Chapter 35: A New Lead

Jack woke up the next morning to the sight of Kal sucking on a tube of nutritional paste. The tube was attached to his mouthpiece haphazardly making Kal look like a career drunk or, a new born with a bottle. Since they had only expected Tali as the only Quarian crew member, they didn't pack a lot of variety in terms of Quarian food. Depending on how this conversation went, they might need to start packing more. Jack reminded himself that this didn't mean Kal was interested in any romance but, he was still here for some reason.

Kal pulled off the tube wiping his mouthpiece with the back of his glove, "It's good to see you actually stayed in bed for once instead of doing what you normally do."

Jack gave him a teasing smirk, trying to make a friendly tone for the conversation, "Is that why your still here? I wasn't planning on raiding three Batarian bases back to back again anytime soon."

Kal cleared his throat sounding much more neutral about the situation, "I wanted to make sure you were ok, with all due respect that guy kicked your ass.. Plus, I don't really have a place to go right now, since the X57 job is over."

Jack became more serious again seeing Kal was still standoffish, "I could take you back to the Citadel, we have the time. Or I could take you to the Bowman's, they seemed to make you happy."

In all honesty, they really didn't have the time but, Kal didn't need to know that. He had no desire to drag Kal along on this dangerous mission just because they didn't have time to take him somewhere safe. Besides, it wasn't as if he had a hundred leads just knocking down his door and Jack was ignoring them for the sake of Kal. Despite his urgency to get something done, Saren was going to have to make the next move here. The Terminus Systems consisted of thousands of worlds, there was no way the Normandy had the time to look through each one to find Saren.

Kal tilted his head sounding suspicious, "The Bowman's were a great place to start my new life but, I don't want them to be tied down by a gay Quarian in the basement. Also, before I dragged you in here you had some mission that you just had to get to. Now you suddenly have time to play cab pilot? Come on Shepard, please don't prioritize me over your SPECTRE work."

It had hit an obvious, awkward, uncomfortable nerve so Jack told him the truth, "If I had something to go on I would but, right now I have no idea what I'm doing... Until Saren commits some other war crime, I've got nothing to go on."

Kal folded one leg over the other in his seat, "Saren...? Isn't that some Turian who was part of the anti-Human movement before we met?"

Jack nodded remembering what was left of the colonists on Eden Prime, "Yeah and now he's leading an army of Geth trying to bring about a galactic extinction event."

Kal tensed when he mentioned army of Geth, "Why don't we start at the beginning, what do you know about this army?"

Without hesitation, Jack told him everything that had happened so far. From his vision on Eden Prime, all the way to confronting Saren on Therum. It was nice to let all of his fears and insecurities about the Reapers out in the open to someone he felt he could trust completely. He felt the other members of the crew needed to see confidence for the sake of morale. Kal was someone has could tell the real truth to. Even though Jack knew it would take a long time for Kal to even consider him a friend again, it was still nice to talk to him. Jack could tell he didn't believe everything, especially the part about a talking Geth being possible but, he listened silently and asked questions when it was appropriate. He couldn't really blame Kal for being skeptical, some of what he was saying sounded crazy to his own ears, despite having lived it.

When Jack was finished talking, Kal took a deep breath, "It sounds like you'll need a good explosives expert then if your going after ancient beings wanting to use us all for food."

Jack gave him a little smile, "This is more dangerous than the Blitz Kal, you deserve a life without constant firefights involved."

Kal shook his head in return, "More dangerous than a Batarian terrorist infecting me with about a dozen germs? Besides, I was engineered to be a warrior, it's probably what I'll do till I'm old and green or die trying. If what you saw is actually going to happen, this mission is a lot more important than our past problems. Why don't we just put what we were on the side and actually help the Galaxy? Otherwise we won't have a future anyways."

Jack didn't love the suggestion and thought putting their relationship behind them would be easier said than done but, Kal was stubborn when he put his mind to something, "Alright then, welcome aboard Kal'Reegar... Vas Normandy."

He knew Kal's real current ship name was now Vas Nedas but, Jack refused to use that. It was the name all Quarian exiles were given no matter what their crimes. Kal was nothing like murderers and drug dealers, Jack wanted him to know that. His first ship name wasn't really appropriate either since that was the ship his father exiled him from so, Jack came up with Vas Normandy. Hopefully, Kal wouldn't react negatively to the name, Jack just wouldn't be able to handle calling his old love a criminal everyday.

The Quarian stood up staying silent for a long moment, "Th... Thank you Commander, I'll make myself useful in the cargo hold, maybe mod weapon systems."

Jack wanted to warn him Ashley might not appreciate Kal taking her space over but, he was already gone and Adam was coming in, "Commander, I assume we're getting another member to the crew?"

Although Jack knew he was just doing his job, he was very tired of the security chief questioning his every decision, "Yes he is, and no you don't get to put surveillance on him."

Adam looked apologetic when he responded, "I understand I over stepped my bounds, time in the Corsairs makes you question your Captain, a lot.. That's why I'm here actually, I wanted to say I was sorry for arresting Mandaria without asking you and infront of everyone. The crew should never see our disagreements."

Jack had to admit it was refreshing to have someone apologize since he was used to Ashley's denial response, "Well thank you Adam, I accept your apology. Is there anything else?"

Adam seemed to relax after that, "Just Liara, she said you should go see her in her space as soon as possible. Something about a lead on her mother, in the meantime, I'll make sure Kal gets settled in."

Jack saluted him before going to get a bite to eat in the mess hall. There he saw Tali and Kaidan sitting in one of the shadowy corners sharing an omni tool. The way they were laughing and pointing at the screen made Jack think they were watching a movie of some kind. Although Garrus had made a comment poking fun at the relationship earlier, Jack honestly thought it was cute to see them together. It might not last since she would most likely return to the Migrant Fleet when this was over but, he wasn't going to tell either of them that.

To make sure they knew he was in the room, he shook the cereal box extra loudly and coughed, "What are you two laughing at? My Highschool graduation photos can't be that hysterical."

Kaidan jolted starting to slide away from her but, the Quarian put her hand on top of his to stop him. Tali then said, "I'm showing him Fleet and Flotila 2: Biotic Dance edition. We're laughing at just how bad it is.. How are you Shepard? Are you sure you should be up and around?"

Jack sat at a nearby table to give them space, "If there's an encore sometime let me know, it'll give me an excuse to buy popcorn for Joker. I think I'm ok, no time to sit around though, Liara has a lead."

Kaidan looked curiously at Jack, "I can't imagine Benezia just handing herself over, even for her daughter. Well, if she did it's probably just a trap, should we get ready for a trap then?"

Jack shrugged while eating a quick bowl of cereal, "Don't know yet, gonna talk to her in a minute. With Saren though I'd say anything is possible so yeah get ready for a trap."

Kaidan gave a little nod, "Aye, aye Commander, we'll be ready..." He whispered something to Tali and after she nodded he stood up, "Can we talk for a minute Commander? I promise I'll be quick."

Jack wasn't expecting that but he didn't mind talking, "Sure, what's on your mind Alenko?"

Once Tali left, Kaidan sat down across from him whispering, "Sir, I need your advice, I... I've been thinking about resigning and want your opinion on it."

That revelation certainly hit Jack like a box of rocks, and he was sure his facial expression reflected that, "Kaidan if this is about wanting to be with Tali, I already told you that was ok with me."

Kaidan frowned not looking up at him, "No it's not that it's just, you put me in charge of that second team on Luna and I didn't rescue Kahoku. He is.. was, a Joint Chief, Shepard. It's my fault he didn't make it."

Jack didn't say anything for a moment to come up with the right thing to say here, "Kaidan, Kahoku was a traitor, he chose to be in that situation. You did what you could for him but, the day he signed up with those people was the day he made his fate. As of right now Lieutenant Alenko, I would not accept any kind of resignation letter from you. Go back to watching that stupid movie with Tali, I'm sure we have a few days before we get to Liara's lead."

Kaidan deflated some as Jack got up, "Yes sir, and thank you for hearing me out, it's been stuck in my mind since the incident."

Once he arrived in the spare storage room, Jack realized Liara had done some major decorating of the place. The containers along the walls were now neatly organized in alphabetical order. He wondered when she had the time to do all this but, then again she wasn't showing any interest in joining the ground team. Jack couldn't say that was a bad thing either, Liara's Prothean knowledge and connection to Saren were much more valuable than an extra biotic on the field.

Having heard him come in, Liara turned to face him, "It's good to see you again Commander, how is our latest Quarian addition doing?"

Jack gave her a sly smile but ultimately he just shrugged, "He wants to help destroy the Reapers, that's all I can ask for really. Adam said you had a lead? Has your mother tried to reach out to you?"

Liara looked uncertain for a moment, "Not exactly... However, I've been in contact with someone claiming to be her and Saren's protégé."

Jack folded his arms, already not liking the sound of this lead, "Do you know this person? They could just be trying to trick you with information."

Liara started to pace around the room, "No I don't know them Shepard, ever since she went missing I haven't been a part of her life but, Shepard this person knew things about her. Things that only someone working with her would know."

Jack's hair on the back of his neck was starting to stand up, this felt like a textbook trap, "Liara, what if it's just Saren trying to lure us into a trap? We have no way of knowing who your really talking to."

Liara didn't seem offended about him treating her like a child and just put her hand on her chin, "I know but, they're claiming they've found another Prothean beacon. If there's any kind of truth to that we have to go, it could help you piece together what you saw on Eden Prime."

He hated to admit it but, she was right, "Where is this protégé?"

Liara looked at him with a worried expression, "Feros, it's an old Prothean world in the Theseus System."

Jack felt another tingle of suspicion, "If it's a known Prothean world, why haven't people found the beacon before now?"

Liara showed him her omni tool, "As you can see, all they would say is the Prothean's took extra precautions to hide this beacon from the 'old ones.'"

Jack remembered hearing that phrase on Eden Prime and it made him excited. He didn't waste any more time on debate, it was time to get Saren, and a trusted agent would be a good way to start.