Chapter Seven
What I'm Looking For
Two Years Ago
Eden Prime
The colony looked beautiful.
People had returned to their homes and the presence of the geth had long ago been destroyed. There was almost no evidence that an invasion took place here but the beauty here only brought up the memories of the first time Kaidan ever set foot here. Images of Jenkins' death then meeting Ashley as she ran from the geth filled his mind.
And then that beacon and Shepard pulling him away from it at the last second. Kaidan wondered what would have happened if the beacon had planted that message in his mind, if Shepard hadn't helped him. It was stupid thinking about the what if scenarios. He was here to do a job.
The shuttle took him to another section of the colony that had been built around an old Prothean ruin. After the attack on the colony Kaidan had been told that the scientists stationed here were looking for any other Prothean artefact or even another beacon. This section of the colony was smaller than the docking port where Saren attacked but there was a crowd of civilians around the landing zone. Kaidan had wanted to avoid the crowds for this one.
The last thing they needed was another geth attack so soon after Saren. Ignoring the looks and whispers he was getting Kaidan followed the scientists into the facility. Marines were guarding the door and once inside Kaidan noticed more of them standing outside a door at the far end of the labs. An elevator took him down into the main lab area where the geth was being held.
This place was set up for studying artefacts. The best they could do with the geth was put it in an unused lab and lock the door. If the thing was activated Kaidan highly doubted the door would stop it from escaping.
There was bulletproof glass set up allowing Kaidan to peer into the room. The geth was on its back on a table with cameras set up in every corner.
"Can't believe the geth came back." Kaidan muttered as he stared at the prone machine.
"That thing gives me the creeps." a marine scowled. "Why don't we just kill it?"
"Hackett's orders." Kaidan replied thickly. "This thing was asking for Shepard. We want to know why."
"Are you sure about activating it sir?" a small scientists asked. "It'll try to hack the labs."
"If it does I'll put a bullet in its head." Kaidan answered as he opened the door. "I'm going to activate it now."
Kaidan shut the door behind him and approached the geth. He took a deep breath before stepping towards the table while activating his Omni-tool. During the hunt for Saren Tali had given him a crash course on geth and how to activate them. Bullets and biotics pretty much deactivated them but Shepard had wanted every edge he could get.
Kaidan was ready to destroy the thing if he tried to attack or hack the systems. Tapping a few more keys he stepped back as an energy barrier was erected around the geth to keep it contained a little longer. The sound of the machine activating caught Kaidan's ears and then the light switched back on.
The geth slowly sat up and Kaidan saw how big the hole in its chest was. He was surprised that the machine survived this long with that much damage done to its systems. Kaidan backed away when the geth planted its feet on the ground and turned that single eye upon him.
He was acutely aware of everyone in the other room watching him no doubt with their guns ready to fire. The geth itself looked like a basic trooper, nothing special about them. They didn't even have good shields.
"What are you?" Kaidan opted for a simple beginning. If this thing was looking for Shepard he had to extend the love branch.
"We are geth." the voice was metallic, emotionless. It suited the machine.
"Why are you here?" Kaidan asked.
"We seek the Shepard-Commander." the geth answered with a tilt of its head. "You are Alenko, Alliance lieutenant and biotic. You were here when Shepard-Commander came for the beacon."
"How do you know me?" the biotic narrowed his eyes.
"Information we have gathered during our time here. We are fortunate that you were sent to investigate us." the geth replied.
"Shepard killed most of your kind. Why do you want to find him?" Kaidan crossed his arms.
"Shepard-Commander has not killed us. He fought the heretics. We are true geth."
"Heretics?" Kaidan glanced at the scientists behind him but they were too busy taking notes on the conversation. "What are you talking about?"
"They were not true geth. They joined with the Old Machines to obtain knowledge. The geth have no quarrel with organics." the machine answered.
"But why are you here?" Kaidan was trying to wrap his head around this information.
"Shepard-Commander openly opposed the Old Machines when he destroyed one. He has also given us the advantage by fighting the heretics." the geth paced around its small cell. "We wished to form an alliance."
"God..." Kaidan motioned for the guard to open the door. "Report this to Hackett and Anderson now. Tell them everything that the geth told me."
"Can't believe what I just heard." the marine gaped.
"Get that report filed and let's see if Hackett believes it." Kaidan answered.
"Look," he approached the geth again. "Shepard...you're too late. He died three months ago."
"We know."
"What?" Kaidan whispered. Then what the hell was the geth here for if it knew about Shepard. The machine had gone silent now, its flashlight turning from Kaidan as if contemplating how to answer him.
"Alenko-Lieutenant," the geth called when Kaidan was about to leave. "We wish to inform you of our intentions here."
"The what the hell are they?" he was losing patience.
"We knew of Shepard-Commander's demise before coming here. We had watched during his search for Saren with the heretics and we gathered information." the geth explained. "News of his death was not difficult to come by."
"So why ask for him?" Kaidan raised an eyebrow. "If you knew he was dead why risk coming here?"
"We had anticipated a response from the Alliance. And you have come here to seek us." the geth replied.
"Wait a minute..." Kaidan stared at the machine. "You took a chance that someone from Shepard's crew would come here asking about you?"
"We reached consensus that someone like you would be more adaptable to our situation." the barrier shimmered between them. "We need your help."
"I don't believe this." Kaidan could have laughed at the insanity of the situation. "A geth is asking me for help. What the hell makes you think I'll help you?"
"The Shadow Broker has Shepard-Commander's remains. He intends to sell them."
Nobody spoke when the geth said that. Kaidan felt his world beginning to tilt on its axis again as the words sank in and he processed them. The Shadow Broker had Shepard's body. He tried to tell the geth it was wrong, that was impossible but the words were stuck in his throat.
He had kept a reign on his emotions when he was put back on active duty and nobody brought Shepard up around him. But the feeling of anger and loss was beginning to swallow him up again. Kaidan heard footsteps from behind him as the door opened and someone walked into the room.
"I think that's enough for today." It was one of the scientists. "We need to deactivate it again."
"That's impossible." Kaidan breathed out. It had been hard enough burying the commander but knowing that his remains were left scattered on a distant world ate at him.
"We assure you our information is correct."
"No." Kaidan barked. "No, Shepard burned up when he hit the atmosphere. There was nothing left!"
"Information extracted from Shadow Broker agents suggests Shepard-Commander was retrieved from the planet Alchera. He is being taken to Omega in the next few days." the geth answered.
"This is ridiculous." a scientist exclaimed. "You're not seriously going to believe that thing!"
"We never brought Shepard home." Kaidan didn't seem to notice the man. "We just assumed there was nothing left to find."
"It's trying to find a way out of the shield." the man protested.
"Then why make up something like this?" Kaidan turned to the small man, fire in his eyes. "Why risk coming here to begin with?"
"I..." the man had no answer to that.
"We have given you our data Alenko-Lieutenant. We shall await your decision."
Kaidan said nothing as he left the room. He pushed past the men and women gathering around the lab where the geth had now gone silent. He needed to get some air. He felt like he was suffocating here.
All he could think about was Shepard, what was left of him taken by the Shadow Broker. By the time Kaidan left the labs his migraine flared savagely to bring him to his knees.
He was grateful when the darkness claimed him.
"Kaidan..." Shepard murmured when the biotic stopped to take another drink of water.
"I didn't know what to think." he admitted softly. "I...I hated that we couldn't bring you home. You were out there and it wasn't right."
"You couldn't have done anything Kaidan." Shepard grasped his hand. "A war with the Terminus Systems is the last thing anyone needs."
"I didn't care at the time." Kaidan stared at him. "I wanted to bring you home so badly. You didn't deserve to be left behind on a bad end planet. And I know...I know you would've gone looking for anyone of us."
"If it had have been you..." Shepard pushed those thoughts aside. "Yeah, I would've gone looking for you."
"But when Legion told me about the Broker..." Kaidan swallowed thickly. "Shepard, I couldn't just let it go. The thought that the Broker was going to sell you off made me so damn angry. I had to do something."
"Guess it worked out in the end." Shepard managed a crooked grin. "Legion was right about the Broker."
"Yeah he was." the biotic smiled slightly.
"So what happened?" the commander asked.
"I," Kaidan was cut off when his Omni-tool started to beep loudly. Bringing his arm up Kaidan tapped a few buttons and read the message.
"What is it?" Kaidan glanced at his former commander.
"A friend of mine just sent me some information." he motioned for Shepard to come closer. "Here, I want you to meet him. He's been interested in meeting you for a while."
Tapping buttons caused a small screen to appear above the Omni-tool and Shepard stared at the man sending the message. He was beautiful. Emerald green eyes brought out an aristocratic face with cheekbones that could cut glass. Midnight black hair was slicked back and grazed his shoulders. From what Shepard could see the man was wearing a black jacket with a white shirt and green tie. He looked every inch the businessman.
"Glad to see you're still in one piece." the man said with a smirk.
"I've got someone here I want you to meet." Kaidan allowed Shepard to move in front of the screen so the green eyed man could see him better.
"You look well Commander Shepard for a dead man." inquisitive eyes examined his face. "It's good that all this waiting has paid off."
"Thanks and you are?" Shepard frowned.
"I apologize. My name is Mel and it's a pleasure to finally meet you." the man nodded. He then turned his attention to the biotic. "Kaidan, I found that information you wanted. I'll meet with my contact today and let you know what I find."
"Thanks Mel." Kaidan smiled at him, a genuine smile and Shepard felt a spike of jealousy.
"Come to Illium in a few days. I'll have something by then." Mel disconnected allowing Kaidan to rest back down on the bed.
"Who's he?" Shepard hoped that the jealousy was kept out of his voice.
"Mel?" hazel eyes went soft as Kaidan got lost in memories. "That's a different story altogether. I'll tell you some other time ok?"
"Sure." the commander didn't want to let this ugly feeling consume him so soon after getting Kaidan back. It had been two years after all and the man was entitled to have other friends. Shepard wanted to know how that man was able to get Kaidan to smile like that, without a care in the world.
"So, you wanna hear the rest of this?" Kaidan asked.
"Let's hear it Alenko." Shepard sat back in his chair. "What happened after that last conversation?"
"Like I said I couldn't let it go. When I told Hackett about it, well I guess that was when I made my choice."
Hey readers.
So this'll be the last chapter until next week. I'm off to Worcester for a few days checking out hopefully the university I'll be attending in September. But I'm starting the next two chapters before I fly out on Wednesday so I'll have something when I get back.
And as a mental image for Mel I went with Tom Hiddleston in that suit in the new Avengers movie. That's right I've put Loki in my story and I have no shame.
