Freedom was actually at his fingertips. The scan beeped, simultaneously filing Kaidan's record and releasing him from the hospital's clutches. Now all he had to do was visit Spectre Requisitions and call Admiral Hackett. It would only be hours before he'd be back where it mattered.

Tannor was in his usual spot by the windows, though he was sitting back in the chair, a little more exhausted looking than usual. Kaidan sauntered over, taking the empty seat.

Tannor nodded in Kaidan's direction. "Hello, Major. Have they released you?"

"That they have."

"Excellent." The drell fell into a bout of coughing, ending it with a grunt of frustration. "I'm sorry. I've just had my treatments—they make me feel a little off."

"No apology necessary." Kaidan wished he had something to give Tannor in remembrance, but giving a memento to a dying man seemed somewhat cruel. "Are the treatments painful?"

"No more than the disease itself." The drell smiled. "I believe that is the most piteous thing I have ever said."

Kaidan gave a little laugh. "Well, we all deserve some self-pity, now and then."

"That we do." Tannor leaned forward, seeming a little more himself. "It occurs to me that we may not meet again. I wish to thank you for your friendship. It has been most heartening."

What could he say to that? "No, I should be thanking—"

Suddenly Kaidan was on the floor. People around him were screaming; outside the windows a ball of fire rose up from the gardens. Kaidan pushed himself up and helped Tannor to his feet. On cue the crisis alarms began to ring; a Cerberus shuttle whizzed by the window.

"Cerberus!" The shouts rose around him as people began to panic. Kaidan was pushed about by the crowd, Tannor's arm torn from his grasp.

A doctor stood on a chair. "SILENCE!" The man spoke into his omni-tool, nodding as people snapped towards momentary clarity. "I need you all to proceed calmly into the center of the hospital. We can lock the hospital down. I repeat—proceed calmly. There is no need for alarm." Amazingly the people heeded the doctor's words, moving forward at a steady, if quick pace.

"Arashu, it is working." Tannor reappeared at Kaidan's side just as the sirens cut off. The drell's eyes snapped to the speakers in the ceiling. "Those sirens originate in C-Sec. If they were cut off it can only mean that Cerberus has gotten the upper-hand."

Kaidan frowned as people bumped past them, a little more hurried in the silence. "I have to get to Spectre Requisitions and to the Councilors."

Tannor nodded. "I can get to C-Sec and—"

"No. Get inside the hospital, Tannor. Now." Kaidan pushed against the current of bodies, glancing back once in the confines of the elevator. Tannor had vanished; at least he had heeded Kaidan's command.

Kaidan punched the button on the elevator. It was time to remind his enemies of what his biotics could do.