In which Nihlus mopes, Thane drinks a cup of coffee, and Feron won't let Thane go to sleep. Feron, you jerk. Give the man a break.

Chapter 4 – Promise

Nihlus looked down at the dead drell. "You were one hell of a man, you know that? You got into Hierarchy Command, almost got away, and stayed silent until the end. I've broken every other case in two weeks, tops. You survived more than twice that." He sighed. "At least you're not suffering anymore. Rest in peace." He turned and walked to the door, rapping on it.

It opened before he could say anything. "You're done early, sir. Did he finally give in?"

"He's dead. Dispose of the body." Nihlus walked past the guard as she saluted, not giving her a second glance. He needed to go and think… or not. He'd liked that drell. Polite, personable, and admirable. If he thought on it, he'd just get depressed. Maybe he could go bother Kuril.

Mind made up, he started scouring the prison. He found the elder turian in Cell Block D, just finishing a conversation with a few guards. Kuril sighed and turned. "What is it now, Kryik?"

"Nihlus. Is a friendly conversation so bad?"

"It is with you. Now go away."

"Hey, I need some support over here. Remember that drell they caught in the capital?"

Kuril raised an eye ridge. "Who doesn't?"

"Just lost him. Never said a word. It's getting to me."

"…Soft."

"Help me occupy my mind for a while, why don't you? You know how I can get."

"You've been moping for weeks, Kryik."

"Nihlus." He sighed. "I liked the guy. So kill me."

"You do realize that war with Rakhana is inevitable, right? Why can't you hate the drell like everyone else?" Kuril examined his talons, first one, then the other, then his thumb.

"Because drell are people, too, and that was an exceptional man back there. Species doesn't enter into it."

"You are the strangest person I've ever met, Kryik. Listen to yourself. You hardly sound like someone whose job it is to break people."

"Nihlus. I do it because I'm good at it, not because I like it. It gets to me."

Kuril just put his hand over his face and shook his head. He was about to respond when a guard came to a running halt before him. "Sir, we have a situation at the eastern perimeter."

Kuril let his hand fall as Nihlus looked on. "What kind of situation?"

"Jailbreak, sir. A drell took out two guards, scaled the fence, and escaped into the woods."

Nihlus and Kuril both stared at the guard for a moment. "…That's nothing you joke about. Get back to your post," Kuril finally said.

"Sir, I'm not joking. This is a serious situation."

"I watched the only drell in this entire country die not twenty minutes ago. You should listen to Kuril." Nihlus' voice was hard.

"But-!"

"Get going before I drag you back to your post by the fringe," Kuril said.

"I'm not making this up!"

Kuril pointed back the way the guard had come. "Go!"

"…Don't say you weren't warned, sir." The guard turned and walked away.

Kuril shook his head. "Kids…"

"…Send out a search party, Kuril," Nihlus said quietly.

Kuril looked at him like he was crazy. "My people have better things to be doing than entertaining a bad joke, Kryik."

"I didn't check for a pulse, Kuril. Send out a search party."

"Did that drell really make such an impression on you?"

"Yes, and he knows things. If he is alive and he gets past the border, we're in trouble. Dead or alive, Kuril. Bring him back dead or alive. It doesn't matter. Just bring him back." Nihlus caught Kuril's gaze and held it.

"Alright, Kryik. I'll look for your drell. You can stay here and try to track down his corpse. Get going."

Nihlus saluted and stalked off. That drell was alive. One search party wouldn't be enough. He was going to get away, no matter how weak he was. There was a part of Nihlus that liked that idea. The rest of him was terrified.

It was cold enough for him to see his breath, his leg was protesting, and he was utterly exhausted. Black blood dripped from the wounds that the barbed wire had inflicted on his arms. Thane didn't care. He wasn't going to stop running, not now, not for anything. He was crashing through the forest, leaving that accursed place behind him. He was completely and utterly lost, but he'd deal with that once he was far enough.

Finally, his leg gave out, and he crumpled to the forest floor, sucking air into his burning lungs. His breaths were wispy white in front of him. His leg throbbed, and he could feel the blood soaking into his pant leg. This… was bad. There were so many ways he could die from this point. Bleeding was fairly far down on the list. Cold sat firmly at the top, and starvation just below it. He couldn't just lie here, no matter how much he wanted to.

He forced his aching body to sit up. The first step was to figure out which direction he was headed and change it accordingly. Easier said than done. The best he could do was check the sun… No, he couldn't even do that. It was cloudy. He staggered to his feet, leaning on a tree. The only option he had left was to find a road and follow it until he hit a sign that could tell him where he was. From there, he'd have to follow the road to keep from losing his bearings again. If he was lucky, he'd find a car. If he wasn't, he'd walk it. Or die trying.

"Come home safe."

…No, dying wasn't an option. He had a promise to keep.

Drell had evolved to take extremes. The heat of a desert's day, the cold of its night, long periods without food or water… But at a week in of subzero temperatures, nothing to eat, and little to drink, Thane knew he was pushing it. He'd seen snow for the first time in his life, and he hated the stuff. Sure, it was water, but it only made him colder, and it was tough to move through. He was having a hard enough time, as weak as he was.

Next town, he decided, steal a car, windows be damned, drive to the middle of nowhere, and blast the heater until the thing ran out of gas. Temporary fix, but he had to get out of this cold before it killed him. That was the best way he could think of.

The neighborhood he came upon had the feel of a bad one. Seemed that luck of his hadn't run out quite yet. Tinted windows on the third car he checked. It might not have enough gas to get him all the way to the border, but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

It was a struggle to keep himself awake at points along the road, but he wasn't stopping or turning off the heat. He enjoyed his relative comfort while it lasted; the car ran out of fuel about thirty miles from the border. He waited for the warmth inside to fade before getting out. No snow here, but it was still chilly as the sun came up.

Thane limped through the woods, all the way to the wall, and stared up at it from the forest's edge. A wave of despair washed over him. In his state, would he be able to make the jump? He bit his lip, pushed the pain in his leg from his mind, and took a running leap.

His first jump sent him crashing into the wall and falling to the ground hard enough to knock the breath out of him. His second allowed him to catch the edge, but he lost his grip and fell again. His third left him with one hand on the wall. He swung his other up and pushed off, making it over the barbed wire, though not unscathed. He lay there for a moment before rising precariously.

He reached the outpost late in the afternoon. The guards raised their guns as he raised his hands. "I don't have an I.D." he said, surprised at the rough, weak tone his voice had taken, "but if you let me make a phone call, you can get some verification."

The guards exchanged glances before one waved him forward. "You're one of us, and you look like you've had a hell of a time. We'll make that call. Let's get you in out of the cold first."

Thane nodded with a tired smile and limped after the one who'd waved. The warmth of the guard station almost staggered him with its contrast to the chill outside and in his body. The guard sat him down in the first chair they came to, then flagged down one of his comrades. "I need a phone, a hot cup of coffee, and something warm to eat. Try to be quick about it." The other guard left, and the first turned back to Thane. "You gonna live?"

"I have to." Thane tried not to shiver too much. "My wife will be furious with me if I die."

The guard laughed. "Alright, then. I think you'll be fine. Name?"

"Thane Krios. You?"

"Jea Narel. What were you doing out by the wall?"

"Long story, likely classified."

The other guard returned with a phone and a steaming mug. Jea frowned. "Where's the food?"

"I only have two hands." He shoved both items into Jea's hands and walked off again.

Jea held the mug out to Thane, but he pushed it aside. "Call first. I'll burn my mouth on that, anyway."

"You're shaking like a leaf."

"Call first."

Jea sighed and handed him the phone. Thane tapped in the number and sat back as it rang. It was picked up on the third ring. "Who are you, and how did you get this number?"

Thane closed his eyes and smiled. "Guess, sir."

"…What?"

"Or would you prefer Razh?"

"…Your voice is… familiar…"

"Come on, Razh. I'm entirely too predictable."

"…That's impossible."

"It's my job to do the impossible, sir."

"…Thane?"

"Yes, sir."

"How…?" He could hear Razh's mind grinding to a halt.

"It's a long story, sir. I'll be happy to tell you once I get back to the capital. I made it to the southern border outpost a few minutes ago."

"…I'll send someone from Fort Tox to pick you up, and a plane will take you from there back to here."

"I'll need a hospital stay and a psychiatric evaluation. I also need you to verify that I'm a safe personality to have back in the country. I have a guard here who you can talk to."

"Alright. Put me on."

Thane handed the phone off to Jea, who raised it and spoke. "Colonel Jea Narel, border guard. To whom am I speaking?" A pause. "…Sir, I've never heard of that branch of the military." Another, longer pause. "…Oh. I understand, sir. I'll keep this under wraps. Is that all?" And a third pause. "Alright, we'll be waiting." He hung up and looked at Thane. "You have my respect, Mr. Krios. Welcome home."

Thane nodded. "It's good to be back. Coffee, please?"

Jea handed it over, just watching him for a long time. "…How do you feel?"

"Warmer, but still cold, hungry, thirsty, tired, and in pain. I'll live."

"You look rough."

"I'll be fine, in time." He'd drained the mug.

The other guard returned with a bowl. "Oatmeal. Best I could do on short notice."

"I haven't eaten in nine days. It'll do." Thane gladly took it.

"My curiosity is killing me," Jea said as the other guard left them.

"It will never be satisfied, I'm afraid." Thane gave himself a mental pat on the back for his composure. Speaking calmly, eating slowly, and not passing out.

"Yeah, I know. Classified." Jea sighed.

"Mm. How long is the drive between here and Fort Tox? I've never been to the place."

"Really? Well, it's about twenty minutes, give or take. Your, uh, boss told me they were sending someone."

Thane nodded. "Yes, he told me, as well. That's why I was asking."

"Anxious to be away from Palaven?"

"You don't know the half of it."

"I don't blame you. I'm even hating my job right about now."

"Don't you have things to be doing, Colonel?"

"Someone has to keep an eye on you."

"You still don't trust me?" Thane set his empty bowl aside.

"To make sure you don't keel over."

"I don't look that bad, do I?"

"Yeah, you really do."

Thane smiled and shook his head. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, only realizing he'd fallen asleep when he was shaken awake. "Thane. Buddy. Seriously, you can sleep on the plane. Wake up."

Wait, he knew that voice… He opened his eyes, and they met silver ones. "…Feron."

A relieved sigh. "Yeah, it's me. Come on, let's get you to Tox."

Thane leaned heavily on Feron as he got up, and Feron supported him as they left the building. Cold slapped Thane in the face, but he was placed almost immediately in a warm car. Feron got in the driver's seat and shut the door, leaving nothing but warmth. Thane closed his eyes, but Feron spoke before he could fall asleep again. "Don't drift off just yet. You're going to Genna as soon as they can get you on a plane, and I have to stay where I am. Talk to me."

"Feron, I'm tired."

"You have an hour-long flight, then however long you need once you're at Genna. Is twenty minutes really so much to ask? You're my best friend. I thought you were gone for good. I have no idea when I'll see you again. Please." Feron glanced at Thane out of the corner of his eye before focusing on the road again.

Thane sighed. "Alright, fine. What do you want to talk about?"

"Tell me what happened."

"You know we're not supposed to talk about our missions."

"We do, anyway. You and I do, at least."

Another exasperated sigh. "The long and short of it is that I was captured in the capital and spent… I don't even know how long stuck in a prison, not having the time of my life."

"And you got out and made it back. You were gone for fifty-eight days. Everyone thought you were dead for twenty-six of those. Razh gave a notice to your wife, Thane."

"Now I'm scared. She's going to be furious with me."

Feron laughed. "No ecstatic celebrations?"

"After that, I mean. Kolyat will be furious, too, but… what's new?"

"He's mad because he can't spend time with you, you know."

"I think he may have lost sight of that at this point."

"Don't give up yet, Thane. He's still your kid."

"How do you do it? With Khash, I mean. You're never home, either."

"Khash and Kolyat are two entirely different people, Thane. Besides, Khash is my monitor. Yours, too, but details."

"Maybe it's because of losing his mother. You're all he has."

Feron took a deep breath and let it out sharply. "Yeah, that could be it."

Thane looked at him. "…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"I wish people wouldn't tiptoe around the subject. That just makes it worse. It's been nine years. I'm as over it as I'll ever be."

Thane faced forward again. "…Right."

"Don't sweat it. I'm not mad." A long silence passed between them. "…So how'd you get hurt? You're pretty torn up."

"My right leg was shot when I was captured, and my arms were caught in barbed wire when I escaped. The rest of it's from when I was being questioned. I may have a broken bone or two. I'm not sure."

"Yikes. If you were anyone else, I'd be asking if you'd be okay."

"I'll be fine."

"If you were anyone else, Thane. I know you'll be okay. You're you."

"I'm nothing but a man, Feron."

"Then you're one hell of a man." Feron turned off at the next exit, bringing them to the gates of Fort Tox. He flashed his I.D. and drove past the parking lot. "Orders are to take you straight onto the tarmac. Have a good flight, Thane."

Thane was silent until the car stopped beside a small plane. "Take care of yourself, Feron."

"Get some rest. You've earned it."

"It's a job." Thane was helped from the car and up the steps to the plan. He fell into the nearest seat and then into a deep, dreamless sleep.

He awoke in what he immediately identified as a hospital bed. Both of his arms were bandaged, and there were IVs in one. He was only mildly startled when he heard a voice. "You were dead asleep, Thane. They tried to wake you up for five minutes before they decided it was better to just bring you here."

He looked. "Sir, don't you have other things to be doing?"

Razh sighed and smiled at him. "I think I'm entitled to seeing my best agent when he comes back from the dead."

"How long will it take me to get out of this bed?"

"It could be a week or two."

"Five days, then."

"Kalihira almost dragged you to the Sea, Thane. Don't push it."

"Arashu hasn't forsaken me. I trust her to keep me from Kalihira's grasp."

"You have some kind of divine protection going on. Surprising, considering you never have time to go to a temple."

"I do when I have the chance. I have the data, sir."

"Well, that's changing the subject completely. You don't even have your jacket, Thane. How could you have the data?"

"It's all in my head. Every last figure."

Razh's hand went to his forehead. "Gods, you actually took the time to read it?"

"That was my mission, sir. Don't you review them anymore? I thought that was your job."

"I thought you'd put it on the USB and get out before you were in danger. I know that's what I would have done."

"You wouldn't make a very good agent, then."

"This is why I'm the one doing the paperwork."

Thane smiled. "Shouldn't you get back to that?"

"If you're so eager to be rid of me."

"Not at all."

Razh stood. "Alright. I'll send someone to record the data, and then you'll get your psych evaluation. After that, you're on indefinite leave. I'll call you back when I need to, but I doubt I will unless a war starts."

"Until it starts, sir. I'm going over the figures in my head. It's an invasion force."

"…I'll see you later, Thane." He left.

Irikah stared out the window, exactly as she had for years. There had been a sandstorm earlier, but now, the sky was a clear, cloudless blue. It hadn't rained once since that day. It wasn't right. Nature itself should have been in mourning. It just wasn't right.

"He's not coming home, Mom."

"I know, Kolyat." Her voice was flat. "I'm just wondering if we should go to the base and ask for the car back."

"Looks like they're finally getting around to it, themselves." They were both watching the same thing. A familiar silver sedan pulling into the driveway. The door opened…

Irikah gasped and raced for the front door. She fumbled with the knob, cursing at it until it turned. He was limping up the sidewalk when she barreled into him, nearly sending them both toppling. She held onto him as if he was the last thing between her and a thousand-foot drop. "Oh, gods, you're real, you're real…!"

He said nothing, merely wrapping one arm around her. The other was holding a stunned Kolyat moments later. "You…"

"You're alive! You're alive!" Irikah made no attempt to control her voice – or her tears.

"I came home," Thane said, "just as I promised."

And the sweetness rots your teeth. Sweeter than Kaidan Alenko, everyone's favorite human marshmallow. He'll show up in... He'll show up. Yes.