Grave to cradle, Arc 3 of "Gone with the Sun"

Chapter 28 Separation Anxiety

Matchmaker

The private message terminal noticed her presence and bing-bonged at her. Kahlee swore she'd get around to muting it… later. Then she noticed the flashing green priority signal. Oh dear.

It was indeed a note from Hackett's staff advising that her orders had been cut transferring her from Orizaba to Overlord. At last! She composed a quick acknowledgment, ordered a coffee, poured a whisky, and waited. It took eight minutes.

"Sanders!"

"Jack?"

"Did you know about this?"

"Sit down, Jack, have a drink, here. Could you be a little more specific?"

"They're sending some of the kids to battle! With Lawson! On another Normandy!"

"You're thinking of Overlord, Miranda's new turian-built duplicate. I know I'm going, my orders just arrived. It's formally a Normandy-class frigate, but there are minor differences. There's only one Normandy, Jack."

"Whatever. They're sending my best kids!"

"The kids are ready, Jack. At least, Prangley, Rodriguez, and Merizan. The Bellarmines are catching up."

"Without me!"

"Ah." Kahlee put on a thoughtful expression. "Well, I can sort of understand why. Don't you two have history?"

"Yes! I mean, no! Nothing serious!"

"I think I heard Hannah Shepard saying Jack would never serve under Miranda. That's probably part of it."

"Arrrgh!"

"Was she wrong?"

Jack didn't answer at once. She sat, put her elbows on her knees, and her forehead in her hands, then: "Sanders, please. Do something."

"Let me think." Sanders got up, picked up her coffee, and looked out her viewport for a few seconds. "Well… I can see two problems – Jack, that drink's for you. Try it."

Jack unbent. Looked at the glass. Took a sip. "What is this stuff?"

"Islay scotch. From Donnelly. After I wangled leave for him and Gabby."

"Okay. Someone was wanting a dirty weekend?"

"I think they both were."

"Why don't they get married and have kids? Hey, this stuff has a kick. I can feel it doing me harm. More, please."

"Here… something about orange and green, I must have missed something there. Also, they'd be posted apart."

"Stupid fleet regs. That's gotta change."

"Maybe not. It's one reason Shepard had a mother, instead of no parents at all."

"Oh." Jack had mellowed a little now, was pensive. "Sanders, don't shit me, can you get them back?"

"I don't think so. Coats asked for them, specifically. Actually, he also asked for you. But Miranda said 'bad idea', and… well, the brass agreed."

"Dammit, we get along now! Sort of. I try not to call her names and she says she's trying not to be snarky."

"Really? When did this happen?"

"Since forever! Well actually it started at that final wingding at yours and Anderson's place, after Shepard creeped us both out… you don't want to know."

"Anderson gave that apartment to Shepard."

"Yeah, that's a crock, nobody signed anything, and for real estate there has to be a writing. I tried to have another party there. Hackett said no, he's the executor of Anderson's estate and he says it's a major asset. Shep's not around to dispute it. He wouldn't anyway."

"It's still in one piece?"

"I think so. Ask about it."

That was a surprise. Kahlee perked up. Perhaps there was something left of David. "Moving on. I'd have to convince both of you to work together."

"Look, I can work with Miranda, okay?"

"On her ship? Would you take orders?"

Jack's face twisted. Kahlee knelt beside her and looked up; there were tears. Damn. "Jack. Jennifer Null. I have to know, from you, that it's OK to speak to Miranda."

"Suppose she does some silly stunt and gets the kids killed?"

"That's not how chain of command works. She would ask you to do something with your team. You might die with them. That's a military risk."

"Well… I could do that."

"Besides, as I understand it, she has her own 'kids'. So she'd understand how you feel."

Jack looked interested.

"Coats asked for her rather special people too. You might have known them. Cerberus crew on the Normandy."

"How come Miranda got involved with them? She's not the sentimental type."

"They were Shepard's crew while she was XO, remember. They got picked up on the Citadel during the coup then implanted, indoctrinated, and pressed into service with the Illusive Man till he died."

"That miserable f… fool made husks of them?"

"He would have said 'improved'. He died. They didn't, and his power was broken. They hid for weeks, starving slowly. They couldn't surrender because of the suicide chip in their brains that would have killed them. Chakwas got wind of them, dressed up in her old uniform, and convinced them the sick bay of the Normandy wasn't a surrender. When they woke up, the chip didn't wake up with them."

"That woman is so cool."

"She had to call in some favors. Now Miranda says she can't ever repay her. That might be a way in for you. With your kids. I'll see what I can do."

"Pleeeeeze!"

"It could take me a while. Chakwas and Wiks have only just finished reversing Harper's mods."

"Can we trust them?"

"The hard part was the indoctrinated brain paths, but the Alliance picked up Jana – the neuroscientist who headed the team responsible. Harper betrayed them, too, and she provided tech details. Between her team and Wiks, they've set about depowering and removing the implants, but a lot of the motor coordination and imprinted reflexes are still there."

"That's not comforting."

"Miranda says the kids' old personalities are coming through again, but she's saying the most vile things about Harper."

"… Maybe she's learned something."

"She actually said, and I quote, 'I should have listened to Jack.' Look, she's meeting me at the new docking bay where Overlord is fitting out. You want to come?"

– Next chapter will be #29, "Overlord and ladies…" –

Monday, July 20, 2015 -3/3-