[ME2: Horizon]

'Commander, the Illusive Man wants to speak with you urgently. He's waiting for you on vid comm.'

Mercy stopped what she was doing. With a swipe of her hand she sent the Galaxy Map zooming out to idle mode, then stepped down from the CIC. Some timing. She was already armoured up and ready for the system jump to Osun, where the prison ship Purgatory was stationed. But if the Illusive Man had any more intel to offer, she wasn't about to turn him away.

She gave Chambers a curt nod and strode towards the Armoury doors. Her red and black N7 armour moved easily as she walked, well-worn and familiar. Sure, it wasn't the most efficient model available, but it felt like her second skin. She had been offered the prototype Cerberus Assault suit, but had turned it down. She may be working with Cerberus, but she'd be damned if she was going to wear their colours. It was maddening enough that they had stamped the Normandy's hull with their logo - Mercy wanted no part of their branding.

She passed through the Armoury without a word to Jacob. Emerging into the Comm Room, she came to a halt at the foot of the Cerberus-shaped table and hit the flashing 'call waiting' button. Orange light rose from the floor beneath her boots and surrounded her in a neon grid. She blinked and let her eyes adjust to the holographic environment that filled her senses. A contrast of dark and light, all and nothing, the blinding glow of a star burning hotly at its centre.

Seated upon the illusion of space itself, the Illusive Man was almost invisible in his black suit. Two things gave away his presence: the subtle pulse of his cigarette light, and those artificial irises of piercing electric blue.

'Shepard,' he said, a hint of anticipation in his usually soulless voice. 'I think we have them. Horizon - one of our colonies in the Terminus Systems - just went silent.'

Mercy peered into his glowing eyes, attempting to assess the man behind the synthetic light.

'If it isn't under attack, it soon will be,' he told her. 'Has Mordin delivered the countermeasure for the seeker swarms?'

'Not yet,' Mercy replied.

'Let's hope he works well under pressure.' He crossed one leg over his knee. 'There's something else you should know.'

She waited. Watched him take a long drag from his cigarette.

'One of your former crew, Kaidan Alenko, is stationed on Horizon.'

Mercy's breath caught in her chest. Kaidan. Her thoughts and emotions were swept up in an instant of time, casting her into disarray. She struggled to maintain her composure. There was a second of silence, before she forced her voice to a normal level:

'Last I knew, Kaidan was Alliance. Why is he out in the Terminus Systems?'

If he had noticed the hesitation, he did not let on. 'Officially, it's an outreach program to improve Alliance relations with the colonies. But they're up to something. And if they sent Commander Alenko, it must be big…'

Commander…

'I suggest you take it up with him,' he added dismissively.

So many things to ask him. So much to tell him. I need to… Damn it, Shepard, get your head in the game. She gave the situation full priority, dropping all other matters into darkness. Almost immediately upon thinking about it, she was suspicious.

'The Collectors just happened to pick a colony with one of my former crew?' she noted with an arched brow. 'I don't buy it.'

'It shouldn't be a surprise the Collectors are interested in you. Especially if they're working for the Reapers.' After a pause, he said very slowly, deliberately: 'They might be going after him to get to you.'

She set her jaw tightly and she felt her nostrils flare. If they so much as touch him…

The urgency was clear. 'Send the coordinates,' she said crisply. 'We'll head straight there.' Without waiting for a response, Mercy hit the return button.

As the holo-grid disintegrated around her and the channel faded out, she heard the Illusive Man call:

'This is the most warning we've ever had, Shepard. Good luck.'

Mercy tightened her gauntlets unconsciously, her doubts and fears rolling beneath the surface of her thoughts like stormy seas. Determination filled her. Impatience streaked her sky. She set off at a brisk, near aggressive, pace, with eyes like thunder.

'Joker, set a course for Horizon. I've got to go see the professor.'