Chapter 29 – Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Shepard sat at the desk in her cabin, signing off on requisitions and checking mail. The comforting gentle hum and subtle vibration caused by the engines was absent, bringing with it a silence she found uncomfortable and unnerving. It signalled an end to the journey, and she enjoyed being cocooned within the ship's embrace. This was a small community all its own, and she loved the people within it. They were now, however, mostly gone. Most no doubt headed for the nearest bars to let loose.
Interestingly, James and Jack had left together, and Shepard had noted how close Jack had walked beside him, her arm brushing against his and no sign the contact bothered her. Jack was letting her guard down, and James' frequent glances reminded Shepard of the way Kaidan looked at her. The idea of them was a lovely one. Jack needed that innate gentleness James had, and she'd certainly keep him on his toes.
Speaking of couples, Adams and Chakwas had also departed together, flushing like teenagers when Shepard hadn't been able to prevent the grin from spreading across her face. Then she wondered about another two who had walked out, talking quietly to each other like they were confiding their souls to one another. Knox and Oriana. Two damaged young people in need of healing.
Finished, Shepard spun in the chair, her eyes distracted by the fish in the aquarium, and she recalled the conversation she'd finally plucked up the courage to have with Oriana. What had started as her apology for not stopping Miranda's death, had been countered by Oriana's own.
"It's I who should be saying sorry, Admiral. I let Miranda convince me it was the right thing to do. Without me, my inheritance, she wouldn't have been able to cause all this harm."
"You stood for yourself at the end. That says a lot about you."
Shaking her head, Oriana wrapped her arms around herself. "I knew it was wrong… but I still allowed Miranda to pull me in a direction I would never have gone alone."
Oriana's face had turned to one of pure perplexity over how she'd gotten to that place, but Terra had understood.
"You loved her. And your father."
"I did. … I was listening to you all at dinner last night, and it was wonderful. It brought back memories, but not of my family. My nanny, Marielle. She brought me up while my father flitted in and out of my life with the occasional pat on the head. Marielle. A wonderful person, so vibrant, so happy despite her inability to have a family of her own. She devoted all her time to me, and I loved her immensely. I remember so many times I questioned why my father and sister were never around. Marielle was the one who taught me the importance of family; to appreciate what I had. In the end I was happy in the knowledge that they were simply there, somewhere. I see now that she was protecting me from seeing the truth. That they couldn't care less about me."
"Thank the stars for people like Marielle."
"Yes." The smile that dawned at the thought of Marielle, quickly disappeared. "I miss her. She'd been visiting her brother on Freedom's Progress when the Collectors attacked. I must have cried non-stop for weeks over it. My father and Miri didn't offer a word of comfort, and it hadn't even seemed odd." Oriana took a breath that radiated sadness, her arms tightening around herself like it was the only comfort to be had. "Does it make me a bad person that I'm relieved that Miranda's gone? If your friend hadn't…done what he did, she'd be heading to prison, and despite everything I've just said, knowing she hated me, I'd have still felt duty-bound to visit her for the rest of my days. Instead… I'm free."
That had been the moment Shepard had been able to let her guilt go. She'd never be at peace with her part in it, but it had released this young woman from under Miranda's clutches, and that made it easier.
"Edi. Has everyone left?"
"Asides from Aurora, Kaidan, his parents, and Admiral Hackett, only Grunt and Massani remain."
Shepard sighed. She dreaded to think what Massani could be filling Grunt's head with to have kept the restless krogan in place so long. Massani, though, had been requested to stay in situ until Garrus had departed. By some miracle, her turian friend hadn't found out about Massani's presence on board and Teryck obviously hadn't seen any sense in apprising him, his own restraint truly astounding.
On his way to the battery to persuade his son away from his favourite pastime, Garrus' father had pulled her aside to extend his heartfelt thanks for bringing his son back to him, acknowledging the sacrifice she'd nearly made in order to save Garrus. It seemed it was an act that had set in stone his eternal respect and gratitude. One anti-Spectre truly won over. Then he'd hesitated before moving off.
"Something happened down there. Something Garrus isn't telling me."
She looked at him, considering her response carefully. The last thing she'd wanted was to lie to him, but the truth, she suspected, would send him back to that judgemental state of mind – Garrus didn't belong as the target of Teryck's disappointment. "Some things are best left buried." To her relief, he accepted that.
Shepard stood up. There was now only one thing to be done before she gathered her family. Retrieving the disc from her desk, Shepard left the cabin and entered the elevator. The disc felt heavy in her pocket. Liara had given it to her before leaving, Javik in tow, and to Liara's quiet horror, Samara too. Not that Liara was going far. Her ship had docked and would remain here for a time - Narin Solus had requested she come in so he could perform a few tests. So much was riding on him offering a solution, and Shepard wondered what would happen if he couldn't. Would Liara go with Samara willingly, or resist? If that happened…. Shepard didn't want to think on it. Her head felt like it would overload.
Why did everything have to go wrong at the same damned time?
O
Thunk.
"Not bad," conceded Zaeed as he looked at the position of the knife Grunt had thrown. He'd made himself comfortable on a crate, his feet up on another, and took a swig of whisky from the hip-flask he always kept on him. He would've enjoyed a cigar too if he didn't think the goddamned AI would douse him without warning. "Close to the mark, but a miss is still a miss. Too much time with that shotgun. Precision is key."
"Don't need it," stated Grunt. "Get in close and give them nowhere to run."
"There's a place for close-quarters fighting, sure. It's more satisfying when you can watch the disbelief in their eyes as their life seeps away. But sometimes it's necessary to remain at a distance." Zaeed picked up a second dagger from the set he always carried. "You don't get to survive very long if you don't use your brain. There's always someone faster and stronger than you. Even if you're krogan."
"The yahg are said to be an enemy to rival the krogan for strength. I look forward to the battle."
"And if it turns out they are stronger, then distance and precision are your best friends. Take it from someone who's been around longer than your 'battle-master'. Speaking of which, you didn't see her trying to go one on one with a Reaper." He tapped his head with the hilt of his dagger. "Brains." Then he threw it.
At the same time, the door opened and Shepard strolled right in, just pulling her head back in time to evade the dagger that then embedded itself into the wall and right on target.
"You should watch yourself, Shepard," Massani smirked. "You nearly walked into that one." He turned to Grunt. "Beat that."
"Or not," interrupted Shepard, with irritation. "It's time to leave."
"The next fight better be a harder one, Shepard," moaned Grunt, collecting his shotgun. "Those idiots on Virmire didn't have a clue."
"Be careful what you wish for, Grunt," she warned. "The yahg are dangerous."
Assessing her, Grunt bowed his head to her judgement and left. When Massani went to go past her, she put her hand out to stop him.
"If you think I'm bowing, you can kiss my ass," quipped Massani.
"I have…something for you."
He could tell from her clenched jaw she wasn't pleased at being in his presence. "A gift? I'm touched you care, Shepard," he said dryly. "If it's another date with your fist, you can keep it."
Shepard was chewing the inside of her lips like she was debating with herself. Then she reached into a pocket and pulled out a disc, offering it to him.
Zaeed looked at it suspiciously. "What's that? 'Cos I doubt it's a vid of you naked and dancing for me." He took pleasure in watching her pretty face crease in disgust.
"Do you work at giving me reasons to dislike you, or is it a natural talent?" She didn't give him time to come back with a smart answer. "It contains coordinates. For Santiago."
Frowning, Zaeed stared between her and the disc in her hand. "Is this a game?" he growled.
"I don't play games. You can guarantee they're correct. It came courtesy of the Shadow Broker."
"Why would he do that when he's always refused me before?"
"I had a word."
"You know the Shadow Broker?" He laughed with a shake of his head. "Of course, you bloody do. So why would you do that?"
"Because, although I don't like you or the way you're prepared to stomp over…almost anyone to get what you want, I recognise that you gave up what you thought was a way to get Santiago's location in order to protect my daughter."
"Hackett's grandkid," he corrected, then shrugged. "Steve's the only one who's ever earned my loyalty. Turns out that's more important to me even than tearing Vido's heart out of his fucking chest. Bloody inconvenient time to find out, but looks like it paid off." He took the disc from her fingers and she immediately turned to leave.
"Thank you," he said, sincerely, to her retreating form. Damn, if she hadn't just gone and impressed him. Undeniably Hackett's kid. Almost made him regret not recognising that blood within her from the start. But like much in his life, he'd fucked it up beyond fixing, and so, as always, he shrugged it off. Luckily for him, he wasn't a man to dwell on his mistakes. He simply didn't care enough.
Shepard had paused at his words, though she didn't turn to him. "You probably shouldn't hang around the Citadel too long, either. With the Executor back, you'll be at the top of C-Sec's wanted list. If Garrus finds you, he won't hold back."
Then Hackett walked in, faltering at the sight of them together. That was Shepard's prompt to continue her departure, her hand resting on her father's arm as she went by him, and there was something in that brief silent exchange between them that made Zaeed surprised to feel a little envious of what they had.
With Shepard gone, Hackett looked at Zaeed in question.
"Vido, if you can believe it," Zaeed said simply, lifting the disc into eye level. He saw the flash of pride in the man's face.
"I can't say I'm surprised. She has a forgiving and fair nature."
"And a helluva punch," Zaeed added. He offered his flask, but Steven declined.
Hackett looked like he was about to say something important, then hesitated, looking up as though aware that they were being monitored by the AI. "I'll walk you out."
Zaeed got it: Hackett wanted privacy in the true sense of the word. Interesting. Something he wanted kept from his daughter? Zaeed was always up for a juicy conversation, and from Steve, this would be good.
O
"Are you sure you've got everything you want now?" checked Kaidan, exchanging an amused look with his parents, who'd boarded the second the ship docked.
Rorie gave a thoughtful look between her room and the things cradled in her arms. So far she'd picked up a whole array of toys, then swapped some, then changed her mind again. This time she dumped everything onto her bed and turned to him with only two items. "Just Puppy and Moon," she smiled, displaying them.
Kaidan sighed. "That's what you started with."
"Uh huh. They're my favourites. Mommy says 'travel light'. Now I'm light." To prove it she twirled and jumped about. "See?"
Kaidan could watch her all day, seeing the happiness in her every move, the sparkle of mischief in her eyes, and that sharp mind turning over. After the recent events, he knew he was lucky to be here to enjoy it. These were the precious moments he'd always be grateful for.
"Then let's go," urged Alex Alenko, catching up his dancing grandchild before she launched herself at Kaidan. "Grandma and I have a big meal planned, with all the trimmings."
"And ice-cream?" Rorie asked, hopefully.
"Always ice-cream," assured Lena, laughing.
Kaidan offered his mother his arm and she smiled as she took it, holding on tightly to him, still a little shaken by what she now knew had happened to him. That had been a long conversation, helped by Chakwas' medical prognosis. Rest was all he needed now, and that was just fine with him.
By the time they'd assembled outside the elevator and the doors opened, Terra was there, her face immediately breaking out into a smile.
"Ready to go?"
"Oh, yes," Kaidan said with conviction. "I really need a breather, no pun intended." They crowded in with her, Terra kissing his cheek, then watching him carefully for any sign he was in pain. She'd made it her personal crusade to ensure he didn't suffer in the slightest and that he did exactly what Chakwas said, and Kaidan was certain it was due to some lingering guilt she had over her decision to go for Garrus first. It gave him a drive of his own: to make sure she knew just how proud he was of her, and how much she still astounded him with her inner-strength.
With Terra pressed gently into his side, her hands resting at his hips, and her head on his shoulder, Kaidan couldn't have been happier.
oOo
Settled in a nearby bar at the rear of the establishment where they could see all who entered or approached, and drink in hand, Hackett addressed his old friend. "I was hoping you'd do me a favour."
Zaeed tapped his armour where he'd stowed the disc away. "You realise what I'm holding here?"
"I do," Hackett understood perfectly: Vido was waiting for his bullet, and Zaeed couldn't get there soon enough to deliver it. "But I think I can make it very worth your while, and you'll enjoy this."
"If it doesn't involve a writhing asari, not sure I'm interested."
Hackett huffed at that. "You haven't changed a bit, Zaeed."
"A one-night stand of carnal pleasure," grinned Zaeed. "What's better than that?"
"I would say the love of a wonderful woman," Hackett said, this thoughts instantly going to Hannah, with all the pain and regret brought with it at her loss. But she lived on in their daughter, and again in Aurora, and that filled him with pride and adoration. "Family," he added with a smile. "But I know it'd be lost on a rake like you."
"Don't know what you're missing."
Hackett had no compulsion to find out. He would belong to Hannah to his dying day. Wasting no more time, he got to the point. "I want you to escort someone to Purgatory."
It wasn't, of course, the original Purgatory. After the Blue Suns foolhardy attempt to obtain his daughter – no doubt with a mind to sell her to the highest batarian bidder – the place had literally fallen apart around them. Apparently, Aria liked the idea of the prison and, quick to reinforce her status after the war, this new structure was created and branded with the defunct title because it was an already known name that rang forebodingly to those threatened with it. Erected in eye-view of Omega, it was Aria's own personal Hell where she could send those who dared to incur her wrath. It was considered to be far more brutal than anything it had been before, and Hackett had just agreed a price with Aria to take someone for him.
Zaeed studied him. "Nasty place, shitty location. Where's the sweetener?"
"When it's done, I'll make sure there's a group of Alliance soldiers in the right area to assist you when you take down Santiago. They'll be far better than any mercs you might hire, and you have to agree it would be a shame not to have the health to enjoy that sweet after-taste when you deliver your revenge."
"Alliance backup? You'd do that?"
"I'd do that," confirmed Hackett. "Though they'll be working alongside you, not under you, so try not to piss them off or you might get left behind again," he ribbed.
"Funny. Who's the unlucky fellow?"
"This is the bit you'll like even more than that one-nighter. It's Antella."
"Weasel," Zaeed grinned savagely. "Yeah… That would give me great pleasure. So…talking of asari, you got in bed with T'Loak, huh?"
"Figuratively speaking," sighed out Hackett to Zaeed's dirty laugh. "I've already chartered a ship for you. When you're ready to leave, I'll make sure he's on it. But this is off the record, and Terra is not to know."
"Works for me."
Hackett emptied his glass in one and got to his feet. He shook Zaeed's hand, slapping his other on his old friend's shoulder. "Stay in touch this time."
"Maybe I will. Can't convince you to stay for another? We can sit and reminisce the good old days, back to back on a battlefield with our good looks still intact and a lot less bloody aches and pains."
"Sorry, Zaeed, but you're no competition when it comes to dinner with my family."
"Family," mocked Zaeed. "Knocked the fun right outta you."
"Actually, I'm having the best time of my life."
"I'm offering booze and women, Steve."
"It's all empty, Zaaed. Nothing beats being surrounded by people you love."
"I'm hurt," joked Zaeed, turning back to his drink.
Hackett strolled away like a man with no weight on his shoulders. It was done. He wasn't prepared to risk Antella calling in more old favours or using blackmail to secure another freedom. Miranda Lawson and Kryek had gotten off lightly compared to what awaited Antella. If Terra knew, she'd realise that what Garrus had done to Lawson had actually been a blessing. But she wouldn't know. Ever. Antella had brought misery on his daughter for far too long. This was Hackett's justice.
oOo
oOo
Sat on the sofa, watching the flames in the fireplace, Kaidan hadn't been this relaxed in a long time. Five days of nothing but family was bliss.
A shimmer of deep red blocked Kaidan's view. Though his lungs were now back in full working order, it didn't stop Kaidan from losing his breath.
"You're stunning."
Terra was standing there in the dress he'd bought her on the night he'd proposed, and there was a moment of déjà vu as she stood in front of him, outlined by the fire behind her. Of course what had come next that night wasn't something he could recreate again with his parents in the other lounge, but he found himself no less turned on by the memory and her presence. When Kaidan stood he noticed Terra's cheeks were flushed and there was a mischievous look in her eye that told him she was thinking the same as he was.
"So where are we going?" She moistened her lips and Kaidan wished they were alone right then.
He stepped in close, his words for her only. "I have a confession to make. My only plan is to find somewhere quiet where I can ravage you."
Her brow quirked. "Mr Alenko, I'm a little lost for words! I like that plan. But...," she added with worry, "you're still healing."
"I'm great, and I'd really like to prove it to you. Preferably without the knowledge that my parents are in the same vicinity."
"It is a bit awkward." She laughed, then frowned. "But I think you should wait until Chakwas gives you the okay."
He would have felt gutted if he hadn't caught that gorgeous tug at the corner of her mouth. "You're saying that on purpose, aren't you? This is payback."
"Do you have any idea of how long you made me wait after the Reapers?" Her eyes squinted in an attempt to look like she meant business, but she only succeeded in making herself even more alluring.
"It wasn't easy for me either, believe me, and I was justified. You were far more hurt than I was."
"You nearly died," she said, seriously.
"From a collapsed lung which is no longer a problem. The rest of me is just in desperate need of my wife's special brand of TLC."
"Hmm. I could be tender, loving and careful, I suppose…" She pressed her body against him.
"You're such a tease."
"Go already, or we're all gonna need cold showers," called out Alex, who had at some point during their conversation travelled from the lounge and into the kitchen unnoticed.
Kaidan buried his head in his wife's neck in mortification while she gripped him close as she laughed into his shoulder. Recovering as best he could, Kaidan eyed his father. "Thanks dad."
"Pleasure," grinned Alex. "Now go. And don't go doing anything anywhere you might get arrested. Oh wait! You're Spectres. Go for it."
"Dad!"
"Come on, handsome," laughed Terra, pulling him towards the door. "Dad's right. There's rules to break. And I know just where to go."
"See what you've done?" Kaidan directed at his dad. "You've got her leading me into trouble."
"You should be used to it by now. Enjoy it," laughed Alex.
Out in the hall, Kaidan smiled to himself, his hand squeezing Terra's as they walked. He was with the woman he loved… A woman who was now attracting a lot of attention as they exited onto the Strip. She smiled at him, oblivious, and Kaidan couldn't keep the grin off his face. He could admit he was feeling rather smug by the time they climbed into a sky-car. He would relish every second of tonight – it would be impossible not to. She was all his.
oOo
Bau was feeling the heat. Even here, under the ground, there was no respite. He was crawling through ventilation shafts, and it felt like he was being roasted alive.
In the few days they'd been on Parnack, the planet's propensity to throw out weather extremes was already a grumbling point with everyone. They'd arrived under the cover of night that brought an intense chill that froze the ground solid. Since then they'd suffered drenching rain that slowed them down as they had to cover their tracks, the following night freezing it over to offer a precarious footing as they tried to get their measure of the target base beyond them. Then Parnack's sun had beat down mercilessly on them. By mid-day the earth had been dried out and scorched, and even now in the midst of Parnack's night, that heat lingered.
After touching down and assessing their surroundings, they were certain they'd remained undetected. Like its weather, the little of Parnack they'd seen so far was strangely varied. They'd put down boots in a small clearing within a dense forest not of the usual greens but browns and burnt orange like Earth's autumn brought. Then the fauna had ended abruptly, and they'd been faced with a flat of land that was a dull yellow with a dry straw-like covering. That had been a tense crossing, with nowhere to hide. Finally, as they'd closed in on the co-ordinates given them, they were met with an uneven, stony ground that, as unpleasant as it was to manoeuvre through, offered them plenty of much-needed cover with its larger rocks that jutted up through the land like spearheads thrust from below. Then there were the huge trees which, unlike those in the forest, were completely bare, with so many branches they entwined with each other and created a bulky mass of twisted, gnarled grey limbs.
Then they'd finally gotten their first sight of their target.
This remote district was surprisingly busy with bodies and machinery considering the size of it, and large utilitarian buildings of stone and metal dominated the landscape. At one side of the perimeter, their group had noted a wide area packed with nothing but tent-like habitats that indicated there were more yahg here than this small outlying village could accommodate.
After some long-distance reconnaissance, they'd isolated three buildings of interest, as well as an entrance to an underground area, which Bau himself was now investigating, their high-tech equipment having done all it could in mapping out the area. Those who had accompanied him to Parnack were concentrating on the buildings. An impressive bunch. One from each Council race.
Bau was finally approaching another break in the vent's floor. He found himself eager to see just what the yahg were putting so much of their resources into. The grating not only sent an artificial light into the small space, but also a welcome cooler air. Bau was too distracted to appreciate it, though. Unlike the storage rooms he'd seen so far, below him was a sight he never expected. He was looking down into a huge hangar that stretched further than he could see. It was what occupied that space that was so astounding. Ships. A huge fleet's worth.
He was under no illusion that they were capable of space-flight. No one built this many ships unless they knew they were viable. This had been going on for years and the Council had no idea. It was smart, and Bau respected that, but it also meant they had more trouble brewing than they realised. He would need to recon this whole area in order to be able to give the Council an idea of numbers. He checked his omnitool for the time. The others would now be at the buildings-
The crackling in his ear-piece had him frowning. They'd maintained complete radio silence since coming to ground, and had intended to remain so throughout their individual recons. Someone was about to break it. That was exceedingly bad news, especially so soon.
"Deyra! Your cover's blown! Abort! Repeat! Abort!"
Bau recognised that as the fellow salarian, Merin Rebus, who was overseeing the above-ground operation. He'd worked with Kirrahe on Virmire and had hurtled through the ranks after that. For a veteran like that to sound so concerned, it meant the situation was dire.
"How the hell!?" remarked the asari, Nishae Deyra, and the heavy breathing signalled she'd started running. "But I'm cloaked!" She grunted in pain just before the transmission ended.
"Hold on!" broke in Mika Tagarin, the female turian. "I'm heading to you!"
"I've got six hostiles on my tail!" That was the human, Jon Choi. Things were falling apart out there. "Shit, they're fast! I can't-!"
Choi's strangled cry was as much as Bau needed to hear. He switched off the comm and proceeded along the ducts. It might seem callous to some, but he had a mission to complete, and for now, the ability to carry it through. Heading out there now would only alert the yahg to his presence as well as the others. Intel was imperative, and this may be all they'd get.
oOo
Standing at the top of the Presidium building, Terra enjoyed the embrace of her husband as they looked out at the lovely view of the Citadel at dusk which this height afforded them. She made a mental note to thank Garrus for bringing her up here once. She'd never have thought of it otherwise.
"I'm impressed," said Kaidan. "There's no chance of anyone finding us up here."
"Well…"
"Uh oh."
"Technically it is against the law, so we could get a visit from C-Sec."
Kaidan groaned, much to Terra's amusement.
"I thought you were joking when you talked about breaking rules."
"Relax. It makes things more exciting…" she purred, "knowing we could get caught."
"Like I did earlier? By my dad?" he added, wryly. Then her words processed. "Wait a minute. Caught doing what?"
With a seductive smile she led him over to the sky-car. Opening the door, she turned to Kaidan. "Might be a little cosy, but that's no bad thing." Her arms circled his neck and her lips brushed his. "Just you and me at the top of the Citadel. But not if it makes you feel uncomfortable."
He grasped her to him, kissing her, then trailing those kisses down her neck, his teeth scraping against her skin like he was tempted to devour her, while his hands caressed a path up her back to slide the straps from her shoulders. "I want to," he said huskily into her ear just before returning to her mouth. "I want you."
Terra was already burning for him, and she ripped apart his shirt to gain access to the skin beneath. She ghosted her fingers over his torso, mindful of the bruising there, running them down to release his trousers as her dress pooled at her feet. Then Kaidan was pushing her backwards, and without allowing too much space between them, they manoeuvred into the rear of the cab, Terra having just enough mind left to black out the windows as Kaidan sealed them in and sent her into a state of pure ecstasy.
Tears fell from her eyes as she thanked the stars that this man was still in her life. He owned her heart and soul, and should he leave this galaxy before her, she knew he would take all of her with him.
Feeling his hesitation at her tears, she met his worried eyes and assured him with her kiss. Then she took over and worked to show him the extent of what she felt for him. Her husband. And his name tumbled from her lips like she breathed it instead of oxygen. "Kaidan."
oOo
