A/N - Again with the long break . Very sorry... real life, original fic and writer's block have kept me from this story... Now, however, I happy to report that it is finished (written, anyway)... I will be posting two chapters a day until I reach everything I have edited, then progress will be a little slower, as I have no beta and have to edit everything myself. It's a painstaking process since I don't think you can catch everything in one sitting and need to look away for some time, etc. But never fear, the bulk of the work is done! I sincerely hope that you enjoy this story and look forward to your comments... Thanks again for taking the time to read my work!
As always, all credit for the universe and characters depicted in this story belongs to Bioware and I intend no copyright infringement. I honor and appreciate their amazing work and simply enjoy playing what ifs in their sandbox~!
Kaidan gritted his teeth as he studied the fortifications the enemy had built around the doors leading to the inner sanctum of the facility. His study of the blueprints had told him that they had once functioned as the research labs for the plant, where new and devastating technology was built and tested. The level of security had been high when the facility was operational, but the turrets, heavy mechs, and twenty guards he could see patrolling the narrow hallway sealed the doors more effectively than any electronic security ever could. He ducked back behind the door leading out into the hallway and shook his head. They huddled together so that they could speak without the use of even helmet-to-helmet coms.
"It's a deathtrap," Kaidan reported grimly. "They knew what they were doing, and this is a bottleneck to the inner doors. We don't have enough manpower to take them all out – not without casualties."
"Maybe," Kasumi replied, and everyone turned to her. She was studying the ceiling, not the exit to the hallway. "Do the blueprints show where those ventilation shafts lead?" she asked with a motion of her hand to indicate a small vent in the ceiling above them.
Kaidan accessed his omni-tool and studied the map they had downloaded. He highlighted the tunnels Kasumi had indicated and traced the path with his eyes. He nodded in satisfaction a few moments later.
"That's brilliant, Kasumi," he praised. "The shafts lead to the research labs, just inside the inner doors. They won't get us to Miranda, but they will get us around this mess."
"Just a little trick I learned from the real Shepard," Kasumi said with a casual shrug. "No offense," she added to Kris who just waved it away with a smile.
"We'd still have to deal with the mess on the way out," Garrus added his opinion quietly.
"Or we work backwards and take them out before we move on," James commented. "It's a more defensible position."
"I like that plan, Lieutenant," Kaidan said approvingly. "No need to take any chances if we have to make a quick escape."
"Ok so we crawl through the vents, drop down here," Garrus summarized with a finger point to the schematics still displayed on Kaidan's omni-tool, "And then dig in and work backwards to take out the mechs. The turrets are all faced in the wrong direction, you and Kasumi can disable them before they adjust."
"That's the plan," Kaidan said with a nod.
"Someone wanna give me a boost?" Kasumi asked cheerfully as she stood to begin the climb to the vents above them. Kaidan crouched and cupped his hands and she placed her foot in them and used him for a 'step'. The plan was underway.
"We've got a problem, Shepard," Joker interrupted her counting with a grim report. She turned her eyes to the dots he was indicating on the ladar. "Incoming heat signatures," he confirmed her observation.
"Friend or foe?" she asked in clipped tones as she held her breath and watched the dots converge port side. She could barely see them through the viewport in the distance if she squinted and the dots made no sudden movements, so she assumed they hadn't seen the Normandy.
"No IFF," Joker answered her question. "But if I had to guess..."
"Yeah, I'm with you, Joker," Kat replied with a nod. "The Alliance and turians know we're here, and any other allies are too far away. They're likely Cerberus reinforcements."
"They don't know we're here yet," Joker told her, "But if they deploy shuttles..."
"Our ground team might be overwhelmed," again she completed his thought. "Can we take them?" she asked her pilot as she drummed her nails on her armrest again.
"Two corvettes and a frigate," Joker observed as he studied the readings on the panel in front of him. "And the frigate isn't the Normandy," he added with a grin.
"So that's a yes?" Kat asked impatiently.
"That's a hell yes, Captain," Joker reported with a gleeful grin as he moved his hands over the helm controls. "But, Shepard... If we move to attack, they may notify their forces on the ground. And we won't be in position to help Kaidan if he needs to bug out."
Kat felt another stab of unwelcome fear but she gritted her teeth and shoved it aside. She may not be able to lead the ground team in this attack, but she was still in command of the Normandy, and she couldn't allow emotion to cloud her judgment. She gave the order to attack, even as she sent prayers to any deity willing to listen that she wasn't putting her husband – and the father of her baby – in more danger. She watched with bated breath as Joker swung the Normandy in position and attacked.
As the last of the mechs guarding the hallway behind their position fell with a sizzle and hiss, alarms throughout the facility began to blare in obnoxious noise and strobing red lights. Kaidan ducked behind cover again and studied the heavy reinforced steel doors behind them in alarm.
"That can't be good," James understated the situation wryly.
"You think?" Kris shot back with a growl that made her sound like Shepard, not just look like her.
"That's really... disconcerting," Liara remarked with a look that told Kaidan she'd noticed the resemblance as well.
"Apparently we triggered the alarms," Kasumi said with a casual shrug that indicated lack of concern.
"So they know we're coming," Kaidan added. He sighed in resignation before he continued, "It doesn't change the plan, though. Kasumi, start the hack."
Kasumi nodded and moved to the lock mechanism to begin working. After several minutes of no success, Kaidan wandered over to her. He looked over her shoulder and immediately saw the problem – the lock had a dual system that needed to be released at the same time, and as fast as Kasumi was, she wasn't fast enough to hack both simultaneously. He opened his omni-tool and worked for several frustrating minutes before he found a backdoor into the control system. He nodded to Kasumi and they began their dual hacks. Whether she adjusted her speed down to sync with his, or he was underestimating his abilities, he wasn't sure, but they managed to open the lock with combined efforts. The light above the double doors glowed green to inform the squad of their success.
The squad split into two groups on either side of the double doors and Kaidan nodded once they were in place. Kris reached out and slapped the control panel in the center of the doors and they hissed open. She nodded to everyone and stepped out of cover into the center, taking her role as Shepard. An instant later, the report of a rifle sounded and a large body shoved Kris aside. She fell to the ground under the bulk of James Vega, who was bleeding freely from the sniper's bullet that had struck him in his chest plate.
Kaidan watched the horror color features that were so familiar to him and he stood in shock for what felt like hours before he finally moved, ducking out of cover to drag James back to safety. His HUD offered him information on the man's condition and he set about performing first aid based on the reports. He ignored the shots whistling around them, and the loud bangs of Garrus' rifle as he tried to snipe the sniper, while he worked frantically to stabilize his friend. He shut everything out and concentrated on his work until a loud voice calling out over the din of battle finally reached him.
"Commander Shepard," the male voice cried triumphantly. "I may have failed my master today, but you cannot escape us forever. We are everywhere, and we will win," he continued to brag as the sound of his voice grew more and more distant.
"He's getting away," Liara cried.
"I'll go after him," Garrus reported and stood to put action to his words.
"No," Kaidan stopped him with the clipped order. "We need to get James back to the Normandy. Find Miranda and let's get out of here." He met Kris' worried eyes and tried to smile reassuringly to her before he bent back over James. He was fairly sure he hadn't succeeded.
"Nice shooting, Joker!" Kat exclaimed as they watched the last of the enemy reinforcements explode in a fiery ball of reds and oranges out the viewport window.
Any reply Joker might have made was interrupted by a frantic call over the com.
"Ground team to Normandy, we're coming in fast with casualties, need immediate extraction," Kris' voice cried and sent Kat's heart sinking again. She nodded to Joker who moved to comply, hands flying over the console to turn the Normandy back to the landing zone coordinates.
"Normandy to ground team," Kat called back and was amazed that her voice didn't show any of her conflicting emotions. "Acknowledged. ETA for extraction..." she turned to Joker who held up all ten fingers. She cringed but it didn't show in her voice when she reported, "... ten minutes."
"Ten..." she heard Kris echo in a breach of protocol. "Understood," she composed herself and continued in a more professional tone. "Ground team out."
Kat stood from the jump seat and had to grab the arm to steady herself. She took a deep breath before she could continue.
"Tell Chakwas to meet me in the shuttle bay, we have incoming wounded," she ordered over her shoulder as she raced out of the cockpit and to the elevator.
By the time she reached Deck 5, she realized she didn't know what to do with herself for the six minutes remaining until she could judge for herself just how much damage had been done, and how she would deal with it. She stood, eyes locked on the bay doors, hands clutched over her belly and kicked herself for making the decision that delayed this rescue. She refused to acknowledge that the cost to her may be more personal than professional – but a small voice in her mind kept reporting that she had only heard Kris' voice, not Kaidan's. He had to be ok, he had to be alive, she repeated over and over until the Kodiak began to take shape in the distance through the bay doors, then finally flew in and landed safely under the practiced skill of Cortez.
She watched in numb shock as Chakwas rushed to the shuttle doors, motioning the ensigns she had deputized into service as medics bear stretchers behind her. Kat had only told her that Kris had reported casualties, plural, so Chakwas had three stretchers prepared. Any more than that, they'd have to set up triage in the bay and adjust from there. The shuttle doors flew open and Kat watched as two figures stepped out, bearing a third between them. Her shock-numb brain reported that Kaidan was standing, walking, but that his armor was covered in blood. Her eyes flew to the man Kaidan and Garrus were lowering to a stretcher, and she felt the dual sensation of relief that the blood on Kaidan's armor wasn't his, and horror that it was James lying silent and pale and wounded on the stretcher. As she began to move to the shuttle, another motion at the door caught her eye and she saw Miranda, her arms slung over Kris' and Liara's shoulders for support, limping to the other stretcher and protesting loudly that she didn't need it. She broke into a jog, the shock finally allowing her full motion.
When she reached the small group huddled over the stretchers, she waited impatiently as Kaidan gave his report on his condition, and Chakwas nodded grimly.
"We need to get him to the med-bay," Chakwas ordered in her clipped tones and the crowd parted as her medics bore the stretcher to the elevator. She watched Kris run after them and turned back to the rest of the group.
Miranda finally won her short argument and Kat smiled at her in greeting as she slung an arm over Liara's shoulder and limped off to the elevator herself, while the ensigns followed, carrying their empty stretchers. Kat slapped Garrus' back in silent communication then turned to Kaidan. He met her eyes and opened his arms. She fell into them and he wrapped her in a warm hug. Neither of them cared that he was still covered in James' blood, or that she was crying silent tears and causing it to run again.
Kaidan held Kat until her shaking subsided, though it didn't stop. He finally pushed her to arm's length and tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. He brushed her tears away with gentle fingers.
"I'm ok," he told her softly.
She held his eyes for several long minutes before she nodded. She took a deep breath which only shuddered slightly then squared her shoulders.
"We should get to the med-bay," she said.
It was his turn to nod. She turned and headed to the elevator and he started to follow her before he realized he was still in armor covered in James' blood. He winced mentally at the thought of walking into the med-bay and increasing Kris' pain. He stopped and began to remove the pieces of his armor, cursing as his fingers fumbled over it. Kat reached the elevator and turned back to look for him.
"I'll be up in a bit," he called over to her, waving to her to go on. She simply turned and stepped on the elevator.
He went back to the process of extricating himself from his gear, forcing himself to slow down and take care.
Kat stepped into the med-bay and noted that the chaos that had reigned when the shuttle first arrived had been calmed to a quiet bustle of energy under the efficient watch of Dr. Chakwas. She saw the ship's doctor bending over James in the far right corner, and noted with no surprise that Miranda was next to her, acting as assistant. They looked like they had everything under control, and while there was a sense of urgency, there was no panic. Her eyes then fell on the woman huddled in a chair beside the doctor's desk, and she realized that what Kris was feeling wasn't relief. She walked over to her friend and Dr. Chakwas looked up from her work and managed to signal both 'he's going to be ok' and 'please get her out of here' in one look and gesture of her head before she went back to work.
"Kris," she said softly and her friend's eyes turned away from the far corner and to her with shock and surprise. She hadn't heard Kat approach, which Kat took as just another sign of how deeply affected she was.
"Why don't we get some coffee in the mess and let them work?" she suggested, still speaking softly, gently. When Kris just shook her head and turned back to her silent observation, Kat changed tactics. In some ways, Kris was very like Kat, and Kat knew from experience that she didn't respond to kindness in this type of situation. It had taken some sharp words from Liara to break her out of her own shock when she had dragged Kaidan to the med-bay after Mars. Perhaps the familiar routine of command was what was best for Kris, too.
"Lieutenant," Kat said sharply, in her best Commander Shepard tone, "I need your report, and the doctors need room to work."
Kris again turned startled eyes to Kat, but they were more focused now. She nodded and stood, preparing to follow Kat out to the adjacent mess hall.
"Yes, ma'am," she replied to the order as they walked out.
Kat motioned Kris to a seat at one of the long tables and went to the kitchen. She poured two mugs of coffee, and hoped that Kaidan would forgive her one slip. She just didn't want to take the time to make tea, the beverage her doctor had recommended she switch to because of the pregnancy. She put one of the mugs in front of Kris and seated herself across the table from her. While Kris began to recount the details of the mission, she sipped slowly at the coffee and listened carefully. Kris managed to stay composed and in soldier mode until she reached the point where James had been shot, protecting her, then her voice broke. Kat reached across the table and covered Kris' hand with her own.
"Kaidan was hurt once, very badly, during the war," she told her friend softly. "I know how hard it is to go through that."
"But you and Kaidan were..." Kris trailed off with a sigh.
"In love?" Kat guessed. At Kris' nod, Kat went on, "And you and James aren't?"
"I don't know," Kris replied and sounded as miserable as she looked. "I like him, but we talked about it, keeping it casual, you know."
Kat nodded. She knew all too well. She opened her mouth to say so but Kaidan did it for her.
"A man, not even one as good as James, doesn't take a bullet for 'casual'," he told Kris as he slid into a seat beside Kat. He took her still-full cup of coffee and replaced it with a mug filled with hot tea. He sipped the coffee and just shrugged when Kat sent a guilty look in his direction.
"I guess I didn't realize it was more until I saw him like that," Kris commented, missing the byplay between them completely.
"He's going to be ok," Kat reassured her. "And you'll have plenty of time to tell him once they're done patching him up."
"And kick his ass for taking the bullet," Kris growled in reply.
"Oh yeah, that sounds like love," Kaidan said with a smirk, thinking that it was something his wife would have said.
The three of them laughed softly and they sat together companionably. Kaidan and Kat kept the conversation light and casual for their friend until Dr. Chakwas stepped out of the med-bay to tell Kris that James was awake and she could see him. She stood with a grateful smile and left to do that. Kat took Kaidan's hand and squeezed it, though she didn't speak. Neither of them needed the words, they both knew what that simple touch meant. For once, it wasn't one of them lying in the med-bay, with the other hovering protectively. They were happy to just be the supportive friends this time.
Since Kat wasn't about to test the irresistible force versus immovable object theory and attempt to hold her debrief in the med-bay; nor was she willing to wait any longer, she called the remaining crew to the war room while Kris was still with James.
"Dr. Chakwas advises me that James will be fine, mostly thanks to Kaidan's quick help," Kat told everyone once they were assembled. She sent a grateful smile to her husband who blushed under the praise. "She said he'll be on the mend for a few weeks, though. In the meantime, let's figure out what we know."
"I may have something, Captain," Traynor said with a shy smile. All eyes turned to her and she seemed to hesitate.
"Let's hear it, Samantha. You've been instrumental before," Kat said with an encouraging nod.
"The shooter escaped on a shuttle that was cleverly concealed in the undergrowth on the surface of Demeter," Traynor began. "Obviously we couldn't pursue it, because we needed to rescue our ground team, but I was able to track it. It was picked up by an unknown cruiser on the far side of the planet. The cruiser bore no markings or IFF but it was similar in model to the ones that attacked during the mission. The cruiser left the system shortly thereafter. I was able to track its first few jumps before I lost it. It was headed to the Terminus Systems."
"The Terminus Systems..." Kaidan echoed. "But why? Relays on that end of the galaxy are barely negligible. And there's no human colonies left along the way..."
"But there is one thing in the Terminus Systems that would be an ideal target if you planned to hurt me," Kat pointed out.
"Rannoch," Garrus supplied and the one word conveyed all the pain Kat knew he would be feeling at the thought of Tali being in danger. She wasn't quite sure what had happened between the two of them to cause them to end their relationship, but she knew it wasn't a lack of emotion on Garrus' part.
"It makes sense," Miranda put in. "So far, they've failed to get at you, now they're targeting the people you care about."
"Did they do or say anything while they held you to give us any clue?" Kat asked Miranda. It had been Kaidan's first question on the shuttle ride back as well, but he had told Kat that Miranda hadn't known anything.
"They knocked me out, and I only saw anyone when they fed me," Miranda said with a shrug. "My guards were human, but they never spoke. I was just the bait."
"Which still makes no sense to me either," Kat said with a frustrated sigh. "It's almost as if there's two entities at play here... One smart enough to pull off the hacking and planning, but then another that's disorganized and incompetent."
"It's tough to find good mercs these days," Kasumi said with a cheerful shrug.
"And why would Cerberus need mercs anyway?" Kaidan asked in confusion. None of this was making sense.
"Cerberus?" Miranda echoed in surprise. "Why would you think it was Cerberus?"
"It seemed logical... Who else has the resources or motivation to come after me like this?" Kat explained.
"I'm not sure they have either anymore," Miranda said with a frown. "I don't have many Cerberus ties, but the last I heard, the cells were scattered and disorganized after the Illusive Man's death."
"And the shooter mentioned a master," Kaidan pointed out. "So maybe someone has taken his place?"
"I suppose it's possible," Miranda conceded, though she still sounded doubtful.
"No matter who is behind this, we need to warn Tali, and get to the Perseus Veil, ASAP," Kat told them.
"The quarians have QEC capabilities," Traynor pointed out. "We can easily warn them from here."
"And we will," Kat said with a nod. "And then we'll plot a course to Rannoch."
"Captain, I know it's not my place..." Traynor began before she took a deep breath and continued, "But what about Alliance Command? I thought Admiral Hackett gave permission for this rescue mission only."
"Let me handle Admiral Hackett," Kat said grimly as she stood. "I realize I'm asking a lot of you, if anyone wants to leave, I can arrange for transport from here." When no one spoke, she nodded. "Thank you," she said softly as she left the room.
Kat smiled wearily when she entered the med-bay about an hour later and saw that James was awake, with Kris still hovering near his bedside. She walked over to them and slouched against a nearby bed.
"James, glad to see you up," Kat said in greeting.
"Hey, Lola," James returned her greeting with a cheery smile only slightly marred by pain. "Now if you can just convince this one to let me out of bed..." he said with a gesture to indicate Kris, who glared at him.
"Dr. Chakwas said you need to stay," Kris said firmly.
"And stay you will," Kat added her own glare. "It will take us a month to get to Rannoch – enjoy the spoiling while you can, James," she added with a grin to soften the order.
"Rannoch? A month?" Kris echoed, then grimaced as she realized she must sound like a parrot. "Kat, I hate to be the voice of reason, but won't Alliance Command expect you to return to Earth now that we've rescued Miranda?"
"I'm waiting for a call with Admiral Hackett," Kat replied with a nod. "And I'm sure that's what he will expect. But I can't leave Tali unprotected – I sent word to her via the other Admirals, but she was off-planet on a recon mission. Besides, I think we've seen that Earth isn't safe for me right now," she added, obviously building her arguments for her upcoming conference with Hackett.
"Lola, math might not be my thing, but if it's a month to Rannoch, and then a month back..." James said hesitantly, with a wave to Kat's pregnant belly.
"I'm fully aware of our timetable, James," Kat replied as she placed a hand on her stomach protectively. "We still have time to return to Earth before the baby is born."
Kris gave her a very telling look that indicated what she thought of that particular piece of optimism. "You better be right, Kat," she added. "Because I'm not playing midwife."
"Noted, Lieutenant," Kat said with a chuckle as the med-bay doors opened again and they turned to see Kaidan enter.
"Ah, the real voice of reason has arrived," Kris said with a grin.
"Looks like you've got some 'splaining to do, Lola," James offered with a grin as Kaidan approached them. He nodded to James and Kris, took his wife's hand and led her back out of the med-bay without speaking. Before the doors closed behind them, Kat heard James ask Kris, "Do you think he'll get through to her?" though she didn't hear her friend's reply.
Kaidan didn't speak until they reached Starboard Obs and the doors closed behind them. Kat wandered to one of the couches and sat while she watched her husband pace around her. Finally, although she knew it was a strategic mistake, she broke the silence first.
"Kaidan..." she began then stopped as he turned and met her eyes. His shoulders sagged.
"I've been trying to decide what to say to convince you to stay on Earth and let me go get Tali," he finally said, and there was resignation in his voice, not heat. "But then I realized that meant I'd be in deep space, and you'd be on Earth – alone. And though I know you've warned the Admirals, I agree that it's not enough. If we're going to put an end to this threat, we need to meet it head-on, and Rannoch seems to be the most likely place to do that."
"So you're saying you agree with me?" Kat asked in surprise.
"I'm saying, I don't like any of the choices, but going to Rannoch is the lesser of two evils," Kaidan corrected with a sigh.
Kat grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit beside her. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed when he wrapped an arm around her and placed his palm protectively on their baby. "We didn't start this fight, Kaidan," Kat finally said. "I didn't ask to be in the middle of this. But there's one truth all of our enemies have learned the hard way, and this time won't be any different." She waited until he met her eyes before she continued, "Together, we can face anything."
Kaidan smiled and kissed her softly. Their quiet moment was interrupted by Joker's voice over the com.
"Shepard, Admiral Hackett is waiting for you on the QEC," he informed them.
"Let's hope anything includes pissed-off Admirals," Kaidan responded as he helped her off the couch and out the door.
"Major. Captain," Admiral Hackett greeted them tersely as they began the conference. "I understand your rescue mission was successful?"
"Yes, Sir," Kat replied with a nod. "Miranda Lawson has been recovered."
"And not without incident, according to your reports," Hackett returned. "Did she provide any intel on who is behind this?"
"Very little," Kaidan replied. "The enemy leader did mention a 'master' however."
"Hmm," Hackett said with a frown. "I would think intel would be aware if someone had stepped up to take the Illusive Man's place. But so far, there's been no chatter. I don't like this, and I assume that the two of you aren't calling to give me news to set my mind at ease," he said pointedly.
"No, Sir," Kat replied with a sigh. "Our intel is that the enemy was headed to the Terminus Systems. And logically, there's one likely target in that area of the galaxy."
"Admiral Tali'Zorah vas Normandy," Hackett filled in with a nod. "It makes sense, as you say, but I assume you've already warned the quarian Admiralty Board?"
"We have, Sir," Kaidan replied. "But we believe the only definitive way to end this threat is to apprehend the individuals responsible."
"So you plan to go to Rannoch," Hackett guessed, easily following the logic. He glared at them both. "I gave permission – reluctantly – for two Alliance officers to mount a rescue effort, not start a galaxy-wide manhunt. This isn't the War, Captain; Major. You can't commandeer Alliance resources as you see fit."
"Actually, Admiral," Shepard said quietly but firmly, "We are two Council Spectres..."
"Don't finish that thought, Captain," Hackett warned with an intimidating look. Any other officer under his command would cower under that stare, but Kat simply met his gaze openly, although a bit of regret showed in the set of her shoulders. Finally, Hackett sighed. "Out of respect for what you have accomplished, Captain Alenko, I won't consider your diversion to Rannoch insubordination. That's as far as I will go. I won't commit any other Alliance resources on a hunch."
"Thank you, Admiral," Kat replied with a nod.
"Keep me updated," Hackett barked back. "And don't make me regret not ordering you back to Earth. Hackett out." His holo blinked out a moment later as he ended the conference.
Kat and Kaidan turned to each other and shared a sigh. "That went..." Kat began.
"Yes, it did," Kaidan agreed as he took her by the hand and led her out of the room.
They stopped in the CIC to officially plot their course to Rannoch and check in with Traynor and Joker before they headed to the elevator together. Once the doors closed behind them, Kat stepped into Kaidan's arms and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You know, I feel good about our chances," she murmured to him.
"You do realize that when I said that during the War, I was talking out my ass?" Kaidan replied with a chuckle.
"Yeah, but at least this time the enemy isn't two kilometers high," Kat pointed out cheerily as the elevator deposited them at their cabin.
"Small favors, I guess," Kaidan said as he uncoded the lock and ushered her into the cabin. "And I just realized I have you to myself for a month," he added as he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her.
"No small favor there," Kat replied against his lips as they headed to their bed.