Vega confronted him before he'd even made it to the armory. "What the hell's going on? Where's Anderson? Where are we going?" Vega wasn't his guard anymore, but it was clear the man still expected his questions answered despite the fact being recommissioned made Michael by far his superior officer. "Hey."
"We're leaving." He continued to where Kaidan was getting weapons ready.
"Leaving?"
"Anderson wants us to go to the citadel, get help for the fight." He wasn't sure it was anything but a waste of time, but it might be the only chance they had. Until something better presented itself...
"Bullshit." Vega glared. "He wouldn't order us to leave."
His temper was starting to flare. Fuck, Miranda hadn't argued with him this much. The face of that kid kept trying to come to mind. "He can see what's going on. Without help, this war's already over."
"Then you can drop me off at the nearest depot, 'cause I'm not-" Vega was putting a stubborn face on.
"Stow it, Lieutenant." Michael took a step toward him and saw Vega flinch just slightly. He'd been polite and cooperative with Vega thus far, but it was best the kid remember Michael had earned his reputation. "You don't want to go - we get it - but this isn't a democracy. We're going to the Citadel..." The other option was an airlock. "You want out, you can catch a ride back from there."
He turned his back on the lieutenant and saw Kaidan watching him quietly. Michael exhaled. He was about to say something when a familiar voice came over the comm. "Commander."
"Joker..." Guess he hadn't imagined it after all. "That you?"
"Alive and kicking. Got an emergency transmission from Admiral Hackett for you."
"Patch it through."
The signal was breaking up. "Shepard..." Hackett's image flickered on the screen. "Sustained heavy losses." The geezer was still up and fighting. Maybe they had a chance after all. "Force was overwhelming..." The image flickered again. "There's no way we can defeat them conventionally."
"Anderson's already ordered me to the Citadel, to talk to the Council."
"First I need you..." Static briefly obscured the words. "...iance outpost on Mars." Flicker. "...ore we lose control of the system."
He saluted. "Yes, sir."
"...been researching the Prothean Archives with Dr. T'Soni." Liara. "...found a way to stop the Reapers..." Liara and Hackett. "...only way to stop them..." That was chance enough for him. "...in contact soon. Hackett out."
"Joker. Set a course for the Mars Archives."
"Mars? Roger that."
He exhaled, then started toward the armor and weapons locker. He could still hear Vega complaining. "This is loco."
Another voice, familiar. A quiet request for information rather than a challenge. "Why Mars?" Kaidan went to another of the lockers. "What does he think we'll find there?"
"I don't know, yet." He picked up a weapon. "But if it helps us win this war..." He found a chestplate. "Grab your gear."
Kaidan nodded, then handed him a helmet. Vega made a frustrated noise but started armoring up. Mars was only a few minutes away.
#
There was a set of N7 armor already on board. Based on the fact it fit Michael seamlessly, Kaidan was reasonably sure it wasn't Anderson's. The sniper rifle in the cabinet wasn't much to look at though. He offered it to Michael, who gave it a skeptical look. "I'm sure you'll manage." Kaidan rolled his eyes.
"Yeah." Michael nodded, then frowned slightly. "How is the head?"
The familiar concern was good to see. "I'm fine." He exhaled. "I thought I heard Hackett mention Dr. T'Soni?"
"He did." Michael nodded. "She's apparently there doing some research with..." He tossed a glare at the communications console. "He was breaking up, but she's found something."
"That's reason enough for me." Kaidan nodded. "She always was the smart one."
"Odd she'd be on Mars. Last I heard she was..." Michael cut himself off, then shrugged. "She might want to fill you in on that part herself."
Kaidan lowered his voice. "You mean about the Shadow Broker thing?"
"You know, for a covert information spy person, she's kind of terrible at keeping secrets."
#
"I've been trying to reach Mars on secure channels. No one's answering." Joker never gave him good news.
"Any sign of Reaper activity?"
"Negative."
"EDI?"
"The base appears to be online. It's possible the inhabitants were evacuated."
Possible, but unlikely. "We'll know soon enough. Be ready, Joker..." For anything, really. "Just in case." He left the cockpit to Vega and headed to the back of the shuttle where Kaidan was waiting. They really did need to talk. Now just wasn't the time or place. Story of their lives.
Still, Kaidan stepped up to his side just like old times.
#
"Damn..." James glanced to his right. "That's a huge storm. Looks a lot bigger in person."
"Pretty average for Mars, actually." He'd spent time here with his students between missions.
"I'm glad you're so optimistic." James shot him a look.
"We've got Reapers invading Earth, the station here is offline..." Kaidan shrugged. "A little dust storm seems like the least of our worries."
"As long as it isn't filled with sharks." He almost missed Michael's quiet comment.
"What?"
"It's..." Michael shrugged. "Krogan thing."
He was about to ask for more details when they found the first bodies. Kaidan frowned. "He's Alliance. Sergeant Reeves. Didn't put up a fight before he died."
"Something's not right here." James was shaking his head.
Michael took the sniper rifle off his shoulder and checked the load again before nodding. "Keep a low profile till we know what's going on."
Kaidan nodded, then moved in at Michael's right. He was starting to get a bad feeling about this.
#
He checked the body, even though he knew it was too late. The Cerberus forces had been simply executing the alliance soldiers. It seemed The Infernally Malignant hadn't been content to go fuck himself, despite the polite request Michael had made. "Those guys were Cerberus, weren't they?" He heard James ask.
"Sure looked like it." Same stupid uniforms with the same stupid logo. Miranda never had answered his question about those.
"Cerberus." Kaidan was checking another of the corpses. "What are they doing here on Mars?"
Nothing benevolent or remotely helpful. "Good question."
"You don't know?" Kaidan glanced at him.
Michael wasn't able to keep the irritation from his voice. "I'm not with them anymore, Kaidan, if that's what you're asking."
"It wasn't, but you have to admit, it's a bit..." Kaidan shook his head. "Convenient."
Dammit, he did not want to do this. Rather than argue, he jerked his head for them to continue on. Both men followed, and they dealt with a few more of the Cerberus forces. Not many. James apparently agreed. "Doesn't look like they came here in force."
"Yeah, just a few vehicles." Michael frowned. Alliance forces should have been able to handle this.
"Must've had help from the inside." Kaidan jerked his head at the building entrance.
"You could be right." Michael started for it.
"No way they could take this facility with anything less than a full battalion."
#
They didn't have time, and yet, it was important. He needed to know. "Michael, I need a straight answer."
Michael exhaled impatiently. "Kaidan..."
It irritated him more than it should. "Don't 'Kaidan' me. This is business." It was bigger than just the two of them. It always was. That was the problem. "Do you know anything about why Cerberus is here?"
"What makes you think I know what they're up to?" Michael turned to face him.
"You worked for them, for god's sake." He thought he'd put all that hurt behind. "How am I not supposed to think that?" He turned away to lean on the railing. Dammit.
"I used them to take down the Collectors." Michael moved to stand next to him. "That's it."
"There's more to it. They rebuilt you from the ground up." All the nagging little fears kept biting at him. He wanted to trust Michael. "They gave you a ship, resources..."
"Let me be clear." Michael kept his voice calm. It was a relief. He didn't sound insulted or angry. "I've had no contact with Cerberus since I destroyed the Collector base." Kaidan turned toward him, and Michael met his eyes. "And I have no idea why they're here now or what they want."
It was silly, but that was what he needed. Just to look in Michael's eyes and hear him say it. It was already starting to seem silly. Part of him was even annoyed to hear James speak up. "Commander Shepard has been under constant surveillance since coming back to Earth. No way they've communicated since."
"Sorry, Michael." He sighed. "It's just that..." He shouldn't have said anything. The elevator platform was moving as the room pressurized.
Michael took off his helmet, and Kaidan did the same. Michael nodded to him. "You of all people should know what I'm about, Kaidan." The platform took them up into another room. "Please..." Something flickered in Michael's eyes. Maybe Kaidan wasn't the only one who needed to hear things. "Trust me."
"I do." Kaidan nodded. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean -"
A loud clatter drew their attention to the ventilation ducts.
#
Liara took care of the Cerberus goons like she'd been practicing. Then again, she probably had been. He pushed Vega's gun down as the man followed them out of cover. "Easy there, Lieutenant, she's with us."
"Shepard, thank the goddess you're alive." Liara smiled as she saw them approach.
"Liara." He nodded to her.
"I was worried when the reports came. They hit Earth hard?" Her face became concerned.
"Yeah, it was hard to leave like that." Kaidan walked up to stand next to him.
"Kaidan." Liara's face softened a little when she saw him. "I'm sorry. But..." She frowned. "Why come here?"
"Hackett ordered us to come." He followed. "Said you'd know what was going on."
"I do." She started moving toward some consoles.
"Hallelujah." Vega spoke for them all. "Some answers, finally."
"Maybe." Liara seemed more cautious. Not really the best of all signs. "I've discovered plans for a Prothean device. One that could wipe out the Reapers."
He'd staked his life on a lot less. "Here? On Mars?"
"In the Prothean Archives, yes."
"We've known about the Archives for decades." Long enough ago that his long dead uncle's tour of duty had apparently been here. "Why now?"
"Process of elimination, mixed with a little desperation." Liara sighed. "When you destroyed the Alpha Relay, you bought us some time. But then you were under investigation. I knew I had to do something. Hackett knew it, too. He contacted me, asking if I would use my resources as the Shadow Broker to find a way to stop the Reapers." Maybe telling the geezer about that had been a good idea after all. My search led me here. Hackett got me access to the Archives and kept me updated on your status." Guilt crept into her voice. "I meant to come see you, but..."
"I think your work here is a bit more important." And with all the surveillance, they wouldn't have been able to talk much anyway.
"True enough." She gave him a small smile. "In any case, my work paid off. The Archives are full of data. An overwhelming amount. I think I found what we need."
"If you think that, I'm in." He nodded. She was the smartest person he knew, after all. "Sounds like this weapon might be our best chance to blow the Reapers to hell."
"It's not a weapon..." She shook her head. "Not yet. It's plans for a device. A blueprint."
"It's more than we had a minute ago." He checked his sidearm. "How do we get it?" Probably the hard way. It always seemed to be the hard way.
"The Archives are just across that tramway." She took a deep breath. "Assuming Cerberus hasn't locked it down."
"We've never been that lucky." He frowned. "What are they after?"
"Yeah." Vega stepped forward. "They seemed hell-bent on catching you."
"They want what I'm here for..." Liara checked her own sidearm. "What we're all here for." She all but rolled her eyes when he asked why, then she and Kaidan pointed out the obvious.
"Anything powerful enough to destroy the Reapers..." Kaidan glanced at Michael.
Michael sighed. "Just might be something Cerberus would be interested in." He really should have blown up a lot more of their stuff before turning himself in.
"So it's a race to the Archives." Vega actually looked excited. Michael was almost sorry to break his heart by sending him back to the shuttle as the second line of defense. But he knew Kaidan and Liara, and how they moved. Vega was the better choice to send back.
#
He backed up Liara's stronger biotics, taking care of the enemy that had managed to avoid her singularity. Michael only had to fire one shot to take care of the remaining Cerberus forces.
Her presence seemed to help with the last of the awkwardness. Kaidan could almost pretend it was just like old times. Just needed Garrus around for Michael to argue with.
Liara didn't have any more idea of how Cerberus had gotten in than they did. It was clear, however, that she didn't suspect Michael of being involved at all. He almost felt a little ashamed that the thought had crossed his mind. He just wished he could silence that nagging little doubt.
"Shepard, see if you can gain access to the pedway." Liara gestured to one console before going to another. Kaidan stayed in position to watch their backs, rifle at the ready. "I can't seem to unlock the live feeds, but..."
"Did you see that? Who's that woman in the vid?" Kaidan frowned. Nothing about her looked familiar.
"That's Dr. Eva Core." Liara tilted her head. "She got here about a week ago." Liara turned toward Michael. "Any luck?"
Michael sounded annoyed. "Pedway's been locked out."
"All right. Looks like there's construction nearby. We can get out on the roof." Liara was giving orders and Michael was following them. Maybe a few things had changed. "We can find a way around from there."
"Great." Michael unholstered his rifle. "Let's move."
#
Vega's signal was breaking up. He'd have to trust the kid knew what he was doing. Anderson had assigned Vega to watch Michael, which meant the kid either did know what he was doing or had seriously irritated Anderson. Probably both.
"These airlocks shouldn't be open." He could hear Liara's frown. Michael shook his head as they entered. The first body was visible almost immediately. Her voice sounded sick when she spoke again. "Someone vented the air from this room while they were still here."
"Looks like they died trying to claw their way out." Kaidan kept his gun up.
"This is brutal even by Cerberus standards."
A memory tried to force its way in, and he shoved it back down again. Death by suffocation was not a pleasant experience. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kaidan looking at him. Michael shrugged before continuing in. Something flickered in the windows in front of them. "Flashlights." They all immediately went dark.
Time to start paying Cerberus back what was owed.
#
Liara got the room pressurized again quickly. "We have access to the labs. They'll take us right to the train station."
Kaidan frowned when he saw one of the screens. "Hey, there's a recording of what happened here." He started it up. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Michael's eyes start to narrow at what they were seeing. Liara looked surprised, then sick as the screen started showing people, people she'd undoubtedly worked with recently, fighting to breath. He stepped closer to her, and noted Michael put a hand on her arm.
"I guess we know how Cerberus got in." Michael's voice was cold steel.
"I should've realized it when I met her." Liara started pacing. "I was just so focused on finding a way to stop the Reapers.
Michael spoke up before he could. "Stopping the Reapers is the only thing we should be focused on." He took a step closer to Liara. "It's not your fault."
"But what if we're wrong?" Liara didn't turn to face them. "What if there's no way to stop them? What if these are our last days and we spend them scurrying around trying to solve a problem we can't fix?"
"Beats sitting around with our thumbs up our asses." Michael shrugged. Despite the situation, Kaidan felt the corner of his mouth twitch just slightly.
Liara's did too. "I know. "I shouldn't think that way." Finally, she turned toward Michael. Just like she'd so often done on the Normandy, when she'd been uncertain. "I don't know how you do it. You've always stayed so focused, even in the worst situations."
A shoulder twitch, and Michael's eyes flicked toward him for just a moment. "When there's so much at stake, I just think about what I'd lose if I fail." Michael's eyes flicked toward him again, making his heart lurch just a little.
"That's a terrible burden." Liara folded her arms.
"We'll stop them, Liara." Michael put his hand on her shoulder. Just like... Like he always had. Kaidan swallowed and looked away. The idea that he'd been wrong all this time... "Together."
#
Michael made a growling sound as Kaidan ducked under the fire of the gun turret. Then he followed. Dammit, if he had his rifle, he might have been able to take the gun out. First thing he was going to do once they made it off Mars was get some proper ammo. Well, have a long chat with a certain person, and then get some fucking proper ammo. He grabbed Liara's arm and pulled her into safety behind him.
Taking out the remaining forces in the security office didn't take long. He narrowed his eyes at Dr. Eva's image on the screen again. Her outfit reminded him vaguely of Miranda. Hopefully, she also wasn't wearing armor. "Looks like they've made it to the archives." Liara was shaking her head.
Kaidan rolled his eyes. "And I doubt they'll just send us a tram."
At least he had a couple geniuses with him. "Can you override it?"
"The Archives are on a separate network." Liara glared at the computer. "We're completely locked out."
"Not if we can find a short-range communicator." Kaidan stepped up. "Helmet to helmet."
"And?"
"And we convince them that we're on their side, tell them the Alliance forces have been taken care of." Kaidan shrugged.
"Good idea. See what you can find." Michael watched him go, then caught Liara looking at him with an oddly smug expression on her face. "What?"
She turned back to the computer screen. "The major has become very capable."
Kaidan had always been capable. Now he was a little bit devious. Michael turned in the direction Kaidan had gone. It was a damn good look for him. "Agreed."
He was starting to turn back to Liara when Kaidan called for his attention. Michael headed into the next room. Kaidan was crouched down next to a corpse in Cerberus colors. "What've you got?"
"He's got a transmitter in his helmet. If I can..." Kaidan pulled the helmet off, then stumbled back, a horrified expression on his face. "My god. He looks like a husk."
What the fuck was Tim into now? "Yeah, not quite." Michael bent to take a closer look. "But they've definitely done something to him." He made a mental note to see if EDI could track down Miranda. Maybe he should have turned her over to the Alliance after all.
"And by they, you mean Cerberus?" He could hear Kaidan's frown. "They did this to their own guy?" Michael pulled the transmitter out of the helmet, then stood to see Kaidan staring at him. "Is this what they did to you?"
His stomach twisted. Is that what... Is that what Kaidan thought? "How can you compare me to him?"
"Shepard, I don't know what you are, or who..." Kaidan shook his head again, then turned away. "Not since Cerberus rebuilt you. For all I know, you could be their puppet, controlled by the Illusive Man himself."
"That's not fair, Kaidan..." Except it was. The fact that the concern was valid made it hurt all the more. Fuck. He'd been worried about the possibility himself for a time.
"Don't try to explain it." Kaidan rubbed his forehead. "I don't think I'd understand anyway." Kaidan took a deep breath before meeting his eyes. "I just want to know, is the person that I followed to hell and back, the person that I..." Kaidan swallowed. "Are you still in there, somewhere?"
"They didn't change me, Kaidan." Michael put a hand on his shoulder. "Or how I feel about..." He exhaled, then shook his head. "But words won't convince you, will they?"
"Probably not." Despite the words, Kaidan almost smiled.
"I didn't think so." He lightly punched Kaidan in the shoulder. "You were always stubborn." He started for the door.
"Me?" Kaidan actually had the nerve to sound insulted, but there was laughter in his voice.
It brought a small smile to his own face. "Come on. Let's see what Cerberus is up to. Maybe we'll both get some answers."
#
Michael didn't try to continue the conversation after Liara rejoined them. It was kind of a relief. Part of him wondered if Michael even knew how often he and Liara had talked during... Liara clearly didn't have any doubts. Kaidan used his biotics to toss the last of the Cerberus forces into a wall. Michael seemed to take a particular pleasure in shooting the enemy forces in the face right through the slit in their shield, and he was pretty sure he'd heard the man mutter a score under his breath. Odd how it was that, more than anything, that finally seemed to silence that doubting voice in the back of his mind.
Kaidan started patrolling the room, then heard voices coming from where Liara and Michael were. He saw them talking to a hologram of the Illusive Man, and even from this distance he could see the anger in Michael's eyes. They were clearly arguing about something. He tilted his head a little so he could hear them better. "You were a tool, an agent with a singular purpose. And despite our differences, you were relatively successful. But like most of the relics in this place, your time is over."
"Enough talk." If you could kill someone through a hologram, it was clear from Michael's expression that the Illusive Man would be dead. "Liara." Liara began working at the computer again.
"Don't interfere with my plans, Shepard." The Illusive Man pointed something at Michael. "I won't warn you again."
"Go to hell." Michael turned his back on the man. Kaidan felt himself smile.
It died at Liara's next words. He started to move toward them, then heard something from the other direction.
#
"The data. It's not here." Liara gave him a frightened look. "It's being erased."
"Damn it. How's he doing it?"
"It's local. Someone's uploading the information."
"Hey!" They both turned toward Kaidan's voice. "Step away from the console." Kaidan was moving toward someone they couldn't see. "Now." A heartbeat later, he saw Kaidan knocked backward. The computers went haywire a moment later. "She's got the data." Kaidan got back on his feet just as someone fled an alcove. That Eva woman. Kaidan started chasing her and Michael and Liara both immediately followed.
With the upgrades, Michael quickly began outdistancing them both. And yet the woman managed to keep ahead of him. He growled, then ducked shots as a few more Cerberus mooks popped out of nowhere. He ignored them, trusting Kaidan and Liara to handle it, and focused solely on the woman. "Radio the Normandy. Get them down here now."
Liara obeyed as Kaidan's biotics sent the Cerberus goons flying. The woman went up a ladder, and Michael started to follow before something tingled on his skin and he was simply picked up at put at the top of the ladder, netting him a few more precious paces on her. She still had the lead though.
He saw the Cerberus shuttle, and realized he wasn't going to catch her in time. "She's getting away." He grabbed his rifle, wishing again for better ammo. "Damn it. James? Normandy? Anybody?" If he could get a good shot on the shuttle, maybe... In his scope, he saw the Alliance shuttle.
"I got this one." Vega's voice came over the comm.
#
Michael grabbed Liara and Kaidan both, dragging them out of the path of the shuttle. The blue light of a barrier flickered around them as they landed. He made a mental note to remind Vega that Alliance shuttles had guns. At least the damn thing looked like it could still fly as James brought it in to land.
He glanced at Kaidan, and Kaidan waved him off before picking up Liara and helping her up. Michael started toward the Alliance shuttle to grab the fire extinguisher. They still needed that data. If it had been damaged, he was going to shove the fire extinguisher so far up Vega's-
Something crashed, and he turned to see the Cerberus shuttle fly open. Eva, her android features now clear, stepped out. Not good. Kaidan pushed Liara to safety and moved in, gun in hand. Michael started to follow. His eyes went wide as the droid disarmed Kaidan before picking him up by the helmet. Fuck. He didn't have a clear shot. The robot said something as Kaidan dangled helplessly, trying to get free.
A shout escaped him as the droid suddenly whirled and began slamming Kaidan's head into the side of the shuttle. He fired, once, twice, a third time as the droid dropped Kaidan and started toward him. He kept shooting until it was down.
Liara was saying something, or maybe it was James. He wasn't sure. All his attention was focused on the downed figure in blue armor, laying in the flames of the crashed shuttle. Kaidan. He needed, they needed... He moved in. "Grab that thing." He moved past the downed droid. "Bring it with us."
Sensors said Kaidan was breathing. Kaidan was breathing. Someone spoke. Joker. Reapers in orbit. Michael shook his head. They needed an immobilization stretcher, something to... There was no time. As carefully as he could, he picked Kaidan up and headed for the Normandy.
#
Commander Shepard was staring at Kaidan's bruised face. Liara grabbed a medical scanner, then hesitated. Shepard should be heading toward the bridge, taking charge and giving orders. She glanced at the man on the medical bed, then back at the Commander. Shepard didn't seem aware of anything else around them. Liara swallowed, then moved forward, positioning herself so the Commander had to look at her. "Kaidan needs medical attention." When Shepard didn't respond, she moved in closer. "We have to leave the Sol system."
"I know." His voice sounded odd.
"The Citadel is our best chance. We can find help there."
He nodded. "Get us to the Citadel, Joker." Shepard's eyes went to the medical scanner she was holding, then back to her face, then back to the man on the medical bed. "Hold on, Kaidan." Then they were locked on her face. "See what you and EDI can learn from that thing." His voice was his again. Their commander was back with them.
EDI's voice came over the comm. "Commander, I'm receiving a signal over the secondary QEC. I believe it's Admiral Hackett."
"Patch me through." With one last look at the man on the medical bed, Shepard headed for the command center.
She felt her fear starting to return to manageable levels. "EDI, start running scans of the body while I stabilize Major Alenko."
"Yes, Dr. T'soni."
"Uh..." She turned to see the other Alliance officer, Vega or James or whatever his name was, still standing there.
"Move that..." She pointed at the robot. "To where EDI can study it better." Then she turned to focus her full attention on her friend.