Chapter 12:
Return to Earth
Alenko hadn't needed much motivation to leave Grissom Academy. His biotic training was going astronomically poorly, with every supposed challenge taking less than a tenth of Kaiden's strength to complete. BAaT had done more for his abilities, and that was about the worst place he could think of to do any sort of training. When security came to his dorm, he half expected them to be there to arrest him, take him away for some experiment, probably trying to find a way to make the L2 implants work properly. It turned out, he was needed for an important mission, something to do with the recent assassination of the turian ambassador. What was his name? Orion? It didn't matter. Kaiden was finally going to be able to work in a real Alliance operation. He'd been waiting for this chance for years.
After the Kennedy left the dock of Grissom, Joker set a course for Earth. If Hollister was still alive, one of the Reds would probably know where to look for him. After the little civil war, the Reds had decreased considerably in strength, but there were still enough loyalists to keep the gang up and running. The trick was getting them to talk to an Alliance officer. Callus had offered to interrogate them, but everyone knew a turian wasn't likely to get any answers from a human gang member. The gang needed someone they already knew, which left the job to Shepard. However, Foster didn't feel comfortable sending Shepard into San Diego alone. Whether his concern was for Shepard's safety or his psyche, the lieutenant didn't know. Foster insisted he bring Alenko and Riley into the city for reconnaissance purposes, but they were given strict orders not to interfere unless the situation got out of hand.
Shepard, in civilian clothes, walked slowly to the gang's old hideout. It was doubtful the gang was still there after ten years, but it was as good a place to start as any. Every step seemed to add another weight of lead to his feet, until soon he felt like he was dragging himself to where he needed to be. He needed answers, though. And he wasn't leaving without them.
A figure on the rooftop near the hideout caught his attention. He immediately started running toward it, hoping that he or she would know where the Reds were located. Whoever it was, they were fast. It took quite a bit of Alliance training for Shepard to keep up, and he even had to climb onto the roof to stay close. "Wait!" he called out.
The runner looked behind them for a moment, but continued onward, even gaining a bit of speed before jumping to the next building. Shepard followed suit, though his landing wasn't as graceful. As he stood up, his target brought their foot toward his face, but he caught it easily and pushed them back. He stood, ready to fight again, but the runner turned and continued along their path. Shepard sprinted forward and tackled the runner to the rooftop. "Stop!" he exclaimed, pinning her arms to the metal roof. Wait… her arms? He was chasing a woman? It didn't matter. "Just stop for a goddamn minute!"
After another moment, she stopped squirming and got her first good look at her assailant. Confusion swept over her face. "Sh-Shepard?" she stammered.
Shepard relaxed slightly, but didn't budge. "Yeah, it's me," he replied. He let her up, tensing in case she decided to run again, but she simply sat up, staring at him.
"Jesus," she muttered. "We all thought you were dead."
Shepard frowned. "We? You mean the Reds?"
She nodded. "Supposedly you died in prison after the big civil war. Hollister took control afterward, pretty much selling us all to some PMC."
That definitely caught Shepard's attention. "Hollister?" he demanded.
She looked away, as though suddenly remembering the feud between the two. "Shit."
"Where is he?"
"Look, Shepard I didn't want to follow him-."
"Where?" he repeated, more forcefully.
"Back off a bit, Shepard," Kaidan spoke into his earpiece. "We don't want to cause an incident here."
"Hollister's not the kind of guy who likes to hear the word 'no'," the woman continued, "I didn't know what he was planning to do. I wasn't there when he killed Swift-."
At the mention of Swift's name, Shepard lost it. He grabbed her throat, but was careful not to push too hard. "Stop," he said, his voice threateningly low. "Not another word about that. Just tell me where Hollister's gone, right now."
Tears were now freely falling down her face. "I don't know. I'm just a supply runner."
"Then who in the Reds can tell me?"
After a sob or two, she looked away. "Follow me. I'll take to the head of the city's gang."
Shepard let go of her neck, letting her roll her head around and catch her breath. "The city's gang?" he repeated.
"We kinda spread out over Earth after Cerberus took over. Split us a little thin, but we get by."
"You people let Cerberus take control of you?" Shepard asked incredulously.
She smirked slightly. "You know, you used to be one of us 'people'. What, the Alliance have you all high and mighty now?"
So the Reds did know about Shepard's allegiances. That would probably complicate things. "Fair enough. Let's see if that still counts for something."
As Alenko saw Shepard and the runner move further into the city, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread he had growing in his mind. Shepard was going to the hideout of the Reds, a gang he'd been in for 13 years and then turned his back on for the Alliance. He wasn't going to receive a friendly welcome.
And yet, it wasn't Shepard he was afraid for.
The compound was small, with freight containers littering the area with weapons, drugs, and any other supplies the Reds thought might sell. Shepard took in all of his surroundings, noting possible exit points and counting each potential hostile. Anyone there who knew who he was glared at him, wanting to know who this deserter thought he was, coming in here as though he hadn't done anything wrong. Shepard couldn't blame them. There was a time when he would've done the exact same thing.
Blake didn't look like he wanted to rip Shepard's head off, but he wasn't very welcoming, either. As Shepard and the runner approached, he took her aside and whispered loud enough for Shepard to hear. "What the hell is he doing here?"
"I found him near the old place. My guess is he was looking for us."
"Why?"
Shepard took a step forward. "Because you have information I need," he answered for her.
Blake didn't flinch. Slowly, smoothly, he turned around and looked Shepard in the eye. "And why would I tell you a goddamn thing?"
"Because you owe me, Blake. I let your ass live after that shit you pulled with Swift."
Blake smirked. "Least I didn't get her killed."
Shepard clenched his fist and took another, more intimidating step forward. "You didn't hold the gun," he say lowly, threateningly, "but you're just as responsible."
"And yet, here I am. And, just between you and me, that Alliance 'scare them into talking by looking like you're about to beat them up' crap doesn't work on me."
Shepard, tired of the runaround, pulled his pistol out and aimed it at Blake's forehead. "How about the 'aim gun at the head' trick? Does that work for you?" Blake's expression didn't change, but his eyes flashed with fear. "Just tell me where to find Michael Hollister, and I'll get out of here."
Blake folded his arms, trying to control his breathing. "He's got a ship. Some frigate that isn't registered even on Cerberus channels."
"Then how do I find it?"
"You don't," he replied simply. "He finds you."
Shepard considered pulling the trigger. He had gotten all the information he was going to get out of this guy. A dead fucking end. Unless…. If Hollister had to find them for them to find him, then he'd need to get his attention. "Don't take this personally, Blake," he said before pulling the trigger, "but it's your turn to be the martyr."
The effect was immediate. The runner screamed, drawing more attention to Blake's container. Shepard clotheslined a Red running into the container and made for the exit, about twelve hostiles firing on him and missing. As Shepard reached the exit, fire and biotic attacks blasted the pursuing Reds backward, buying Shepard time to reach their shuttle.
"What the hell happened?" Foster demanded over the radio.
"I set the bait," Shepard replied, his voice hollow.
Alenko gave him a sideways glance. He'd never heard Shepard peak like that before. As much as he wouldn't admit it, this was as personal as it could get.
"Goddamnit. Get your asses back to the Kennedy ASAP. I want to know just what the hell is going on."
"We're on our way now, sir."
Alenko faced Shepard fully now. "Did we at least get any new intel?" he demanded.
Shepard didn't turn to face him. "Just that we're in for a hell of a time, very soon."
