A/N: Once again, all credit and adulation to Bioware, no copyright infringement intended.
On their way to the med-bay, they passed the still-closed conference room door that still presumably housed Joker and EDI, noted the red 'do not disturb' light blinking over the forward battery, and stumbled upon a very public private moment between James and Kris. While military correctness had Kaidan clearing his throat at their friends and suggesting they get a room, Kat's reaction had him stifling a chuckle.
"For the love of… Is everyone on this boat having sex?" she grumbled.
Since Kaidan was fully aware that her bluster was just that, and that she was internally very pleased to see her friends happy, he openly laughed. He halted just outside the med-bay and turned his wife into his arms. He hugged her, a rare (for him) public display, and planted a solid kiss on her cheek.
"They are, and we will be, too, once we finish here," he spoke quietly in her ear under the cover of the embrace.
Kat gave him the look of a woman well-pleased with her man before she noticeably pulled the mantle of command around herself, disengaging from their embrace and squaring her shoulders.
"Let's do this, Major," she said as she walked through the doors.
Dr. Chakwas met them just inside the med-bay, and smiled her greeting.
"Captain; Major," she said in her crisp tones and with a nod.
"I understand our prisoner is awake?" Kat queried.
"He is," Dr. Chakwas confirmed. "But I'm not sure he will be of much use to you."
"What do you mean?" Kaidan asked, as the two of them followed the doctor to the secure area at the back of the med-bay.
"DNA scans have provided his identity – he is Lieutenant Roger Stanton, Alliance Navy. He was stationed on the SSV Allegro until about 6 months ago, when he was given standard shore leave rotation. The captain's report mentions that he was planning to visit his sister on Earth, but he never arrived there, nor has he returned to his ship since. He was listed first as unauthorized absence, then missing. This is the first time anyone Alliance has seen him since."
"And his first act is to attack an Alliance vessel and their allies?" Kaidan added with a puzzled look. "What happened to him while he was missing?"
"Apparently, he doesn't know," Dr. Chakwas replied, using a keycard to open the restricted area. She motioned Kat and Kaidan through the door. "I will monitor his vitals from my station, please call if you need me otherwise," the doctor said as she moved back from the doors and allowed them to close behind her.
Kat nodded, though she knew the doctor wouldn't see, and turned her attention to the man restrained on the bed in the center of the small area.
"I am Captain Katriona Alenko, Alliance Navy, SSV Normandy," she stated, military correct and formal. Kaidan hoped Stanton would hear the implied reproach and questions in the otherwise banal statement. He certainly did; but then he knew his wife and commander very well.
"Lieutenant Roger Stanton, Alliance Navy, SSV Allegro," the man replied, also military correct, and would have added the requisite salute if not for the restraints on his wrists. "Can you tell me why I am being detained, ma'am?" he added, and Kaidan heard a note of genuine confusion in his question.
As expected, Kat ignored his question and continued with hers.
"Why were you attacking an identified Alliance vessel in an unmarked frigate, Lieutenant? Where have you been for the past six months of unauthorized absence? Why did you open fire on Alliance military after they identified themselves and attempted to apprehend you?"
Stanton shook his head as if visibly trying to clear the cobwebs.
"I did… what?" he asked, and the confusion was once again front and center. His brows drew together as he strained to comprehend and remember. "I left the Allegro for standard shore leave, one week. I planned to visit my sister on Earth. She just had a baby – a boy – and I wanted to see my nephew. The Allegro was bound for the Sol System anyway, after a successful scouting run, so the captain allowed me to disembark at Arcturus Station and from there I caught the shuttle to Earth, headed to Chicago. But I don't remember anything after Arcturus. It's all… foggy."
"Foggy?" Kat said, the reproach clear in her tone now. "That's your excuse, soldier? You're foggy? Did you in fact see your nephew? Or make it to your sister in Chicago?"
"I don't remember. I must have. Right?"
"Are you asking me, Lieutenant?" Kat glared at him, her most intimidating stare, then sighed when it didn't seem to change the aspect or attitude of the man in front of her. "What happened after you reached Arcturus?"
"I headed to the Galaxy Bar to have a drink while I waited for my shuttle, and there was a guy there, and… I don't remember."
"You don't remember anything after the Galaxy Bar?"
"I… no," Stanton replied, becoming increasingly agitated as he strained to pierce the darkness.
Kat opened her mouth to repeat her questions, to start over, standard interrogation tactics, but Kaidan stilled her with a hand on her shoulder and a look. Kat easily read his message – they weren't going to get any further and it was a waste of time and energy. She sighed, hating to give up even though she agreed. She opened a com channel and summoned James to the med-bay. She remained silent for the few minutes it took him to arrive, then she spoke, again with military correctness and formality.
"Lieutenant Vega, you are to formally detain Lieutenant Roger Stanton. The charges are unauthorized absence, dereliction of duty, insubordination, terroristic acts, attempted murder, and any further violations of the UCMJ that may come to light once a full investigation is conducted. He is to be confined to this med-bay until released from medical restriction, at which point he will be confined to quarters under guard." She paused a moment to allow James to acknowledge her order with a sharp 'yes, ma'am', and then she turned back to Stanton with a sigh.
"Do you understand the charges against you, Lieutenant Stanton?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Stanton replied and his tone was dead, his manner defeated.
Kat sighed again in frustration. "If you remember anything further, let your guards know," she told him before she turned to exit the small room, Kaidan's warm, comforting presence behind her. Before she could notify Doctor Chakwas of her orders, a familiar voice filled the med-bay.
"Shepard, I have been perusing your reports on the current situation and I have some information that may be helpful to you," EDI informed her, and Kat took a moment to recognize the gratitude she felt for Tali's work. Although she may not approved of the quarian's methods, the results were incredible, and not only was she glad to have EDI back as a valuable member of her crew, and as her friend, but she felt that Tali's efforts had helped to right what she still felt was one of her greatest wrongs: the no-win choice she had to make when standing in the Crucible. Despite their recent discussions about the apparent lack of choice, she still felt ultimately responsible for the death of one of her crew (and her friend), as well as an entire race of beings. Thanks to Tali, some of that had been undone.
"I can come to you now, EDI," Kat replied.
"Um, maybe not right now," Joker cut in. "And really, EDI… while we…"
"Jeff, the com is still open. And you know that I am fully capable of multi-"
The communication cut off abruptly, Kat presumed at the hands of her exasperated pilot, and she turned to her husband with a sly grin.
"Do you think we should tell Joker that if she can still multitask he might not be doing it right?" she joked to Kaidan.
"Was that a… joke? From Commander-fucking-Shepard?" Kaidan teased.
"Ha ha ha," Kat replied, with a mock glare. "Let's update Chakwas while we stall."
Ten minutes later, they joined Joker and EDI in the cockpit, and both were presentable and back at their stations. If Joker's face was a bit red, Kat and Kaidan chose to be good friends and ignore it.
"Shepard," EDI greeted when they entered the small space. "Jeff has advised me that your name and rank have changed, do you prefer to be addressed as Captain or Alenko?" she added as an aside.
"Shepard is fine, EDI," Kat replied with a warm smile. "And welcome back." She wondered to herself for a moment whether she needed to offer an apology, then shook it off. "You said you had information that may be helpful?"
"Indeed." EDI confirmed. "I perused your reports on the incidents as well as Lieutenant Vega's, and noticed the common link of high level hacking in all the murders. That type of activity reminded me of a person who worked for Cerberus at the time of my creation. He went by Wraith, and I'm unsure that our databases ever had another identity for him. He was Cerberus' second best hacker – after the Illusive Man. Jeff assures me that the Illusive Man is dead, so I think it is likely that Wraith is involved in these murders."
"Excellent work, EDI," Kat said. "Do you know where Wraith may be?"
"Unfortunately, I need time to rebuild my network and re-interface with source computers throughout the galaxy," EDI replied. "But Shepard, there is one piece of data I have retained that is pertinent to your investigation. Wraith registered low on initiative and leadership on every personality assessment. He was never assigned as even a team lead by Cerberus."
"So chances that he's masterminding this are slim to none," Kat summarized with a sigh.
"He's still worth finding," Kaidan put in. "He can at least lead us to whoever is in charge."
"I wonder if Miranda and the Shadow Broker can help with that," Kat mused. "Let's gather in the main conference room and discuss our options." She turned to exit the cockpit, using her com to put plan to motion.
"Jeff and I will monitor from here," EDI replied, and Kat threw her another smile over her shoulder.
"Excellent to have you back, EDI," she said again as she left.
"EDI's information was completely accurate, as expected," Miranda confirmed once they were gathered. "The only thing scary about Wraith is his name and his hacking skills. But I agree that he is likely the only person that could have pulled some of this off. I apologize for not thinking of him sooner," she added with a sheepish air.
"No worries, Miranda," Kat waved off the apology. "The important thing is that we finally have a lead, and we're hoping that you and Liara can track this Wraith down." At their nods, she continued. "The engineer team – and Tali has joined that group now, which is why she is not here – tells me that they need about 20 more hours to complete the repairs to the Normandy. Can you get us a destination by then?"
"My network, combined with Miranda's information, should be able to track Wraith within the next 8 hours," Liara replied.
"Excellent," Kat said with a nod. "As soon as you have the information, let me know. Kaidan and I will plan the mission and we'll all meet again for a briefing just before the repairs are complete. Any comments, questions, or objections?" she asked, her standard briefing close. When, as expected, there was no response, she nodded and headed to the door. Kaidan fell into step behind her left shoulder, as usual.
Neither of them spoke until the elevator doors had closed behind them and they had selected their cabin as a destination. Then, in complete accord, then turned to each other and Kat sagged into Kaidan's arms.
This, Kaidan thought, was the very private side of his wife that only he saw. She was clearly tired from a long and eventful day and he felt a thrill, as he always did, that this woman, so strong and in control, was willing to trust him and only him to also see the vulnerable part of her. The love and protectiveness for her surged inside him even as he smothered the disappointment that apparently he wouldn't be keeping the promise he made earlier that they would be having sex, too, once they returned to their cabin. Then he felt the tickle of her tongue against his ear and smiled. Even after all these years, she could still surprise him, and he loved that about her too. They stepped off the elevator together and smiled a lover's secret smile. They headed to bed together, shedding clothes along the way, and participated in what was becoming the Normandy crew's favorite activity before drifting off to sleep in each other's arms.