Chapter 23

Admiral Hackett paced. His face contorted in thought. The room had a similar layout to Shepard's room. Hackett's room was one hall over from Shepard's just as she's said all those months ago. That felt like forever ago now. Shepard perched on the couch across the coffee table from Kaidan.

Hackett turned to them. "The warheads, you're sure? And the Scorpion at the opening ceremony? That would make him a celebrated war hero or an official."

"We don't know anything for sure, yet," Kaidan said.

"Why would someone like that work with Terra Firma? What's the motive?"

"What's anyone's motive in working with terrorists?" Kaidan said then stiffened. His head snapped to Shepard. "I mean …"

"It's fine." Shepard waved him off. "The Major is right though, we don't need to sort out a motive now."

"And why so many attacks?" Hackett said. "Why attack from the stage then use a nuclear weapon that destroys the entire city? Seems redundant."

Shepard shrugged. "Perhaps the Scorpion attacks first, leaves on the Normandy in a blaze of glory, the entire galaxy in awe. Then the warheads go off to clean up the leftovers and drive the point home."

"That stage - the eezo, the shard." Hackett shook his head pacing in front of the window. "This mass effect weapon is troubling, Commander. Major Alenko is right - we should move the ceremony. At least limit the guest list, keep the biotics to a minimum."

"Very well." Shepard leaned back on the couch. "We do that, then what?"

"We watch the biotics on that list. We'll catch him eventually."

"How will we eventually catch him?"

"He'll meet with people we've tagged. We'll intercept communication. Proof will come."

"The Scorpion's obviously good at what he does," Shepard said. "The next attack could be sooner than the time needed to catch him. It's already taken us a year to narrow down to a list of a hundred.

"Narrowing the suspects is the hardest part," Kaidan said.

"You're so certain?" Shepard asked. "Certain enough to face the consequences if you're wrong?"

"What do we risk is you're wrong?" Kaidan asked lightly. "What happens if we can't stop the biotic attack on that floor?

Hackett stopped pacing. "Can we replace the flooring quietly?"

"The Scorpion would know," Shepard said.

"How?"

"A biotic could tell," Kaidan agreed.

Shepard leaned forward and folded hands on her knees. She looked at Kaidan. "If I'm wrong, I know it would be devastating, Kaid—uh, Major." Shepard glanced sharply at Hackett. Hackett crossed his arms with hard eyes. She licked her lips and turned back to Kaidan. "But, Major, that risk of doing nothing has just as devastating an outcome, and the chances of us stopping it are less. This will work."

"You just had your implant replaced," Kaidan said. "How can you be so sure your biotics—"

"I know my biotics," Shepard said.

Kaidan didn't say anymore and sat back further on the couch. Admiral Hackett looked between them with arms still crossed tightly on his chest.

Kaidan touched his temple and said lightly, "We don't know who we're watching for."

"I'll keep my eyes open."

Hackett pivoted to Shepard. "Commander, this is a risky gamble."

"I can do it."

"And should something happen to you?"

Shepard nodded toward Kaidan. "I have Kaidan." Admiral Hackett gave her with a thin-lipped frown. "Major Alenko," Shepard corrected with a sigh.

"I'll back her up," Kaidan said.

Hackett's black stare broke away from Shepard and flicked to Kaidan. "I hope you both know what you're doing."

"If Commander Shepard says she can do it, I know she can," Kaidan said finally.

Hackett studied him with a pinched brow then finally sighing.

"Well, you're both Spectres. It's at your discretion," Hackett said. "I'm sorry I can't support you better. Without anything formal, I can't put men at your disposal."

"None?" Kaidan asked.

"No. I'm sorry."

Shepard's shoulder's drooped and her eyes dropped to the floor.

"Okay," she sighed and stood. She started to the door.

"I want to help," Hackett said. "If I put soldiers under you or Alenko's command, the whole Alliance would know. They'd know when, where, and everything you don't want them to know about this sting."

"This is bull crap," Shepard said spinning around. "The Council, the Alliance - it affects all of you. No one helps us. Geth, Collectors, Reapers, now Terra Firma - there's no end!"

Kaidan rose. "Hey."

"What?" she snapped. Her eyes shifted to him.

"We're not out of options."

She eyed him with a hard glint as he came over. He stopped in front of her with a slanted smile. They held each other's eyes, and the corners of her lips loosened. She sighed finally and turned back to Hackett.

"Admiral, I know you're trying. I appreciate it."

Hackett watched them with a slight curve to his lips. They turned, and it dropped. The smile had been so brief, Kaidan wasn't sure he hadn't imagined it. Hackett cleared his throat and gave a slow nod.

"Yes, I'm sorry I can't help, Commander, Major."

Shepard darted out the front door. Hackett straightened and gave Kaidan a hardened return nod. Kaidan dipped his head with a tight smile then followed Shepard into the hall.

XXX

Kaidan leaned back against the desk with folded arms and watched Shepard survey the Spectre office. She ran her hand over the firearms on the wall and strolled over to a map of Vancouver. Likely targets were marked – transport, energy, military. A galaxy map spanned the wall next to it. She used the toe of her boot to tip open the metal lid on a chest of grenades. Kaidan leaned to the side as she reached past him to check the desk's terminal.

"Same accesses as I have in my room," she murmured and wandered to a workbench in the corner. "TN470?"

She hefted it. She grinned holding it out and looked down the barrel.

"You know the Spectre offices are for you too?" Kaidan said.

"I know." She set the pistol back on the workbench. "This is all your stuff?"

"Not all of it. Some of it."

"Hmm." She rested against the corner of the workbench. "We're the only ones that come in here?"

Kaidan hesitated. "This room? I suppose. It's more or less for the human Spectres."

"When did they build this?"

"It's been a few months. Converted it after the comm division moved to the new Business Services Building. You've never been in here?"

Shepard shrugged.

"I'm surprised," Kaidan said. "I mean, I'm not going to be here. It's more your space than mine."

"You're here," Shepard said picking up the TN470 again.

"For a few more days. After that though …" Kaidan's eyes drifted to the galaxy map on the wall. The Terminus System. He swallowed dryly and shoved off from the desk. "Move in whatever you want. It's yours."

Shepard pulled out the TN470's thermal clip. "Hopefully, I won't be stuck at HQ all the time. Plus, you'll be back from wherever they send you. I won't throw your stuff in the hall to make room for my fish tank. Though …" She popped the clip back in. "I think it would add a lot of character."

"Right." Kaidan gave a limp smile. "Go ahead though. I'm partial to fish."

Shepard smirked. "If this leads into a quip about eating fish, remember, I'm holding a TN470."

"No, I like watching them. Remind me of you."

Shepard's eyes flitted up to him. She weighed the pistol in her hands. "You going to Garrus's party?"

"Seems like the wrong time to be partying."

"Perhaps," Shepard considered. "Already told him I'd go. It's some turien holiday."

"Yeah, I got the message. Saw your friend, Jack, earlier today with her biotic students. Here for the Summit. Lot of the old group in town."

Shepard nodded. "Jacob messaged me. Wanted to meet up. I'll see them at Garrus's party though. We do need to get prepared for crashing Terra Firma's meeting, but we'll be ready. A few hours won't matter. It might clear you're head a little, come back at it hard and fresh."

"Tomorrow night?" Kaidan asked.

"Hanging out with the old gang again."

Kaidan considered it for a moment then shrugged. "All right."

"Good." Shepard thumped the gun back down on the workbench. "Okay. What are our options? We're down to 48 hours give or take."

"What's always worked for you before, Shepard?" She just eyed him, so he answered. "Your crew."

"I don't have a crew."

"Yes, you do," Kaidan said. "The old gang."

"They're not my crew anymore, Kaidan."

"We may not serve on the same starship anymore, but everyone's on your team. We're all going different directions - but for now, right here - everyone's together. I bet you only need to ask."

Shepard regarded him quietly.

"Maybe," she said finally. "If Terra Firma has explosives, you're right, we need manpower. And if there's a backroom meeting with the upper crust's representative, we need to know what they're planning. I'll think about it."

"We'll see everyone tomorrow night, right? Keep thinking on it."

"I will," Shepard said. She motioned to the Vancouver map on the wall. "I see you marked some hotspots. Give me the rundown, Major."

Kaidan turned to the map and couldn't help smiling. Talking tactics and intel with Shepard, he had to admit, it felt good. Felt right.