-o-O-o-

Chapter Ten

Jack stalked from the Alliance carrier's Mess with a plate of food piled up for Rorie. Her jaw was tight, her grip on the plate was a vice, and inside she was angry…and scared. What she'd seen on those newsvids was totally fucked up. How dare Alenko hurt Shepard like that…. What the hell was happening?

Jack had quickly decided to keep Rorie separated from the other students, with their thoughtless and naive comments thrown out into the air with the potential to turn into harmful shrapnel. Jack couldn't risk Rorie hearing about it.

Luckily, a ship had been orbiting the academy in preparation to take some of the older, more accomplished biotic students to the Citadel for a closed session at the Armax Arena as a reward, and Kahlee had agreed to allow her to take Rorie and catch a ride. Not that Jack would have taken no as an answer anyway.

So here they were, an hour out from the Citadel. Jack still had no idea if it was the right thing to do, but it had been her first instinct: to take Rorie back to… what? A broken home?

A fresh streak of fear ran through her. It was stoked by a feeling of utter vulnerability. If Alenko could tear apart what he had with Shepard…. If the Queen of the Girl Scouts could be so fucked up to go and murder someone…. Fuck! What chance did a messed up bitch like herself have? It was freaking her out. She'd opened herself up, too. To James….

The door opened to the small room she'd sequestered – another attempt to keep Rorie away from the gossip that was as rife on board as it was within the academy halls. Only the room was empty.

Cursing, Jack quickly dumped the plate and began hurriedly traipsing through the ship looking for a certain little girl who had a knack for disappearing wherever her big honey eyes roamed. Jack had an idea Rorie would be wherever the students were.

Except she wasn't with the bulk of students who had chosen to hang out in the large communal area. There were a few reluctantly mumbled comments that they'd seen her with some students who had gone down to the bowels of the ship to explore – somewhere they weren't permitted to go - and Jack was certain they sure as hell weren't 'exploring'.

Below engineering, voices trickled down the corridor, and Jack slowed to listen.

"Come on, runt. Show me what you've got."

That was Lowell. Not a fan of Rorie purely because he'd thought he was the best biotic student within the academy, and had never failed to point it out to the others, only to have his nose severely put out of joint when the five year old arrived and outshone him in every way. This was one student Jack couldn't find any affinity for. He had the same belligerent attitude she once had (okay some would say still had), only he came from a wealthy family, all of whom had survived the Reapers. He hadn't known hardship or loss, and from what she'd been able to ascertain, he was well-treated, if not spoilt.

"Leave her alone, Lowell," argued another student.

"Shut up, Carmichael. Speak again and I'll make you the target dummy. Your choice. That goes for the rest of you, too." Lowell's voice was nasty, and there weren't many students who didn't back off when he used it.

Jack caught the glow of biotics emanating from around the corner, and she tensed. But Jack wasn't about to go racing round. She was interested in what Rorie would do. Jack distinctly remembered a similar thing happening to her in the Teltin facility around the same age, and she'd slammed the older boy into the wall as a result. He'd left her alone when he'd finally gotten out of the infirmary. But Rorie had been raised with love, and there was a part of Jack that wanted to know what difference that made.

"So, Alenko?"

Jack could picture Rorie standing there in her specially-tailored uniform, the soft toy varren in her clasp, the cap Joker had given her on her head, and a bulge in her pocket from her small VI, Moon.

"No, thank you."

Jack almost burst out laughing at the sweet, nonchalant voice that wasn't the least bit intimidated by Lowell. Unlike messed up young Jack who'd been programmed to attack, Rorie was walking away.

"What?" Lowell actually sounded taken aback, used to creating fear. "It wasn't a request. Do it. Show me what you've got. Or can't you hack it, baby?"

"I can hack some things. Like doors," enlightened Rorie, in her misunderstanding. "Uncle Gus taught me. But only if I can find something to stand on to reach the panel."

Jack caught her snigger in her hand, and there were muffled laughs from the other students.

"What are you talking about? You don't even make sense," said Lowell, and Jack could hear the sneer in his voice.

Then Rorie sighed loudly. "My tummy is talking because it's hungry. I'm going to go feed it now."

Lowell must have been left stunned, because Jack could hear from Rorie's steps that she was nearly at the corner before he found his voice again.

"Hey! Little rat! Did you know your daddy's been fu-"

"Lowell!" Jack yelled before he got any further, swinging round from where she'd propped herself against the wall and marching towards him. "Don't you say a fucking thing, you little shit!"

Lowell struggled to keep the smirk he wore, trying to keep his cool in front of the others, but Jack stood toe to toe with him, daring him to say more. She didn't care he was a kid. He intended to hurt Ror with something she didn't need to know about - not from him, anyway – and Jack was fully prepared to knock him on his ass. Around them, the students were staring nervously, no-one having the guts to break the silence. Except Rorie.

"Auntie Jack! You said naughty words!"

Rorie's cute voice admonishing Jack, softened the tension, and a few started to laugh quietly. With a final warning glare at a now-pale Lowell, Jack addressed them all. "I catch any of you down here again and you'll be going straight back to Grissom."

Waiting for Lowell and the others to slink away, Jack took Rorie's hand and started to lead her back up. "You didn't give in to him. Way to go, Ror."

Rorie shrugged. "He thinks he's scary, but he's just mean. Bullies are boring." Jack loved the way that was accompanied by an eye roll. "But you were scary." She giggled at Jack.

"Yeah, I could see you were trembling in your boots," smirked Jack, sharing a conspiratorial look with the little girl. When they arrived at the next deck, reality came crashing back with the noise from chatting students, and Jack slowed Rorie to a stop before they got within ears reach, crouching in front of her. "Ror, I want you to know that no matter what, your parents love you very much."

"I know," she answered sweetly, like the very notion of it being any other way was inconceivable. "So do you."

Shit, this kid near-damned owned her heart. "Yeah, I do. And you mustn't listen to any crap people might say about them. Not even if it's on the vid-screen."

"Gandpa Hackett said that too, so it must be very 'portant," Rorie said, earnestly.

"It is." Jack hugged her then, because she, the 'psychotic biotic', needed it, and this innocent, beautiful soul never failed to reciprocate. "Now, let's get you some lunch," said Jack, releasing her.

Leading her through the scattered groups of students, Jack almost wished the journey wouldn't end, because she dreaded what awaited them at their destination.

-o-O-o-

Kaidan was getting angrier by the second as he paced the Council Chambers, waiting to be granted an audience. Apparently, they were in deep discussions and couldn't be disturbed, and the logical part of Kaidan said it was understandable given the asari attacks on top of the salarian/krogan issue. But that wasn't the part of him that was ruling. He'd been here for four hours already - his stomach growling and cramping in warning that it hadn't been fed since the evening before - and that unoccupied time had let his thoughts run riot which their shouts of self-accusation, and a continual, dizzying list of problems that just seemed to keep piling up.

Garrus, Bailey and Kolyat had been arrested on some false charge. Another thing for him to deal with, on top of his dead men, a set-up, and the deterioration of the woman he loved, which he'd exacerbated to a shocking degree through his own infidelity. Shit, he hadn't even showered since…. He felt dirty in a way no amount of water would wash clean.

Everything was a mess. He'd arrived at C-Sec at the same time as many of Terra's crew, most of them hiding their judgement, except for Joker. Chakwas had wanted to be allowed to see Terra as her doctor, concerned over her mental health, but she'd been promptly reminded that Dr T'Esana was her attending physician now, and the asari doctor had been notified. Kaidan had been about to use his Spectre status to change that, but he'd been thwarted. The Council had given the lead detective, Tavitus, official permission to keep Terra and the others detained for as long as he deemed necessary, as well as full autonomy over their cases. It was a power Tavitus was utilising.

"I want to see my wife. And this evidence you have against your colleagues."

"Then you'll need to get Council permission, because I'm not about to hand over my evidence to a well-connected friend of those in my custody.' It was delivered by the turian in a way that suggested he wasn't a fan of Spectres. "As for your wife, I'm not permitting her visitors until I have her statement, and unfortunately she's chosen the silent route. Considering her reaction to the news this morning, I'd imagine you wouldn't be too welcome, anyway. That was a rather salacious headline we all woke up to."

Kaidan's teeth clenched together at the memory. He couldn't over-rule the Council's order - not without consequences - and Tavitus had known it. There was a simmering anger jostling with the biotics beneath his skin. He wasn't used to walls he couldn't break through with the word 'Spectre', and for the first time in a long while he felt restricted when it mattered the most. It was Shepard and the SR-1 being sidelined when they needed to stop Saren on Ilos, all over again, and like Terra, he felt the need to punch something. The Council were keeping him from Terra.

An asari aide appeared, aiming towards him, and Kaidan halted, hopefully.

"Spectre Alenko."

"Finally!" He knew his desperation was coming through.

"I'm sorry, General, the Council are still unavailable, but Councillor Osoba has requested I pass this to you."

Taking the datapad, Kaidan bit back the urge to shout obscenities loud enough for the damned Council to hear. Instead, he gave an abrupt thanks to the aide who immediately left.

Alenko,

I apologise for this. I can assure you there's good reason we're locked in session, but I also know it's no consolation to you. As I'm unable to excuse myself from this meeting, I've assumed why you came. I've attached my personal authority for you to have full access to Shepard, though I hope you understand that I cannot go as far as permitting her release.

I will be in contact with you once we've concluded business here, but in the meantime, my thoughts are with you all at this difficult time.

Dominic Osoba

Aware that he didn't have any means to help Garrus, but that it would be pointless remaining, Kaidan started out of the chambers at speed.

-o-O-o-

Hackett sat in his office in silence.

It didn't make sense. Hackett knew with an unshakeable certainty that Kaidan loved Terra with every cell in his body, and that Terra would never harm someone who wasn't armed and dangerous, no matter her own feelings towards that person.

Everything was wrong, and as far as he was concerned, that was enough to question it all. There were clever players out there – that much he already knew – who were out to discredit Kaidan. Maybe this was another avenue to that attack. A more insidious one, but no less destructive. And if Kaidan was being manipulated and toyed with, than just maybe Terra was too….

He pondered that. Her sudden decline had taken them all by surprise. What if there was something behind that? Could someone have messed with her head somehow? Chakwas hadn't found any substances in Terra's body but that just meant that it wasn't something they could detect. Of course, that didn't explain the footage currently being broadcast.

Slumping back in his chair, Hackett couldn't ignore the damned recordings. It contradicted everything. To make things worse, he couldn't get rid of the image of Terra looking like an empty shell. It made him angry, and didn't know if he had Kaidan to blame or someone else. With a sudden burst of anger, Hackett swept the mess of datapads off his desk, and they smacked into the wall before clattering to the ground. Staring at the mess he'd made, he waited for his racing pulse to abate.

There was a chime from his door, and he stood with an irritated sigh. Opening the door, he placed his whole body in the entrance so the ensign wouldn't see the evidence of his loss of control, surprising the young man with his proximity. Recovering quickly, the ensign stepped back to a more respectful distance and saluted.

"Admiral Hackett, Sir. I've been tasked to bring you this." The ensign handed him another bloody datapad. "And I'm to inform you that Internal Affairs have arrived and would like to meet with you."

Damn. Hackett had known they'd show eventually, but he'd hoped for longer. "Show them to conference room six."

"Yes, Sir." With another salute the ensign strode purposefully away.

Re-sealing the door, Hackett studied what he'd been handed. It was from the asari investigators – a detailed report of the bombs used – and he wasn't anticipating these results. Turian.

"Very clever." Hackett decided that the turians were involved in this as much as the Alliance were – not at goddamned all. And there lied the ingeniousness. This would have all the races looking closely at each other, the first tendrils of distrust forming, ready to take root and spread.

Hackett crouched to collect up the datapads he'd abused, a couple of them now displaying cracked screens. Pulling out the one that contained his report on his ships involved in the asari station attacks, he dumped the rest on his desk.

What was in his hand was not only likely to be the first nail in the coffin for Kaidan, but could also have consequences for Hackett. He was too closely connected to Kaidan for Internal Affairs to ignore. He needed to prepare.

-o-O-o-

Eve stood beside Grunt as they looked out at the mass of clan Jorgal that had congregated a short distance from the borders of Urdnot's territory. In response, their own warriors were armed and ready, though Eve had suggested they held back within the confines of their buildings. The atmosphere was thick with male hormones and their foolish desire to fight, and once the first shot had been taken, there would be no pulling them back.

This was a fight they did not need, else they'd only begin the process of wiping the krogan out for whomever wanted it so.

Yet Jorgal had yet to make a move, and Eve wondered why. It was a restraint she'd not expected from Thurak.

Then there was movement from Jorgal, and Grunt raised his fist in silent order to continue their hold. Their forces were parting for two krogan. Thurak and…. Eve couldn't believe who she was seeing, and all around her she could hear the surprised murmurs of her clan. His face was badly scarred but his identity was indisputable.

The two approaching krogan stopped at the edge of Urdnot's claim, but only one spoke.

"I am Wreav! Brood-brother of Wrex! You thought me dead, killed by Kalros herself! But here I stand! I survived Kalros!"

As her clan's murmurs turned approving, Eve knew Urdnot was in trouble. The males only saw strength, but Eve saw more. Wreav would not have survived Kalros without significant injury, and he wore evidence of that upon his face. Clan Jorgal may have been closer to where he'd gone down than Urdnot, but a male as stubborn as Wreav would never have chosen to go to Jorgal no matter how close to death he was. It was likelier that Jorgal had found him and had seen an opportunity. Body weakened, even a strong mind like Wreav's could break under prolonged pressure. Now here he was, and Eve knew that if Urdnot accepted him as their leader, their clan would fall.

"Wrex has knelt before the Council races! Our enemies think us submissive! I saw this as I watched over Urdnot from afar, and I could not stand by as Wrex continued on this path, destroying our culture in order to appease aliens who wait for us to weaken so they can wipe us out. So I return to Urdnot to offer to take my place as your leader! Or will you continue to cower before a female and a tank-bred?"

There was a rumble of growls that travelled through Urdnot.

"Clan Jorgal remember the way we were. They seek to return the krogan to the proud race we once were. A race that bowed to no-one. A race that was feared! A race that ripped our enemies to shreds! The salarians will find any excuse to finish what they started, and we must be ready for them! I say Urdnot should stand with Jorgal! And fight!"

The roars weren't solely confined to Jorgal's males, and even Grunt was gripping his weapon tighter as he nodded his head.

"But I do not expect you to follow me blindly, after I have spent so long apart from Urdnot," continued Wreav. "Brothers, I will wait. Make your own decision. Our enemies will come. They will darken the skies. And then you will know Wrex was wrong to trust them. You will know I am right. And I will be ready to lead you in our fight should you choose to follow me!"

That was a surprising move. One that suggested more thought than Eve was used to witnessing from their males. It would sway many of Urdnot far more than forcing himself into position.

Something would start to happen out there in the galaxy soon. Something that would provoke the salarians further and into action. They would declare the krogan hostile, and when that happened, Urdnot's males would stand with Wreav without question.

Somehow, Eve had to stop that from happening.

-o-O-o-

The tension within Kaidan climbed the closer he got to the C-Sec office. Joker was still there, pacing in agitation, and he could hear Chakwas arguing with Dr T'Esana on her omnitool, demanding the asari prioritise Terra. He couldn't believe T'Esana had yet to see to her. The others had drifted off, though Kaidan suspected they wouldn't have gone far. Cortez had likely taken Nate back to the apartment after this long; he'd have needed changing and feeding.

Joker's eyes lit with fury when they fixed on him. "Where the hell have you been!?"

"The Council wouldn't break from their meeting to see me."

"Then you should have beat down the damn door! You're a Spectre, aren't you?"

Kaidan let Joker rail.

"Damn it! Do something to fix this!"

Kolyat's wife, still looking as stunned as when he'd seen her earlier sat at a detective's desk, was now reaching out to him.

"Can you get them out now?"

Once again, Kaidan was hit with inability. "I'm sorry, Kalisa. But I'm not giving up." Kaidan squeezed her hand where it gripped his arm, in an attempt to offer her comfort. "Go home. Get some rest, and try not to worry too much. I'll get this sorted."

With a shaky breath, Kalisa nodded her belief in him. "Yes…. I left Thian with a friend. I should- I should go get him." She tried to smile before leaving. Watching her trudge out, Kaidan felt her desolation.

It was then that Garrus' father came striding out of the cells, spotting Kaidan instantly, and making his way over.

"Teryck," greeted Kaidan. "How's Garrus?"

"Not good. Took me too damned long to get a flight here. He was practically frothing at the mouth by the time I got in there. The first thing he did was tell me to get to Shepard. He didn't take it well when I told him she was in the cell opposite. I would suggest you don't try speaking with him. He's about ready to tear your throat out right now."

Kaidan was too hung up on Teryck's previous statement to linger on Garrus' ire towards him. "Wait a minute. Why would he tell you to get to Shepard?"

"He was certain that his arrest stopped him from getting to Shepard last night, and Bailey and Kolyat's arrests meant that no-one else in C-Sec would listen to what he's saying and act on it. Now, with Shepard clearly safe, it puts us at square one as to why someone wants the three of them out of the way. What we need is to scrutinise that evidence."

"And I still don't have the Council's okay to over-ride their earlier order," sighed out Kaidan.

"Daddy!"

That voice speared Kaidan and warmed him at the same time, and he turned to Rorie as she raced across the ward at full speed towards him, with a scowling Jack trailing after her. Then Rorie was leaping and Kaidan caught her, appreciating the too-tight squeeze round his neck. "It's a wonderful surprise to see you, honey, but what are you doing home already?"

"Auntie Jack said I had to come. But I can't go with the others to the 'rena because I'm too small." That was accompanied by a deep frown, a pout, and the folded arms of petulance.

Kaidan glanced briefly at Jack, only to feel the dagger of her dark look, poised ready to strike with the promise of a lot of pain. He could deal with that. It was imagining the hurt in Terra's eyes that tore at his heart, and he swallowed as he prepared himself to face it. "Never mind, honey. You're growing all the time," he assured his daughter. Rorie's lovely smile returned and Kaidan worried what all this would do to her when that inquisitive mind began questioning. "I have to go talk to…someone, so I need you to wait here for me, okay?"

"'Kay."

With relief that she hadn't asked who, Kaidan placed her back on her feet.

"Alenko! Shepard still left your quad intact?" Wrex's deep bellow made Kaidan wince.

"Should have known you'd approve, Wrex," moaned Joker, as the krogan and his entourage joined them.

Wrex waved it away. "Males sow their seed. It's natural. You humans need to stop being so possessive over each other. What I have a problem with is what Shepard did. That wasn't like her." He looked around. "You're a Spectre. So why's she still in there?"

"The Council blocked me from interfering."

"Damn Council," growled Wrex. "Want me to go tear Shepard's door down? Get her outta there?" His thick arm gestured towards the cells, and the officers guarding him tensed at the threat as the two salarians Kaidan now recognised, grinned.

"Uh, not necessary."

"But he can at least go talk to her now," interrupted Joker, impatiently. "So let him go do it already."

"But mommy's not here."

Everyone looked down at the little face staring up at them, and Kaidan's felt a chill start to form as he squatted to look his daughter on her own level. "You don't feel mommy?"

"Nuh uh."

"That just means she's closed herself off," butted in Jack, in irritation, that accusing glare burrowing into Kaidan.

But he knew the connection formed by the spores didn't work like that. Terra had explained it to him herself. She said as soon as she reached out she could feel Rorie's mind, even when their daughter didn't invite her in to see what was inside (because she was doing something naughty). Like being outside someone's home when the lights were on; it was up to them if they let you in, but you know they're there. And conversely, Terra always knew when Rorie was connecting. It was akin to a knock at the door. "Are you sure?"

Rorie paused, clearly focusing on that connection only she and her brother had with Terra. Then she shook her head. "Nate's here. But mommy's too far away," said Rorie, with certainty.

"That's not… That doesn't make sense!" worried Joker. "Cortez took Nate back to your apartment. Shepard's right in there!"

"What the hell's going on?" said Jack, her quiet voice indicating how unnerved she was, and Kaidan understood that completely.

Straightening, Kaidan walked into C-Sec, handed the datapad to Tavitus before the turian could say a word, and demanded access to the cells, immediately. With Tavitus' begrudging nod to the officer on duty, the human quickly released the doors that led to the cells. There were five on each side of the corridor.

"Admiral Shepard is in the far right," said the officer.

The cell loomed with each step Kaidan took, but he now had a fear that went far beyond anything he'd had before. Garrus had been convinced Shepard was at risk last night, and Rorie was saying Terra wasn't here….

Who was he going to see in that cell? And what did that mean for Terra?

-o-O-o-