"This is ridiculous!" Ash paced back and forth through the cabin Kaidan had been assigned for his stay on the Perth. "It's a do-nothing position to just sit on our thumbs and… Argh!"
Surprised that the chief hadn't actually struck anything yet, Kaidan placed a hand on her shoulder. It wasn't that he had consoling words to offer, but simply that he understood. He'd had no delusions that his time on Ascension had been an attempt to sweep him under the rug and now, again, when he was getting close to something… And what could he tell her anyway? That there was more going on than they knew? He wasn't convinced though he did expect more from Anderson. "There's got to be more to this," he finally offered in a quiet voice.
Ash whirled, leveling a finger at the commander. "I told you. I told you he wasn't telling us everything. I- I- Shepard wouldn't have put up with this!"
"I know." Kaidan stepped away and sank onto the bunk. "I keep asking myself what she would do." He held his hands out, palm up. "Nothing comes to me. Did Safren give you leave after we dock?"
Williams furrowed her brow. "What? No. Why?"
"Well, we don't report to the Killington until two days after we dock at Illium. Since I will be between assignments, I am at liberty for that time."
Ash shook her head. "It's not much time."
Kaidan thought it over then nodded with a sigh. "I hate to say this and I really don't want to, but Anderson is right - at least for right now. There's something else I need to look into. Lives could be at stake."
"Have you lost your mind? We're letting them slip through our fingers." Ash stopped pacing then, under the commander's steely stare, added a belated, "Sir."
Kaidan studied his terminal across the room. "I have reason to believe that there may be something wrong at the Ascension Project."
"The…? They have some of best security money can buy, don't they?" Some of the anger bled from Williams' stance as confusion took over.
"They do. I- It's complicated." The commander rose and walked over to the console, clicking it on without a second thought.
"Okay… Assuming that you're about to explain what's complicated about it - what do you want us to do about it? I'm not going to say that's not my job, but things like that are why we have a whole military instead of just one uber crew."
Kaidan wasn't sure yet what he wanted them to do. He felt he had to be there, but Williams did have a point.
Too drained to play it careful, the commander went for the direct approach. "I should call it in, but I'm afraid it is a trap and doing so will only tip them off."
"Are you sure you don't just think that you'd find nothing is wrong and you don't get to be the hero to those kids after all?" Ash leaned against the console table, scanning Kaidan's written evidence.
"I would love nothing more than for it all to be a prank. We have enough to worry about as it is." The commander pushed a hand through his hair as he alternated watching the chief and plotting the next move. Then he stopped. "You're right. We can't take it on ourselves."
Williams' peered up suspiciously, "Of course, I'm right, but that's not all, is it?"
Kaidan couldn't help but smile. It all seemed so easy. Now that he'd fit enough pieces together, the rest just tumbled into line. "Official channels have too much opportunity for a leak and I can't take the risk that a full investigation makes the situation worse."
"Not to mention the reprimand if there's nothing there." Ash tapped her fingers on the desk, waiting for the grand plan to descend.
"Right." The commander paused. He hadn't thought of that, but it didn't deter him. "So we go with someone we trust. Doctor Michel."
"Citadel Med Clinic Doctor Michel?" Williams arched a brow. "The one you were-"
"We had drinks, Ash. And talked shop - nothing more. But yes, that one. I've been in contact with her since-"
The chief's brow raised higher, complete with smug implication.
Kaidan's expression fell to flat refusal. "Since we began speaking in an unofficial capacity. You know what happened after the Battle of the Citadel. Aid accolades, recognition…" He waved his hand outward. "The works. She was also called upon to consult or provide extra aid at the Project when resources were low."
"Okay, I get why she can get in there, but do you even know what she's doing now? Not everyone is going to drop everything and rush into a potential trap - no matter how slim the chance of it even being one is."
He didn't like the thought of sending her into what could very well be hostile territory. Michel was street smart enough to keep her head above water, but there could be real danger. He'd let her make that decision. "We have to try."
Ash held her arms up in defeat and had been about to speak when two solid raps sounded at the door. "It's Remy," came the voice from the other side
"Enter," Kaidan called as he caught the chief's this-is-not-over look.
The door swished open to reveal the weary private. If the man was surprised to see Williams in the commander's quarters, he made not mention of it. "I wanted to come say goodbye in person."
Kaidan frowned. Word of their transfer had certainly spread quick and like most gossip, hadn't carried the full message.
"Sorry's contracted a secondary infection," Remington continued, "and they're transferring him to a Med Center at the next port. I've- My leave has been granted to accompany him."
Something in the man's eyes made the commander feel that perhaps there was something more than close camaraderie between the two privates. It wasn't something he approved, but the root of it, he understood completely. He clapped Remy's shoulder with one hand and offered his sympathy without saying a word.
Ash was a little more verbose and added her sentiment through a clenched jaw. "Don't worry Rem, we'll go back and clean up those sons of bitches."
The private snorted. "Won't deny that if the whole station blows up, we'll be cheering as we watch the vid on replay, but… thanks." The smallest smile lifted his eyes and what he and Williams were really trying to say seemed to pass between them, almost palpable. No station-genocide necessary.
"It's been a pleasure serving with you, Private," Kaidan added, " When Sorrenson's patched up we'll get a round or three on the Citadel."
"Sounds like a plan, Commander." Remy nodded and looked over his shoulder. "I need to get back…"
"Dismissed." The order came from both the commander and chief. It was easier than the real word - Goodbye.
As Remington walked away, Kaidan turned to Ash, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
A shade paler than usual, Williams nodded. "I guess that settles it then."
"Settles?"
"The staffing choice. It'll be you, me, Tenari, and Booke on Horizon."
Kaidan rubbed his forehead. Why was it that for each problem solved, three more sprang up?
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Ash moved in close, halfway between the console and the door.
The commander looked up. When had she not? Readying himself for what was to come, he nodded. "Go ahead…"
"I am not camping out on a nowhere colony while you and Tenari try to tear each other's throats out." The ultimatum shot like a laser from the chief's steely gaze.
He chuckled, thinking of the 'progress' he and the corporal had made on Omega. They'd been mostly avoiding each other since. "I'll see what I can do."
The answer satisfied Ash, at least for now and she'd gone on to check on Sorrenson. A half hour after she left, Kaidan found himself still staring at the blank message he'd intended to compose to Doctor Michel. There simply was no right way to ask what he was going to ask of her in text.
He'd need to call. He didn't want to call.
Even as thoughts of little Cassandra came to the fore of his mind, some tiny selfish part of his mind tried to prevent him from moving toward his current objective. He hadn't been entirely honest with Ash after all. It hadn't been his plan to simply have drinks with the doctor and talk about the latest breakthroughs in medical science. He'd been trying to move on.
The doctor was attractive, very intelligent, and had an accent he could listen to all day. He hadn't been listening to most of what she'd said that night. He had been watching, tracing the contours of the woman's face with his eyes and trying to fan life into the tiniest spark of desire with pitiful results. It was as though the numbness that had set into his body after Shepard's passing had become permanent.
Still, he'd had another drink. He laughed when it was appropriate, danced with a woman who was not rushing off to save the day the moment he held out his hand, and, after following the good doctor to her place in the Wards, he'd kissed her goodnight.
He remembered how, the last time she'd been at the Ascension Project, she'd giggled then and invited him into the guest quarters. He'd taken too long to answer, studying the various certificates that were pinned to the walls. Chloe hadn't minded. She'd stood there waiting, a blissful smile on her face as she'd looked up at him.
That was two months ago. He hadn't seen her in person since, but he was pretty sure, he'd given her the wrong impression.