan was completely avoiding eye contact. Shepard couldn't think about that right now. The storm on mars was gathering with fierce intensity and they had to reach Liara-if she was still alive that is. Cerberus troops had taken over the facility and Kaidan made it no secret that he thought somehow Shepard was involved.
Once in the elevator he chose that as the perfect time to question her about it.
As she finished typing into the console for the elevator, the door banging shut, Kaidan walked up behind her.
"Shepard…" he began. "I need a straight answer." Their eyes met through the helmets.
She sighed. "Kaidan…" Her hand went to her forehead out of habit, turning away, and her glove met glass.
"Don't 'Kaidan' me! This is business!" He pointed at her back. The intensity in his voice caught her off guard and she turned to face him.
"Do you know anything about why Cerberus is here?"
And that just pissed her off. "What makes you think I know what their up to?" She crossed her arms.
"You worked for them for God's sake. How am I not supposed to think that?" He turned away, leaning on the railing.
"We joined forces to take down the Collectors. That's it."
"There's more to it. They rebuilt you from the ground up, they gave you a ship, resources!"
She stopped him right there. "Let me be clear," she came to stand next to him. "I've had no contact with Cerberus since I destroyed the Collector base. And I have no idea why they're here now or what they want."
James had been watching them and stepped forward then. "Commander Shepard's been under constant surveillance since coming back to Earth. No way they've communicated since."
Kaidan straightened up. "Sorry, Shepard…"
The room had finalized pressurized then and they took off their helmets.
She turned to look at him then, meeting his eyes straight on. "You of all people should know what I'm about, Kaidan."
And that seemed to shut him up. He looked down and then turned away from her, not saying another word.
She'd say the rest of the mission went smoothly…until the end. Kaidan had always been brave, but except for the incident with the Prothean beacon on Eden Prime he'd never been reckless. But attempting to take on an all-powerful AI one on one was something she'd consider reckless.
Eva had him dangling a few feet above the ground, robotic hands holding him by the front of the helmet.
"Kaidan!" She ran around the crashed shuttle and took aim. "Let him go." Her voice didn't waver.
Eva paused, asking for orders from who Shepard guessed was the Illusive Man. And suddenly she turned and readied to slam him into the burning Cerberus shuttle.
"No!" She cried out, desperate for the first time in a long while.
The robot slammed his body into the metal a number of times and then let him drop to the group.
Rage filled Shepard. She wanted nothing more than to kill this bitch. And when Eva turned to face her, Shepard fired repeatedly until the burnt robot body fell.
She stood for a few moments, panting with adrenaline. Then she looked to Kaidan and ran.
"Grab that thing! Take it with us!" She shouted, pointing to the AI robot, kneeling next to Kaidan. She tried to keep her emotions in check, lifting him up and carrying him onto the Normandy.
The next thing she knew she was laying him gently onto a bed in the med-bay.
She gazed at his bruised face, his helmet now removed.
"Kaidan needs medical attention." Liara leaned over the bed, closer to Shepard.
She could barely hear Liara speaking to her as she reined the emotions in.
"We have to leave the Sol system."
"I know…" her voice sounded broken.
Liara gave her a sympathetic look. "The Citadel is our best chance. We can find help there."
"Get us to the Citadel, Joker."
"Roger that."
She looked back to Kaidan, stroking the side of his face.
"Hold on, Kaidan…" She spared a glance for Liara. "See what you and EDI can learn about that thing." She gestured to the body James had dropped onto the examination table.
When hearing Admiral Hackett was on the line she reluctantly turned away from Kaidan, heading for the comm room.
The next few hours were a blur of worry and confusion. And when she finally saw Kaidan in that hospital bed she almost broke down. She hadn't cried in a long time. Maybe not even since her father was killed in action when she was 15. And that felt like a lifetime ago.
But seeing Kaidan so broken…and so close to death. She understood now, why he had acted the way he did on Horizon. She could imagine the trauma of having lost a loved one. And seeing her back was unsurprisingly a real shock.
"Kaidan…oh God…it's hard seeing you like this." She took a deep breath, attempting to steady herself. "Don't know if you can hear me…but since you can't tell me to get the hell out either…I'm going to take my chances." She smiled a little but then it faded. "Don't die, Kaidan. You've got to fight. We need you in this. Seeing you in action again reminded me you're one hell of a soldier. The Alliance could sure use you." She paused, tears welling up in her throat. "I could…use you." She saw the doctor out of the corner of her eye and looked to him. "You need anything, doc, lemme know." She looked back to the broken man in front of her, the one she loved. "Come on, Kaidan." Her voice was pleading him. "Fight." She turned and walked out, stopping in the threshold. She looked back one last time. "And that's an order." Then the doors were shut.