Of all days, Shepard had picked that day on Virmire to stick to the brass and completely ignore any personal feelings. She'd left Ashley to die and ensure the ordinance blew, despite her misgivings about Kaiden. She was a religious nut, but she was still a woman - maybe it'd been a turning point for Shepard.
And Kaiden had thrown it back in her face.
The whiny bitch had always had a thing for her - unrequited. Somehow it was her fault for dying, her fault for being rebuilt by the terrorist organization, her fault that he had held onto something that was never there and let it fester.
The tether was broken now. It was too much of a coincidence that Alenko had been on Horizon when they caught up with the Collectors. He proved what she'd suspected - the Alliance had eyes on her, and not to watch her back. Anderson had lied.
Joker at least had enough sense to stick by her side when she saved his crippled ass. He knew the value of adherence to a real purpose and cause.
Her veins burned as Kaiden walked out of view.
Loyalties. What did Alenko know about loyalty. He'd never had to fight for anything in his life - his schooling was hand picked, his career in the Alliance assured by his biotics, his advancement earned on the tails of her triumph and death.
He was a fucking pussy who ran away when asked to think for himself. Let him get on his knees and take it like they asked - because he was an Alliance man.
"Joker - send the shuttle to pick us up. I've had enough of this colony."
Turning around, Shepard felt Garrus' eyes on her. She looked to where the Collector ship had been, the clouds still disturbed by the turbulence. There was rain in the distance, and the colony was filled with the rumble of thunder that came from afar.
Jack and the turian walked with Shepard out between the colony modules towards the rendezvous.
"I can't believe Kaiden reacted like that." Garrus double-stepped to make it to her side, his long legs letting him match her purposeful stride, "It's people like him that make it harder to do any good for the galaxy."
Shepard rested a hand on her holstered SMG as she walked briskly through the scrambling remnants of the colony. Some heads turned her way, but walking with a turian and a half-naked tattooed woman gave them a wide berth.
"They worry so much about what will happen to them - whose fingers they'll step on -"
Inwardly smirking, Shepard let her eyes fleck to Garrus as they passed a handful of neglected Collector pods. Already there were a few Cerberus crews from the Normandy amongst them, gathering samples and data at Miranda and Mordin's behest.
"Toes?"
"What? All I'm saying is that..." Garrus sighed and crossed his arms, still walking with Shepard as they came in sight of the Kodiak, "... I'm just glad I'm here - with you. I thought more people would be. But it's easier to run and hide than stand up for a fight."
"I don't back down. Even if it's a former enemy placing the bets - I won't blind myself to what's happening."
"I know, Shepard." They hesitated by the lock as the seals hissed and the shuttle opened. "It's why I'll see this through. Collectors, Reapers - till it's done."
"Fuck, get a room," Jack grumbled, sitting on the opposite side of the shuttle from them and propping a foot against the wall.
A smirk briefly cracked Shepard's façade, and she shook her head as the doors sealed and they lifted off.
