"Shepard," EDI's voice was sharply imperative.
"Another console?"
"Yes."
Unlike before, where most records were of the Illusive Man and nameless, faceless scientists—probably all dead now—this one showed the Illusive Man and Kai Leng. "Hello," Shepard murmured, aware that there hadn't been even a stray puff of air to indicate Leng's presence on the station, though she remained absolutely certain he was here somewhere. In the marrow of her bones, in the core of her soul, she knew he was here, watching, waiting for an opportunity to strike. According to EDI, there had been multiple attempts by personnel to flee the station, all of which ended in those individuals being locked in their conveyances, pending whatever the Alliance wanted to do with them. None of them were Leng or the Illusive Man.
That was because the Illusive Man wasn't even home. EDI couldn't find him on the station, and while there were no logs using 'the Illusive Man' as a name, she had turned up a departure log for one Jack Harper. According to EDI, if the Illusive Man had a name, that was the name he used.
Shepard wasn't surprised exactly, as the Illusive Man was one of the luckiest, squiggliest bastards she'd ever had the misfortune to know. However, it worried her that he'd jumped ship before the assault. The departure log didn't really tell anyone where he was going; just that he would switch from his shuttle to a passenger ship somewhere else, until no one looking from the terminal end of his trip could trace it back here.
What could be so important that it would get the Illusive Man off his nice, safe private station?
It was another reason she felt sure Leng was still here…especially if the Illusive Man had somehow received intelligence about Thunderbolt and left rather than be caught. He might not want to risk capture, but Leng had a patchy record where Shepard herself was concerned. It was like him to put them on the same station and let the winner walk away.
She hoped Leng felt sick, knowing he was going to be cut loose if he didn't produce her head or heart or tongue or whatever. Another reason she wanted Javik along for this mission: there is a thing calling itself a Kasumi on the premises. It pretends to be invisible. Foolish primitive; nothing gets past these eyes.
She hadn't known Protheans could see through the stealth field tech available to specialized persons. It never occurred to her to wonder if they could, because none of the species in this Cycle had that faculty. But apparently Javik could see through a stealth field. She'd tested the faculty herself during the flight to the Horsehead Nebula's relay.
"How are you holding up?"
"Fine. Ready for action."
"Jumped-up little punk, isn't he?" Alenko asked, with a grimace as if someone had just shoved something odoriferous under his nose.
"N7, we're all like that." Not that he'd been a Seven for very long, the idiot.
"Your eagerness is commendable, but the cybernetics take time to get used to, believe me. You really do remind me of Shepard."
"Thanks," Shepard and the recording of Leng both answered flatly, neither feeling this was a compliment.
"But Shepard betrayed you."
"Shepard was always going to stay true to her beliefs. She's wrong, but I respect her decision. Finish your therapy, then put together a plan for the Citadel. Councilor Udina is…amenable."
"Are N7s usually so temperamental?" Javik asked with distaste.
"They do try to curb his brand of youthful enthusiasm," Shepard answered. "I'd like to think I've always been a bit more cold-blooded."
"You are," Alenko affirmed in such a devout tone that Shepard had to chuckle.
"I could have taken her."
"And yet you took out a terminally ill alien, past his prime. I'm disappointed, Leng."
"I'll get her next time."
"Hmm. But in the meantime, she gives the Reapers something to occupy them while our research progresses. As it happens, I think you'll get your chance for a matchup."
"When?"
"Soon. Just make sure you're ready to go."
Shepard cracked her knuckles before cuing the next video. She hadn't missed the sarcasm, the way the Illusive Man goaded Leng, kept him keyed up and ready to explode. She wondered if Leng knew how well and how easily the Illusive Man made him dance. Yes another tool who thought he was so important, but really was as disposable as anyone else.
"Excellent. The Prothean VI should enable us to determine the nature of the Catalyst."
Shepard felt something cold filling her stomach at the memory of Thessia.
"Combined with the breakthroughs as Sanctuary, we should have everything we need. We just need to tie up a few loose ends."
"Like Shepard? She should have died on Thessia. Should I finish her?"
"Ha," Javik grunted.
"Jumped-up little punk, like Alenko said," Shepard scowled, wondering if Leng recognized the pattern in his own behavior. Some part of him didn't want to get close enough to fight her. It was why he ran, why he needed gunships and the like. He had the N7 rating. She had the rating and the experience that came from sticking with it.
Still, he was a sneaky little shit; she wouldn't fail to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"I'm not writing Shepard off as a total loss just yet." Shepard arched her eyebrows. "For now, Sanctuary gave us proof of concept about controlling the Reapers."
Suddenly, Shepard thought she saw where the Illusive Man was going…but now how he was going to get there. He wanted the Catalyst, because he wanted the Crucible…as if he thought he could use the Crucible to control the Reapers rather than just destroy them.
"He really is crazy," she muttered, a twinge of pain lancing through her head at the thought.
"And made it a target. If Miranda—"
"If Miranda Lawson shows up, deal with her. Just get the data."