Chapter 30: Meeting A Parent

Kal was surprised Jack wanted to come with him after some initial bitching. He had been careful not to tell her that Miranda had essentially blackmailed them and instead focused on the need to save Oriana. If Jack even slightly suspected Miranda was trying to threaten her life, she would most likely try to kill her. Honestly, he wouldn't have blamed her even if she tried but, it would seriously hurt their chances at defeating the Collectors. With Jack on board, all he had to do now was convince Miranda that she wouldn't be a problem. Sure she had never been a part of military operations before but this wasn't a true battle. All they had to do was sneak into a base, grab Oriana, and get back out. He was confident Jack couldn't screw that up, too badly.

Miranda was waiting for them at the cargo hold door for the Normandy and upon seeing Jack, shook her head, "Absolutely not, I won't take the chance that she'll fuck everything up."

Kal took a deep breath having rehearsed this moment in his head, "We might need her with us, what if Oriana doesn't associate me with the fleet? Just look at me, with my helmet damage I'll be lucky to be able to see everything around me let alone be recognizable. Jack was on Noveria at least."

Jack folded her arms and glared at her, "Look princess, I'm not happy about this either. I'd much rather be sulking down here but it's not about us. It's about a little girl that can't defend herself like I could."

Miranda just stared at them tapping her foot idly, "You will both follow my orders, understood? If I tell you to jump you say-"

Garrus' voice came from behind them, "We say how high. Your going to need all the help you can get and I want to see Eclipse mercenaries faces when Archangel decides to pay a visit from beyond the grave."

Kal hadn't been expecting Garrus to volunteer to come along, he certainly hadn't asked for the help either. Knowing the Turian, he wanted to make it extra crystal clear to him that he wasn't to blame for what happened on Omega. It was nice to know Garrus was still a good friend despite what happened, though he was curious what prompted him to want to come along. Garrus certainly wasn't here because he enjoyed Miranda's company or wanted to help her personally. Maybe he knew something about what the Eclipse were up to and wanted to dust off Archangel one more time.

Miranda glared in his direction, "As long as Saren doesn't come along with you fine. Too many people would get noticed where we're going."

Kal tilted his head curiously, "And where are we going Miranda?"

She merely started walking out of the cargo hold door, "You'll see when we get there, let's try not to attract too much attention to ourselves. You should all turn your omni tool's off as well, I don't want The Illusive Man knowing any of this happened."

As they followed Miranda through the streets of Illium, Kal couldn't help but admire the architecture. He was sure it served it's designed function just fine but, the flowing curves of all the buildings made him smile. If they weren't here as part of a life and death struggle, Kal would've loved to rent a room with Shepard and draw the skyline when they weren't busy. This place could be a nice retirement or honeymoon spot he thought to himself knowing those days would come. Kal chose to believe he was getting his happily ever after, it was a lot nicer than thinking about the alternative Miranda had come up with for them. They slowed to a stop waiting in a long line at a taxi stop.

Jack put her hands on her hips and looked around, "Why are all the people here so, nonchalant about everything? I mean we have guns all over us and no ones batting an eye. Do they honestly think nothing bad could happen here?"

Garrus chuckled lightly shaking his head, "Don't let this place fool you, it might look safe but it's no better than Omega. The Asari here just know how to hide murder and drug dealing better."

Kal turned his head back to peek at Garrus, "It sounds like you've been here before, been doing Archangel when I wasn't looking?"

Garrus smiled at him as they slowly moved up along the line, "Oh no, I'd need you to pull me out of the fire if I started again. Maybe literally... During my CSEC days we got a lot of arrivals from here. I probably arrested a third of them."

The voice of an Elcor caught his attention almost immediately, "Anxiously, Kal? Kal'Reegar is that you?"

He turned in the direction of the voice and was surprised to see Shelrrik staring back at him. How long had it been since he saw her last? It was probably close to seventeen years at this point, he suddenly felt bad he hadn't tried to reach out to her in all that time. The two hundred year old Elcor had been the first to find him on Dekuuna on his pilgrimage. Since Gerrel had denied him from even knowing who his mother was, this Elcor was effectively his Mom. Surely she had seen the news footage of him on the Citadel two years ago so he wasn't sure what to really say.

_o0o_

Sixteen years ago, Dekuuna:

The shuttle landed in a small field just outside an agricultural settlement in the middle of the night making Kal sigh. He hated being treated like he was still a small child, his father wanted him to be a marine and this was where he was sent? He should be landing on some Geth infested world where he would have to prove his worth in combat, instead he was being dropped off on the most peaceful world imaginable. Many high born Quarian's meant to be Admirals someday on their pilgrimages were sent to Dekuuna. The peaceful Elcor tended to enjoy taking care of children since their own probably left home a hundred years ago and Quarians could help tend to the many drones that the Elcor used in day to day activities.

For Kal though, this start to his pilgrimage felt more like a hand out than an actual pilgrimage. All he was going to have to do was get some of the Elcor's drone technology and come straight back to the fleet. There wasn't any risk involved to get anything actually worth while back to the fleet and he would most likely be home in about a week. He had wanted something adventurous like the great Liat'Vael, risking life and limb to bring back the first Geth memory core back to the flotila for study. It was this way by design though, the great Han'Gerrel wasn't going to risk losing years of 'scientific progress' because of a dangerous pilgrimage. However, to avoid potential criticism from the other Admirals, Gerrel had sent him out here in the middle of the night without any food, water, or shelter technically making it a challenge. He wasn't worried though, he'd just steal anything he needed.

He took a second to observe how beautiful the triple moons looked glowing against the otherwise dark sky before making his way to the settlement. Compared to the cramped close quarters on the Migrant Fleet, this town seemed to be truly massive. Each resident had a home to call their own and businesses appeared to be in their own buildings separated away from homes. Not only was that unheard of on the fleet, it also made Kal's job that much easier. If he was extremely lucky, an Elcor drone would be for sale in one of the stores and he could steal it tonight. Even if the shops had security systems, all Kal would have to do was move fast, the giant elephant like Elcor wouldn't be able to catch him.

While he was searching for the settlements electronic store, Kal came across a cake shop. He was surprised to see cakes from almost every species represented in the window. Why would an isolated farming community on the Elcor homeworld want to cater to Humans? Asari? Kal could even see a small Batarian cake in the far back of the shop. Just before he was about to keep moving, Kal saw a Quarian birthday cake out of the corner of his eye. He should keep moving, maybe his father would be impressed by him completing his pilgrimage in a single solar cycle. However, due to spending almost everyday in that kriffing lab, he had never been able to celebrate his birthday before.

His stomach rumbled lightly and he looked to the window, "Kriff it, I'll laser a hole in the glass with my omni tool, have a piece of cake, and get out. Those bosh'tet Elcor are so slow I'll be able to have the whole thing."

After a quick look around to make sure no one was coming, Kal pulled out his omni tool and started cutting the glass to the cake shop. It was a relatively easy process, the Elcor were stupid enough to assume no one would ever try and steal anything from here. He couldn't believe other Quarians hadn't taken the same easy path he was and just steal a gift for his pilgrimage. They probably wanted to respect their family names and do it honorably, Kal didn't care about that. His father's reputation could burn with Keelah in one of the pits on Rannoch for all he cared and he had no idea who his mother was so that wasn't a problem.

The glass banged on the floor rather loudly but, no security alarm was triggered so Kal slipped inside the shop and headed for the cake. He could already smell it's sweet scent through his helmets suit sensors tempting him to take the helmet off. Unfortunately, he hadn't exposed himself to Elcor germs yet and didn't want to return to his father with a cold. That would've sent him back to the lab for more experiments and he didn't want that at all. So, he pulled out an empty nutrient tube with the intent of cramming some of the cake inside it. He deserved to celebrate his sixteenth birthday, even though it was three months after the fact.

A slightly feminine yet monotone voice made him jump, "Suspiciously, may I ask what a young Quarian is doing in my shop at three in the morning?"

Kal debated running, getting to his feet, "No I don't think you can you hunk of fat. You'll never be able to catch me!"

He turned around only to see a drone with it's taser function engaged, "Disappointed lecture, I am not a hunk of fat just like you are not the thief you appear to be. We are all layered individuals."

Kal tensed wondering if he could take a charge to the face and still be able to make a run for it, "You don't want to put me in jail, my father would probably burn this place to the ground no matter what deals we have with your government. It would be best if you just let me go on my way and forget I was here."

The Elcor shook her head and motioned to the hole he cut in the glass, "Teasing sarcasm, my glass wall will find it hard to forget you ripped it apart. Concern, are you alright? You look like you haven't eaten in days."

The question threw Kal for a loop, he had just broken into this woman's shop and she was asking if he was ok, "It's not really any of your damn business is it? Just let me go and we won't have any problems."

The Elcor let out a huff, "Gently, it is obvious you are in distress and not well cared for. Please let me make you something to eat and provide a place for you to sleep. Determined declaration, think of it as your punishment for breaking into my store and making me get out of bed. I think we both know you don't want the alternative."

_o0o_

Present day:

Jack was the first to fill the otherwise silent air, "Who the fuck is the elephant?"

Kal was about to respond when Shelrrik did first, "Chastising rebuke, does it look like I have floppy ears? A truck like nose? How about tusks? No? Then I am probably not an elephant young one."

He rubbed the back of his neck feeling uncomfortable, "Jack this is Shelrrik, Shelrrik meet Jack.. I'm sorry I haven't tried to say hello or get a card or visit or..."

Shelrrik probably frustrated about fifty people as she cut across several lines of people with her large body to get closer to Kal. Her warm thick gray neck hide rubbed against his helmet's side to shut him up. Not caring how ridiculous it looked, he wrapped his arms around her neck in a hug having missed her greatly. The day he had ultimately left Dekuuna and returned to the fleet was one of the hardest of his life. Up until meeting Shepard he had thought he had made the wrong decision. Hopefully Miranda wouldn't mind a brief delay, he couldn't just give her the cold shoulder.

The Elcor vibrated softly from the hug, "Soothingly, there, there it is alright. It is a mothers curse to worry about their children in silence. It is good to see you are alright. Boldly, where is that boy you were kissing on live extranet feeds? I have a thing or two to say to him about letting you out of a clean room in this state. A crack like that in your helmet could expose you to multiple germs and viruses."

Kal laughed at the question, "He's on a mission tonight but I don't know where he is exactly. Somewhere on Illium. And you worry too much, I have a strong immune system remember?"

Garrus let out a tiny guilty whisper, "This is pretty good compared to what I put him through on Omega."

Jack sounded confused, "Let me get this straight, your his mom? A Quarian guy came up to you and slept with you, and he popped out? Because I would pay to see how fucked up that shit would be."

Miranda had an annoyed yet analytical tone, "Biologically it's impossible, most likely it's unofficial sentiment."

Shelrrik pulled away from him and puffed up slightly, "Proudly, Kal'Reegar nar Rayya is my son in all but through blood. Since his mother foolishy left him with his horrible father, I showed him love and compassion. Selfishly, my only regret is that we Elcor do not have hands. I would've clinged to him and never let him go."

Kal cleared his throat to correct her, "It's actually Kal'Shepard vas Normandy now. The man you saw me kiss is my husband."

Shelrrik rubbed her neck against him again, "With overwhelming joy and excitement, I am so thrilled for your engagement. When will the wedding be held? I will have to cancel all of my upcoming events in order to cater and attend."

He didn't have the heart to tell her that there technically wasn't a wedding but unfortunately, Garrus jumped in, "You didn't really miss much. I think all Kal did was say the vows and then they were married. Can't really blame them though, we were handling a nuclear explosive at the time."

Shelrrik blinked and pulled away from him slightly, "Alarmed, please tell me you are not following the orders of that pathetic excuse of a father you have? That sounds like something he would make you do."

Kal shook his head quickly, "No, I promised you I'd never do something for him that compromised who I am and I meant it." His exile came to mind but he wasn't going to tell her that, "I'd love to sit down somewhere and catch up bu-"

Miranda interrupted him, "Shelrrik, you have an apartment in the Dantius Towers correct? Maybe we could stop by for a few minutes and catch up? I'm sure Shepard's mission won't last forever and I bet he'd enjoy meeting you."

That offer made Kal want to hit her over the head with the hardest thing he could find. Miranda hadn't wanted him to come along because she believed Oriana would respond to him, no he was just a tool. She must've known Shelrrik lived in the Dantius Towers and wanted to use his connection with the Elcor to get inside. He suddenly worried that Miranda would try and harm the Elcor, or try to pass off everything that happened on her. If Miranda seriously believed she could use him like this without any consequences, she had another thing coming.

He was going to object when Shelrrik answered, "Delightedly, I would love to have the company and the chance to meet this Shepard. If you will follow me I can take you to my shuttle . It should be able to fit all of you."

Kal desperately wanted to say something to stop her, "That would be great Shel but, I don't want to cut into any plans you had tonight."

Miranda replied quickly, "We can't stay long, just a quick tour so we know the address for another time. We'll be in and out before you know it."

Kal tensed but knew he wasn't going to be able to stop this. He needed to see what Miranda had planned before he started shooting.