Four - Hope
The elevator doors opened to reveal the memorial wall, Shepard's name plate sorrowfully greeted Steve as he stepped out into the corridor. He stopped, looking at the plate, examining its every detail. Steve remember the day they put it up. They knew by that point that Shepard was MIA, and everyone had wanted to believe that Shepard was still alive somewhere. He had a knack for surviving after all. But as time went on it became clear that he wasn't coming back. The smoothness of the nameplate was an illusion. It was a composite of a number of different mettle pieces, symbolizing the Normandy crew. Steve hated putting up the shrine, not because Shepard didn't deserve it, but because now it was the first thing to greet him when he'd enter the crew deck.
To make it all the worse Steve was completely pre occupied by everything he'd just experienced on the mission to Eden Prime. After the Reapers left the system the alliance flotilla explained their reckless attack on the Kodiak. Apparently the Reapers had been entering system near the relay and the rag tag group of ships had assembled to prevent the Reaper from coming further into the system. They simply opened fire when the shuttle came through the relay without realizing that a friendly ship had jumped through. James gave the Alliance Lieutenant in charge of that little venture the worst dressing down Steve had ever seen. He'd seen James angry before but Steve almost had to stop him from bashing the young doe-eyed officers' head in.
Then there was Shepard. Steve couldn't figure out whether or not to tell James about what had happened but he knew he'd have to explain it in his report. James had asked him half dozen times to tell him what was going on but Steve found a way to evade the question each time. Steve knew that wouldn't last long but it would last long enough for him to figure out what to say. He didn't understand it himself, really. Was what he experience real? It had felt real. Not just Shepard's touch or smell, but there was something more, his texture, his aura, the feeling of truly being with him there in that odd white washed world. It felt as real as any other time they'd spent together. Of course no one else might have believed it, Steve himself could barely believe grasp it all.
"I was there the last time…" Jokers voice interjected Steve thoughts.
Steve shook his head as if clearing the fog.
"Oh. Sorry. I didn't see you."
"I get it." Joker replied
"You where…?" Steve tried to carry on the conversation.
"The last time" Joke paused. "We lost him."
"Twice now I've had to leave him. Twice, I've felt responsible."
Steve looked at the man, hunched over clearly in pain at the mere effort of standing.
"I feel like I should say sorry, that I couldn't do more this time."
Steve shook his head. "We both knew what we were getting into. I walked head long knowing full well the kinds of situations he put himself in."
"Knowing doesn't really make it easier. Hell EDI jumps headlong into the worst possible situations I can think of all the time. And there I am sit'n my chair up on the bridge." Joker replied.
"Knowing sure as hell doesn't make it easier."
"No. It doesn't." Steve turned to look back at the nameplate.
"You don't need me to tell you this but we're all here..." Joker paused "You know…" replied
"I know."
"Major Alenko to Lieutenant Cortez, please report to the War Room for mission debrief." Kaidan's voice came over the com.
"Be there in a moment, sir." Steve replied.
"Jeff, we will be approaching the supply depot in a few moments. Your presence is required on the bridge." EDI's called from the corridor panel.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be right there." Joker replied. "Duty calls and all that…"
Steve walked into the War Room. Major Alenko, Liara, James and Garrus assembled around the central console.
"Lieutenant, Mr. Vega was just tell us a little bit about what went on at Eden." Kaidan greeted.
Steve took up a position next to James facing the Major.
"It was eventful." Steve said curtly.
James eyed him knowingly.
Liara shifted uneasily "Without a doubt."
"What about Reaper activity."
"From what the team on Eden had to say they had been very active with the relay, doing repairs. It's one of the reasons the taskforce opened fire on us, there were expecting another Reaper ship." Steve explained.
"I gave Lieutenant Jackwad a piece of my mind. We were almost torn apart by their barrage."
"Everyone was under a lot of stress." Garrus replied.
Kaidan sighed "Okay. Enough skirting around it." He said looking at Steve.
"What happened on the shuttle when you lost consciousness?"
Steve turned to James then back to Kaidan.
"I don't know." Steve replied.
"I know we're all under a lot of stress right now, maybe it would be best if you took some…"
"No." Steve intruded.
Kaidan immediately stiffened, taking a more commanding appearance.
"Sorry, sir. I mean I don't need time off. I just…" Steve paused. "I really don't know how describe…" His voice trailed off.
Liara walked around the large console, she stood next to Steve now.
"What is it?" Liara asked, seeming to sense that something wasn't right.
Steve looked up at the group.
"After the Reaper locked on to us everything went dark. When the systems came back online I didn't have helm control. Nothing responded. Then I felt lightheaded, dizzy. I slowly started to fade in and out." Steve paused. "Everything went dark, and then I heard a voice. I open my eyes and I was in this place."
"He was there." Steve took a deep breath, "Shepard was there."
The room looked around each checking with each other.
"Shepard?" Gaurras question.
"I know how it sounds but… He told me that he lived there now."
"Goddess…" Liara exclaimed.
"Within the Reapers?" Said suspiciously.
Steve nodded, to the disbelief of the others.
"I know what it sounds like." Steve preemptively rebutted. "And I can't explain it but, I know it was him.
Everything I've learned tells me to suspect otherwise but when I was there, with him, I knew for sure."
Everyone paused, no one knew what to say next.
"We could be looking at some kind of new indoctrination…" Gaurrus interjected.
"After all Shepard has is all but a messiah to the people of Earth. They could be using his image in so scheme to indoctrinate the population"
"So what Steve experienced is nothing but at tactic?" Liara asked sharply.
"What else could it be Liara?" Kaidan questioned.
"From what we know about the Crucible's potential it is entirely possible that Shepard's consciousness has been transmitted throughout the Reaper network." Liara shot back.
"Hold on. Are we really talking about this?" Garrus asked.
James looked at Steve, he could see his friend drained with every word the others said. They had begun to argue and philosophies. He resented how everyone was talking over each other while Steve stood their dying a little bit each time they spoke.
"How about we stop arguing and figure out what the hell is going on?" James burst.
Everyone stopped talking.
"I mean, fucking hail one of them and get to the bottom of it." James contused.
"They've been acting strange ever since the Crucible went off and maybe Blue over there is right and it did something to the Reapers. Maybe it is Shepard, maybe not. But were not going to figure it out sitting here arguing it to death like a bunch of pendejo politicians."
Everyone looked at each other.
"He's right." Kaidan admitted, looking at the group
"Major Alenko, we have transmission from Admiral Hackett on vidcom." Samantha Traynor's vice intruded.
"I'll be there in just a second." Kaidan replied.
"Major I'd like to take a second and…" Steves didn't really know how to finish the sentence
"Of course."
Major Alenko, James and Liara stood at the vid console as Admirla Hackett presented a new crisis.
"The Citadel remained largely intact, somehow. But when the Crucible discharged it did do significant damage to the structure. A few of the arms detached from the central ring and now the whole damn thing is in an unstable orbit."
"How unstable?" Kaidan asked.
"We're predicting it will fall into the mesosphere in a week, and it'll only get worse." Hackett replied.
"By the goddess…"
"Wait what? Wont most of it burn up in the atmosphere?" James asked
Liara turned to him, shaking her head. "Most the martials that make up the Citadel are so durable they won't break up."
"That's right." Hackett interjected. "And the Citadel is so large if even one of the arms hits the surface…" Hackett's voice trailed.
"We're talking about an extinction level event." Liara continued.
"What's the plan Admiral?" Kaidan asked
"The Asari have been working with the Salarians on a project involving graviton manipulation using mass effect fields projected over close range ship to ship distances. We're equipping as many ships as we can with these prototypes, the hope is we can use them to reduce the Citadels mass allowing us the ability to apply enough thrust to push the Citadel into a more stable orbit."
"That sounds like a long shot…" Kaidan replied.
"What hasn't been so far?" Hackett replied. "What we need is for the Normandy to install this new prototype and see what you and a detachment of ships can do to decrease the Citadel's mass. Once that's done we'll use the cruisers to apply as much thrust as possible."
"We can't possibly do that for every piece of the Citadel." Liara replied.
"Your right Dr. T'soni, that's why we are going to focus on the larger pieces and project the impact zone of the smaller ones so we can evacuate the zones." Hackett answered.
"Very well sir, we'll get to it." Kaidan replied.
"Hackett out."
Kaidan turned to James
"Go let Tali know we may need her help."
"I'll stop by the bridge also and let Joker know."
"Yeah, he's not going to be very happy with engineers poking around the Normandy's systems."
"I will temper his nerves, Major Alenko." EDI
"Wow, okay too much." James smirked as he left the vid room.
The engines of his shuttles were the one thing that could distract Steve from everything that had gone on since Eden Prime. He tried to help with the Graviton Manipulator, but the physics were a little above him. Sure, if he had more time to look at it all, he'd eventually get it. There wasn't much about a machines Steve couldn't understand given some time but right now he preferred the straight forward problems. Not that those didn't have their own challenges. What he was doing now was perfect example. He wanted to increase the yield of the forward particle canons on the Kodiak. Sure the ship wasn't built for combat but the number of times Steve had wished he been flying his Trident since they left Earth showed him something had to be done. The problem was each time he would try and syphon a little power from one place it would destabilize the power conduit that connected the two systems. He'd realign the conduit but each time they would depolarize and had have to start all over.
He'd have to start all over. He would have to get over it, rebuild, reassess, reconnect.
Steve felt a shock smack his hand, sending a vibrating pain all across his body.
"Damn!" he yelled, pushing himself out from under the shuttle.
"You all right over there Esteban?" James called over.
"Sure if I could get my head out of my ass!" Steve scolded himself.
James walked over to his friend, helping him up off the floor.
"How 'bout you go a little easier on yourself , eh?" James offered with a small
"Now I have to deal with you feeling sorry for me too?" Steve spat.
"Wow now." James replied. "You get to be angry, but biting my head off and being pissed at yourself isn't going to solve anything." James turned and walked away.
Steve sighed. "I'm sorry"
"It's no big. I get it. Just, ya know, remember we're all going through something when comes to losing the Commander."
The Normandy took its place among the stars, position itself in the huge shadow of one of Citadel's arms and Earth. Other ships did the same, each of differing configurations and styles.
"All hands this is Major Alenko." His voice came through the comm. system. "Find yourself a seat, we're about to deploy the graviton beam."
On the bridge, Kaidan turned to EDI. "Everything check out?"
"All systems appear nominal. I believe the integration was successful."
Joker turned to Kaidan. "I can't believe I'm the only one who realizes we just installed a tractor beam on this ship. I mean a real life, beam-me-up-scotty, tractor beam. Ha."
"Jeff, you have said a variation of the same thing seven times now. I think we get it." EDI replied
"Well let's see whose there next time you have a question about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Jeff scoffed.
"The detachment is in position, all ships report ready." EDI reported
"All ships, activate graviton beam." Kaidan ordered.
An odd hum filled the Normandy's corridors, Kaidan could feel the artificial gravity give out for a fraction of a second as everything rebalanced and the ship stopped shuttering.
Each of the other ships began to glow in a blue hue, extending out like tentacles to the Citadel arm, embracing it. The blue energy cast a shadow over the arm until the whole structure was engulfed.
"We have a solid lock." EDI announced. "Mass Effect field stable for transit."
"Take it slow." Kaidan advised.
Joker tapped at the console as the ships and station slowly crept back into Earth's orbit.
"We're doing it." Joker smirked.
Kaidan stepped forward to watch as the small flotilla moved the massive arm. Suddenly he was thrown to the ground as an explosion rocked the Normandy. Klaxons began to blare; Kaidan could smell burnt plastic in the air. He quickly stumbled to his feet.
"What the hell happened?" Kaidan demanded.
"I have detected a feedback pulse of some kind. Analyzing." EDI report
"The rest of the detachment?"
"I'm not detecting any…" EDI was interrupted by a massive flash of light as the shockwave of an explosion smashed the ship's hull causing smaller power outages on the bridge.
"All ships deactivate the graviton beam!" Kaidan ordered "EDI you're with me"
"Damn. What do we do now?" Joker sighed.
Kaidan turned to the CIC; "Traynor, get me Admiral Hackett."
"From what I have been able to analyze the Citadel itself is reasonable for the feedback pulls that overloaded the ships systems and resulted in the destruction of SSV Crazy Horse." EDI reported.
"And we don't know anything else about how?" Hackett questioned.
"We're working on theory now Admiral but given what we know about the Citadel's origin it's possible the station is set to automatically defend itself when tampered with."
"That's a leep." Hackett responded.
"Yes, sir."
Hackett's blue visage turned away from the Major, as if being called away in the distance.
"Bridge to Major Alenko. Harbinger has just entered the system and is on an intercept course with the feet." Joker's voice came over the comm system.
"I assume you're seeing this Admiral?" Kaidan asked.
"We are. Assume battle positions, Major. Hackett out."
"All hands battle stations!" Kaidan order as he ran out of the vidcom room.
"That it is one nasty looking bastard." Joker commented.
Kaidan quickly walked onto the bridge, taking a place behind Joker.
"It is approximately twice the size of any of the other Reapers and its power output far exceeds anything I've ever seen from a mobile platform." EDI responded. EDI looked at her controls, cocking her head slightly she turned to the Major. "You are being hailed, by name."
"Creepy…" Joker said ominously.
Kaidan looked out at the ship in the distance. It was no doubt thousands of kilometers away but still the ship created a clear void in space where the light of the stars couldn't be seen. The thought of speaking to that thing sent shivers down his spine.
"Let's hear it."
"This Major Kaidan Alenko of the Normandy. This is the second time you've entered this system despite our warnings."
"Allow us to help. The Citadel poses a great danger to the life in this planetary system." Harbingers ominous voice replied.
"The last time we trusted you two of our officers we're shot at. It's not something we take lightly."
"The Shepard understands." Harbinger replied, pausing, "But the danger is much greater than you realize. The Citadel is of the Old Intelligence, it is preprogramed to respond to sabotage or tampering of a certain kind, including moving it without the proper technological intercede. In addition is equipped with micro-element zero cores throughout the structure to make sure that even smaller, damaged sections can prevent the kind of activity you were attempting. They remain inert until needed. You're actions have inadvertently activated them."
"Can you shut them down?" Kaidan asked.
"I have already done so." Harbinger replied.
"Then we don't need your help."
"If you attempt your procedure again it will result in the arm breaking apart due to sheering forces." Harbinger warned. "The micro-cores activated a light kinetic barrier, which held the station together and allowed a countermeasure feedback pulse. However without the power of the cores your efforts will break the arm apart resulting in greater danger to the planet."
Kaidan scoffed. "And you expect me to believe that?"
"Kaidan. I know it is not easy for your to trust my words, but The Shepard cannot allow the people of Earth to be destroyed."
Kaidan filled with rage at the mention of Shepard.
"How dare you use his name! He died to stop you from destroying everything!" Kaidan shook his head "I'm not going to surrender that just because you think you understand him, for some elaborate trick."
"I have not tricked you. I have acted as The Shepard wills. I have acted as he would." Harbinger paused. "But we will not make you do anything Kaidan. We simply wish to help. We know you as The Shepard knows you. We await your answer."
"They closed the channel." EDI reported.
Kaidan walked past the consoles and the controls of the CIC, each person diligently doing the things he'd come accustom to them doing. He opened the checkpoint door between the CIC and War Room greeting Private Westmoreland and Campbell as he paused for a scan, moving past the checkpoint into the conference room where his team was assembled.
"We don't know what any of it means!" Garrus said emphatically.
"Garrus could be right, James" Tail tried to cool the conversation down.
"I'm not saying I buy it, I'm just saying if there is anyone who could do something like this it's the Commander." James replied.
Kaidan took a place around the table standing next to Liara and Traynor. Collected were the rag-tag group assembled once to save the galaxy – now it seemed to save themselves from imploding.
"It comes down to if we're willing to bet on that Mr. Vega." Kaidan replied.
"I am, sir." James replied.
Kaidan looked at all the others around the table; Liara, Garrus, Tali, Javik, Joker, EDI, Steve and Dr. Chakwas.
"Hackett has informed me that the provisional Council wants me to attend a meeting to discuss our options. As a Specter, what I say could sway what happens next so I need it all out on the table. Everyone's ideas" Kaidan spoke.
"The Reapers are masters of deception and manipulation. Trusting them in any way speeds our own demise." Javik spoke.
"He's right. Once we let the Reapers feel like we trust them they could strike us." Garrus agreed.
"That doesn't explain why they suddenly left Earth in the final battle, they had all but won. A few more moments the galaxy's fate would have been sealed." Liara rebutted.
"A part of the tactic?" Kaidan asked, looking at Garrus.
"Hell. I wouldn't put it past them." He replied.
"We're missing something. " Tali interjected.
"After all the Crucible did fire, it was real, it overloaded half our systems, damaged the Crucible, the relays, even the QEC. So what did it do?"
"Well the QEC's work fine but the discharge from the Crucible filled space with some kind of background radiation that's slowly dissipating. That low-level radiation is what's interfering with communication. It will dissipate in a few weeks and we'll have communication back online."
"The point?" Garrus replied.
"If the crucible is capable of showering the galaxy in a low level radiation what tells you it couldn't transmit Shepard's memories or his troughs to every Reaper in the galaxy?"
"The theory does fill all of the established facts." EDI agreed.
"She has a point." Tail looked at Garrus, search for some sign he might agree.
Garrus shook his head.
"Unfortunately both theories fit established facts. It is a fact an energy beam of immense power showered the galaxy with a kind of radiation that we can explain. It is also true the Reapers are capable of this level of deception – we have witnessed much of the same." Dr. Chakwas.
"Agreed." EDI nodded to the Doctor. She turned to Joker "Jeff, you have been uncharacteristically silent."
"Yeah. Honestly the idea of a bit of Shepard being spread all over the galaxy to be made part of the Reapers freaks me out. Weather that's for the good everyone or not; I don't know. But what I do know is the Commander had to be responsible for the discharge of that weapon, hell the Reapers we're going to pull their own plug. So the way I see it the Commander had to make some kind of choice. I don't think he'd choose to do something that put us all in danger." Joker paused. "I have to go with James on this one."
Kaidan looked at Steve who had remained distant from the conversation.
"Cortez?" he asked knowingly.
"I know what I felt." He said simply.
"The Reapers use fear and paranoia to get what they want. Those things fracture us, they keep us running. But when I was… wherever I was, and whether it was Shepard or not – I didn't feel that creeping sensation of death. I felt hope, and warmth. I felt sure that things could be better, that things would eventually get better." He paused looking around the room, "Who here hasn't felt that before? When Shepard was here with us?" He shrugged "For me that's all the evidence I need."
"What is being suggested here is outrageous! We cannot continue place our trust and our very lives in the Reapers! Need I remind the Council it wasn't but a week ago they threatened all life in the Galaxy." Admiral Han'Gerrel slamed his fist into the diesis.
Assembled on the Quarian live ship, in one of their artificial arboretums, the Council decided to make this their temporary meeting place. The location was idyllic, Kaidan thought to himself – the people in it were a whole other story.
"I don't think this Council needs reminding the price that was paid in blood to be here, Admiral." Hackett shot back.
"All the Korgan in the Galaxy will have to die before we accept help from those creatures out there, but if this Council feels as if their aid to the humans is worth it, I won't stand in the way." Wrex spoke out.
"The Turian Hierarchy cannot support any alliance or bargain with the Reapers, not after the carnage on Palivan. The public would be incensed." Primarch Victus spoke; "The thought of it… is repulsive."
Kaidan fidgeted in his chair as the other the new, and oh so ever improved Council did what they knew how to do best; bicker. He found himself looking up at the artificial sky, filled with what he assumed were advanced synthetic clouds above, and a beaming point of light, like sun. He didn't really care if it was fake – it fooled him enough to look up and absorb the warmth. Suddenly his name pulled him out of his day dream.
"Specter Alenko?" Councilor Tevos' voice broke through. "You seem to have something to say."
Kaidan stood, to address the Council.
"Yes Councilor, I do. Thank you." He continued.
"The fact of the matter is we don't know what the Reapers are up to, but what we do know is they could have easily destroyed our mission to Eden Prime, or allowed our team to be destroyed out of a miss understanding. What we know is that they have fixed at least on link in the relay network, saved members of my crew without harming a single human life, and now they offer to help everyone on Earth. If this part of elaborate plan to wipe us out, it wouldn't make since to stop this extinction. It goes against everything we've seen from this so far." Kaidan paused, searching for his words.
"Now, to the issue I think that disturbs each of us… Is this Shepard at work?" Kaidan walked closer to the dais, "I don't know the answer to that. What I do know is he showed us, each of us, what it means to work together for the common good. And I know that if anyone was capable of what is be suggested it's him, and I think each of you know it too." He looked at Hackett then at the rest of the Council. "I recommend we trust."
Tevos looked at the rest of the council.
"Spector Alenko may have point. Whether we all like it or not we are all stuck in this system for the foreseeable future, until we can either repair the relays ourselves, which could take decades or we reach a wider agreement with the Reapers." Tevos turned her blue eyes to Admiral Hackett, then back to Kaidan.
"I'd suggest a recess for us all to consider our options."
"Agreed." Replied Dalatrass Linron.
Each of the Councilors came down from the dais to their respective cohorts of politicians and diplomats. Admiral Hackett walked straight over to Kaidan who stood waiting for him in the center part of the meeting room.
"Was it just me or did Tevos just suggest being on our side of this one?" Kaidan, asked.
"The Asari reputation has been damaged by their cover up of the Prothean beacon on Thessia. She sees that no matter how this turns out the Alliance is going to be in a particularly powerful political situation when the dust settles in a decade or two and is trying to sure up some political capital for when that time comes." Hackett answered.
"I hate to think about politics at all much less in the timeframe of decades." Kaidan replied.
Hackett let out a slight laugh at that as we walked with Major into the corridor.
"The real problem politically is the Geth and Quarians. Ever since their peace the two have been keen not to let their political agendas start another war. Even Han'Gerrel has been keeping the Geth up to speed. And the Geth seem to be fairly peaceful in their own right but where one of them goes the other always follow. They'll vote as a block and right now, that's a vote not in favor of helping us."
Kaidan shook his head. "It's a different time when those two are getting along."
"Right." Hackett said stopping and turning to the Major. "I understand Admiral Tali'zorah might be able to help us with the Qurians and Admiral Krois seemed to have a good working relationship with Shepard. Use that to see if we can't sway things a little." Hackett suggested.
"Tail?" Kaidan couldn't help but to wonder how helpful she could been. Of course he knew Tail to be capable on the battlefield but she never seemed too comfortable in her new leadership role and Quarian standards she was very young to be an Admiral.
"From the intelligence I get she has been racking up quite a few political points within the Quarian fleets, she's acting as ambassador to the Geth now." Hackett furrowed his brow "I'm suppressed you didn't know."
"She has been coming and going from the Normandy a lot, I just figured it was homesickness." Kaidan replied.
"Well either way it's a win-win for us and her people." Hackett replied. "I have another mission for you though." He stopped in the corridor, facing Kaidan now.
"What about the Council?" Kaidan replied.
"The Council will be in a holding pattern for a while and we've got a situation on Earth I think you're team is uniquely capable of handling. Urdot Wrex has the details, meet in the docking bay when you're ready." Hackett expanded.
"Understood, sir." Kaidan replied.
"Also, I know it's not very ceremonious but I'm advancing you to Lt. Colonel."
Kaidan stood, stunned at the words.
"You've done an amazing job with the Biotics division, you did amazing work back on Earth, and commanding the Normandy under unbelievable circumstances. Not to mention all the other crap that's been thrown at you over the last three years. If it weren't for the fact that you'd of equaled Shepard in rank the defense committee would have approved your promotion weeks ago."
"I don't know what to say sir, except that I'll continue to do my best." Kaidan replied.
"Good… Colonel." Hackett reach out his and which immediately met Kaidan's. "You're a little out of dress." The Admiral eyed Kaidan's rank insignia, "You should stop by the quartermaster before heading planet side."
"Uh… yes sir."
Everything seemed move in slow motion as the admiral walked away from Kaidan who was still in shock about his promotion. But it was more; he suddenly felt everything that had happened over the past few weeks. From the horror on Horizon to the final attack on Cerberus, the push on Earth, getting word that Shepard was dead, being put in command of the Normany. He felt like that scared to death kid that went down on Eden Prime with Shepard four years ago. Kaidan took in a sharp breath, and then excelled it slowly.
"Let's go Alenko." He whispered to himself.
