Kaidan closed his eyes, then set the report down. "He must have had one hell of a reason."

"He was the Butcher of goddamn Torfan." Ajax, one of the other marines, leaned back and shook his head. "Not like the galaxy couldn't use a few less batarians."

"That's not..." Kaidan glared. Then he shook his head and left the mess before going back to his quarters. He checked his comm. Two messages from Hackett. Nothing from Michael.

Before he could respond to one of Hackett's messages, the comm chimed again. He answered it. "Admiral."

"At ease." Anderson met his eyes calmly. "He's turning himself over to the Alliance."

"I..." He wanted to say that was good, but the truth was... "Is he sure?" Anderson nodded. "Sir, I..." He exhaled. "I'll meet you at -"

"Report to Arcturus station. I have an assignment for -"

"Sir, I need -"

"Lieutenant." Anderson's voice was sharp. It softened only a little as the man continued. "The last thing Shepard needs right now is to risk dragging you down with him. Give it a bit of time."

Too much time had already passed. Kaidan sighed, but slowly nodded.

#

"They won't listen." Jack was pacing his room.

"Hackett and Anderson will." Michael sighed.

She leaned on the wall, then gave him a steady look. "You'd be smarter to go pirate." Her face softened just slightly. "Have you talked to..." When he gave a small shake of his head. "Stupid."

"Probably." Michael got to his feet. "None of this needs to come back on anyone else, Jack. I'm dropping people off before I turn myself in."

"I-" She cut herself off before she could say the first words that had come to both their minds. She had nowhere else to go. "Stupid."

"I still..." He exhaled. "I still have a few favors. Not big ones, but..." He shook his head. "There are folks in the alliance who could -"

"Go be poked and prodded for -"

"Go keep other biotic kids from being mistreated." Michael put a hand on her shoulder. "And smash in the face of anyone who would try." He exhaled. "I can call Anderson."

"You'd rather play soldier than pirate."

"I..." He bowed his head, then nodded. "I made a choice, a long time ago. Yes, Jack. I'm a soldier. Not a pirate."

"Fine." She glared at him. "Make the call."

#

"The ship feels empty." Samara stood at his side as they watched some of the crew departing.

"For the best. Nobody -"

"You believe you would be dragging them down with you." Samara glanced at him. "And you wish to protect them from that."

"You're included in -" He cut off at the look she gave him, then shrugged. "Guess you don't need to worry."

"I am a justicar" She sighed. "I am glad I took the oath to you. There are actions you have taken for which I would otherwise be obligated to kill you, and yet..." She shook her head. "I cannot fault your actions. And in your place, I would have done the same thing."

"I..." He frowned. "I'm not sure that's a good thing."

"Neither am I." She frowned, then raised her hand to lightly touch his face. "You are leaving your outlaw status behind. Consider leaving these with it." She smiled. "Leave the man Cerberus made behind, and return to yourself, Michael."

"I..." He swallowed. "I'll take that advise, and I thank you for it."

To his surprise, she pulled him into a hug.

#

"You need me to come get you, just say the word." Garrus nodded to Shepard. "I'll be there..." He clicked his mandibles. "A few feet behind Grunt and Jack."

"I know." Shepard nodded. "We'll see each other again soon, I'm sure." He twitched a shoulder. "Either sharing a cell in the bottom of a prison planet..."

"Or because trouble is coming..." Garrus inclined his head. "And they need us in the thick of it."

"Good chance of both."

#

Hackett was waiting for him. He was a bit relieved Kaidan wasn't. Michael saluted before handing over his sidearm. "Guess I don't need to tell you that you are being taken into custody." Hackett raised an eyebrow.

"You don't, sir."

"This is Lieutenant James Vega." Hackett gestured at the big man a few paces behind. "He's been assigned as your guard."

Michael nodded to the man and received a nod in return. Vega must have annoyed Hackett at some point to get that assignment, but it would be smart to treat anyone under Hackett's command with respect.

The older man walked with them to what looked more like an apartment than a cell. He raised an eyebrow at Hackett. "Right now, you are in custody, not officially under arrest. There are..." Hackett nodded. "Circumstances that need consideration."

"Understood, sir."

"Get some sleep, son."

#

"What do you mean I can't see him?" Kaidan glared.

"I mean he's in custody as a possible war criminal, Alenko." Anderson glared back. He sighed. "I don't like it any more than you do, but an entire batarian system was destroyed. Even as a council Spectre..."

"He had good reason." Kaidan shook his head.

"I know that, and you know that." Anderson exhaled. "Now we just have to convince everyone else." His eyes narrowed. "And there is still the matter of the Reapers. When they call you, Alenko..."

"I'll damn well be there." He squared his shoulders.

#

It took a while before he went to the comm. Shortly after he finished the letter, the system chimed. All letters required approval before they could be sent, did he wish to continue? Michael sighed before deleting the letter. It wasn't anyone else's business what he wanted to say to Kaidan. Or to any of his crew and friends for that matter.