Chapter 4
After a few days Shepard was released from the hospital and cleared for light duty. I guess Chakwas wasn't kidding when she said Shepard healed fast. Anderson called me to his office. Shepard was there with the tall brunette that was on Horizon and at the hospital, Miranda. Shepard was in civy's which was a rare sight. She looked somewhat relaxed speaking to Anderson in her black t-shirt and dark blue jeans. I didn't even know Shepard owned clothes outside her military issued gear.
Shepard was leaning casually against the desk, she smiled at me as I came in and stood next to Anderson. Miranda was setting up her Omni tool for a presentation of some sort. I could only assume it was for the infamous Lazarus Project which brought Lexi back from the dead.
Miranda turned to face Anderson and I and spoke very formally,
"Counsellor, Commander Alenko, what you are about to see and hear must never leave this room. You may have some of the medical files from Lazarus in order to further medical technology but that is as far as it goes. All things involving Shepard's condition during Lazarus must stay hidden for a very specific reason which I'm sure Shepard will share with you both later on." She then turned to Shepard, "Shepard, are all the security cameras disabled and sound proofing in place?"
Shepard nodded, "Yes Miranda. I had Tali shut the cameras down and tested the sound proofing to make sure we were secure."
"Excellent, whenever you're ready Shepard we can begin."
Shepard then looked to Anderson and I.
"Kaidan, Anderson, you really should have a seat for this. When I saw it I passed out and ended up in the infirmary for three days." She said with a laugh and then proceeded to bring over three chairs but only she did it in a way I would never have expected, she pulled it with biotics. When did she get those? .She saw the look on my face and laughed,
"I'm an L5 Kaidan. One of the many upgrades Cerberus gave me."
Miranda interjected, "No not really Shepard. We only enhanced what was already there."
Anger flared on Shepard's face, "Not now Miranda."
"Alright but you will have to explain everything after you know," Miranda put her hands up in front of her in a show of submission.
With a stern and icy voice Shepard exclaimed, "Yes, I realize that Miranda but they're not ready for it just yet. When they see everything then we'll drop that bomb, understood?"
"Very well Commander." Miranda sighed.
By this point I'm very confused, "Shepard, I'm not sure I follow?"
She smiled half-heartedly, "Later Kaidan. I promise."
With that Miranda began the presentation. When the first image was brought up I instantly recognized the red and white stripe of the N7 armour that was attached to the charred mass of meat and tubes on the medical slab. Oh Lexi, I thought as my stomach threatened to empty itself. As Miranda progressed through the images, voice clips and videos, the charred mass that we saw earlier started to slowly look human. At one point Miranda stopped the slide show to talk about the idea of biosynthetic fusion and I noticed that the image of Shepard's body looked different. Before I could ask about it Miranda had already moved on. The last image that was shown was just before the attack on the station, which in turn was just before Shepard woke up. She had glowing red scars all along her arms and face; she looked similar to how she did on Horizon.
To finish Miranda spoke,
"That concludes the presentation on Project Lazarus, it took 2 years, the estimated time was only supposed to take a maximum of a year. Overall when Shepard awoke she was only a few weeks from a full recovery. what we did was a miracle even with the best science and technology Money could. What we did with Shepard is truly remarkable "
Miranda then slightly turned to Shepard with a solemn look and motioned for her to step forward.
"I believe this is where Shepard comes in to tell you why she is with Cerberus," then took her seat next to Anderson.
Shepard takes a deep breath and moves to stand where Miranda once did, "Thanks Miranda."
She crossed her arms in almost an insecure gesture which is something I have never seen from Shepard.
"Now the moment you have probably been waiting ," She let out a nervous chuckle, "The reason I'm with Cerberus."
She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. When she opened her eyes they were looking right at me with a sadness that seemed to run bone deep.
"Kaidan you remember how we had been worried about our relationship affecting our work?"
All I could do was gape at her. I couldn't believe she was saying this in front of Anderson. I mean seeing us sitting on the bed together was one thing but out right saying that we were together, if we hadn't been thought of for a court martial before we sure as hell were going to be now.
Seeing my reaction, she lifts her chin in Anderson's direction.
"Don't worry Kaidan, Anderson already knows about us and has for a while."
I look over at Anderson and he smiles and nods at me.
Releasing a breath I didn't even realize I was holding I reply, "Yes, I remember."
"Well, that night before Ilos had more after effects than we could have ever anticipated. I don't stay with Cerberus because I want to. I stay because I'm forced to. They have someone very dear to my heart and she is the reason I have biotics now."
This is making no sense.
"Shepard what are you talking about, a person can't just give you biotics."
Tears started in her eyes and she starts to pace.
"What I'm talking about is that Lazarus took 2 years because it brought back not one but 2 people. One Kaidan, WE didn't know existed."
Then I finally clicked into place. Why Lazarus had taken so long and why Shepard's body looked different in the images.
As the realization took hold , I sink back into my chair."No," was all I could choke out.
"Kaidan, I was pregnant when the Normandy went down. I didn't know at the time, I thought I just had the bug that was going around the ship and I never thought in my wildest dreams that I could be pregnant. Somehow when Cerberus was rebuilding me the baby's DNA that had the Biotic mutation was transferred to me as well."
Shepard turned and nodded to Miranda. Her Omni tool flared to life and an image came on the screen. It was a picture of Shepard smiling still with her scars on her face and a little girl of around 3 years old. She had red hair like Shepard, but she had a dark olive completion and whiskey coloured eyes.
Like mine. She looks like us, it is so undeniable. That's OUR daughter.
The child's smile seemed to light up the room along with Shepard's in the picture. Across the room I hear a heavy sigh come from Shepard.
My voice hoarse I say, " Lexi, what are they doing to her?"
"I don't know Kaidan. After Horizon was when I found out about her. They let me see her for about a week but that was it. They said that it was to be my motivation for the mission and that if I didn't co-operate that I would never see her again."
Lexi's composer finally broke tears started to stream down her face. I got up, walked over to her and took her in my arms. Never have I ever seen her cry in front of anyone else but me so that gave me a great indication of how much this was affecting her.
"Lexi, you have my word that we will find her, no matter what."
I pulled away for a moment and put a hand on her cheek. She nuzzled into it then looked at me. Her bright green eyes were red rimmed and glistened with unshed tears but were full of determination.
"Together."
I took her into another tight embrace and I whispered in her ear, "I love you Lexi, we will find her if it kills me."
She hugged me tighter and nestled under my chin. We stood this way for a few minutes until a noise behind us made us remember where we were. We started to separate but not all the way. I still kept my arm around her lower back pulling her close and her head rested in the crock of my shoulder.
Anderson took this moment and spoke for the first time that evening,
"Well this is quite a different turn of events. I suppose that you two wish to go after the child?"
We look at each other and then back to Anderson and nod.
"Her name is Ashlen Shepard. They gave her my last name because at time they didn't know you were the father. I thought the name was perfect. What do you think Kaidan?" she smiled at me.
I couldn't help but smile back. Ash.
"The name is perfect. The only question I have now is how exactly do we find her?"
Since Shepard had started talking, Miranda had been quiet. Now she stood and came over to stand between myself and Anderson.
"I may be able to help in that department." she stated with a smile.
