Kaidan's omnitool came to life. They had just started their accent to the Mass Relay in the Widow System. As far as he knew Shepard hadn't left the War Room since this morning but now she was calling him up before they arrived as promised.
As EDI had informed him earlier, Shepard was still pacing when he got there. Cup of coffee in one hand, data read out in the other. Step step turn. Step step turn -around the table where Dignitaries from 4 Council races had met what felt like a life time ago. The image of a caged predator.
Hearing the Privates greet him she pivots, smile lighting up her features.
"Kay, I meant to call you earlier. I just got so wrapped up."
"It's fine. What do we have set up?" Keeping in mind his own little adventures to plan.
"It's …tight" she gives a sigh. "I had to call in a few favors. Some of which I never thought I would have to." She looks away as if remembering something unpleasant. Making an effort to push the memory away she gets back to the briefing.
"Something has been bothering me this whole time about Thessia. Well a LOT has been bothering me about Thessia but something was nagging me about the invasion like I was missing something obvious."
"Going with your gut again Shepard?"
"I guess. Well think about it this way. Who were the first targets the Reapers hit."
"Earth and Palaven. Makes sense the two largest fleets in the galaxy."
"Well the Quarrians but yea the largest militaries anyway. They hit the Batarrians only because they were on the way to the Relays. They beelined Earth and hit the Turrians next."
"They are still giving them hell but the Reapers moved on. Either with agents within other governments or with full attacks. The Krogan demilitarized zone, Hanar, Volus, Elcor all hit before Thessia. They went after Illium but not the home world. When they finally did they didn't send foot troops or mobs like on Earth they sent ground Reapers. More than double what we saw on other planets. Even with the Asari military being less than half our size. "
"Yea I guess that is true. What do you think?" It was clear she had been puzzling this out for a while but had not said anything until she was positive.
Leaving herself a way out. I wonder where she learned that from.
"When we were in the Collector base there were the swarms. You remember them on Horizon. They were EVERYWHERE in the ship. Mordin had researched them and how to shield us from them for a short time but there were thousands. We got through it with biotics. Jack made a barrier that held them off" She gave Kaidan a pointed look.
"On Horizon. How did you?" She paused unsure how to phrase the question.
"I was in the communications and defense towers after the initial attack." He said honestly. One of his biggest failures to date was not saving those colonists. And how he had reacted to Shepard on top of that heavy loss still cut deep.
"Yea but before? When the bugs were freezing people?" She pressed.
"I don't know I probably used biotics on top of my rifle." He conceded.
"When did you start using barrier?" She said with a look. He tried to think but he honestly could not remember. Activating his biotic armor had almost become second nature to him so while he was trying to defend the civilians it was possible he had it.
"The Collectors are not the Reapers thought."
"Yea but the Collector were the Protheans which we know had biotics. They guided the Asari who all have biotics. The Collectors no longer exist."
"You think the Reapers are afraid of biotics? It's one hell of a stretch."
"Not afraid, just unsure. They are synthetics , we are the chaos in the universe- biotics are an extra unknown variable added to the mix."
"Do you have Mordin's data? The research on the swarms?"
She grimaced. "No that is the favors I have been calling in. Daniel a human I saved took over the clinic on Omega after Mordin left, Maelon the one who started the genophage cure was an old student of his. Even a nephew Mordin contacted while we were preparing. I am looking, I just hope it's fast enough."
"Well it's more than we had a few hours ago. What do you need me to do about it?"
"I need you to create a basic training that turns dancers and waitresses into Commandos and Soldiers."
"Oh is that all? Might as well wrap this whole war up then."
"Hey now Major I can't be the only one doing the impossible if we are going to win this. Besides I called in some help there too."
"Since it seems you can't go planetside without running into someone you know. I guess I will take that as a good thing."
"Yea this war certainly has a way of pulling them out of the woodwork. I mean YOU'RE here."
She had meant it as a joke but even now the words still stung. Impossible as she was to read he knew Shepard was still hurting. One good day and a few raunchy jokes would not fix that. He had seen it when she lashed out in her dreams at enemies that were just beyond reach. But she had let him in just a little. Kaidan prayed it would be enough.
"Something tells me I'm right where I need to be."
She quirks her head to the side, as if pondering over what he just said. Finally she replies.
"Yeah. Having you with me always did just feel right."
"Commander incoming short wave burst to your account logged private". EDI's voice chimes over the loudspeaker. For a brief moment Shepard ponders this, trying to recall who she had been in contact with in the past several hours. Too many to narrow it down she glances over to Kaidan before giving a small shrug.
"Play it EDI."
Thinking back to the earlier communications he had seen in her account Kaidan briefly wonders just how many people where actually in a position to repay favors owed to the Hero of the Blitz in the middle of a war.
But Shepard was clever; he doubted she would ask for things they were not able to perform. At least she would make them THINK they were able to perform it. His supposed new Asari training was proof of that. Train hundred year old aliens to fight and think like biotic soldiers. But when she phrased it she made it sound like it was a routine training drill like he had done with his students back on Earth.
Shepard's omni came to life. There was no video just a brief audio message. A female voice that sounded oddly familiar but he couldn't quite place.
"You really do have the shittyst timing PJ. However I think we can arrange something mutually beneficial. You know where to find me." It ended.
"PJ?"
Shepard's features darkened. "Old nickname. From another life." The walls were back up in full force. Whatever had been bartered for this favor was not one Shepard had wanted to call in.
But that voice. He had heard it before somewhere. Slick and arrogant even over a recording. Then it came to him. The Pirate Queen herself, the once ruler of Omega.
Aria T'loak.
Who is now currently sitting in the Citadel. Where you are docking in the next hour or so. Who apparently had a history with Shepard that she clearly did not like to bring up.
"You know one of these days you are going to tell me your stories."
"Yea let's see if we get there first." Her voice had an edge to it that warned Kaidan he was on dangerous ground.
What is the difference between being a private person and being secretive? Answer: How dangerous the secrets are.
"Don't give me that crap Shep. You took the call with me here. You knew it could have been something you didn't want me to hear." He pointed out.
For just a second he saw the temper flash in her eyes. That rage Garrus had warned him about.
"You are right. Something's just should stay in the past. Damn this war."
"Shepard you can't just leave it at that .What is this about? Give me something to go on before we walk into a viper's den." He grabs her elbow as she goes to turn away. A reflective action but one that has immediate repercussions.
That did it.
No sooner had he touched her elbow then she had yanked it away. Faster than he would have thought possible she spun on her heels and backed away. That held temper now flashing, her features hard.
"Cut the crap Kaidan. How much do you really think you know about me? Whats my favorite color? What's my middle name? You think sweet talking and puppy eyes are going to make me into something I'm not? You wanted the Commander Shepard, the Hero of the Blitz, whatever other bullshit title they tacked on after I managed to get blown to hell. Now you are uncomfortable that there might be more to it than that?"
There it was. This had been brewing since he had rejoined. Garrus had warned him, Tali had tried to help, hell even Joker in his own way. Just because he knew it was inevitable didn't make it any easier to be the one at the end of the verbal lashing.
"Not it Shepard. You. I have learned more about YOU in the last three weeks then I did the entire time we served together on the SR-1. Yes I know there is more to you then your record. I wouldn't care so much if I didn't. "
He was trying to be reasonable. Trying to be fair but all his training had taught him when someone attacks you you hit back. He understood her desire for privacy. Not telling him about her history with Anderson at the time really hadn't mattered. But if she was making backroom deals with the Pirate Queen while she was working for the Alliance he wanted to know ahead of time.
"Because you caring and your duty don't interfere at the moment. What does it matter how I know Aria as long as she still has connections we can use? It might surprise you but I am about 99% sure what she is going to want anyway. It is just a matter of negotiating with her."
"What did you say about playing politics?"
"I hate it. Doesn't mean I can't do it. Ask the Quarrians and the Geth. Ask the Turrians and the Krogan." She spat back. "This war is making everyone do things they wouldn't otherwise. If you can't handle that Major Alenko I suggest you stay with your head down, in the Observation Deck."
Damn it all, she was right. Kaidan had been hiding in reports since he had gotten on the ship. Reading reports of 10k dead was easier than watching a unit get wiped out even if the numbers were worse. This is what Shepard had been dealing with since the Alpha Relay and his mistrust was not helping anything.
But her reaction was what had set them down this path. Her anger outbursts and her physical reaction to his touch. He remembered the bruises on Vega's chest and supposed he should consider himself fortunate that she had still held back even somewhat.
"Jane." He sighs dejectedly. "I trust you. But one of these days I want you to tell me your story all the way through."
She nods slowly, still angry but not frothing as she had been. "Yea sure let's get there first."
A/N The backstory that keeps being alluded to is tentatively titled "Behind Violet Eyes." And I plan on writing that one as writers block slows this one. Any suggestions for characters or scenes in that story will be taken into consideration since I would like to flesh it out a bit more.