A bit longer then the last chapter, Shepard will be appearing soon but I wanted to do a little bit with Kira first. I also want to thank everyone for the reviews and story/author alerts, I appreciate it. Please review and I hope you enjoy!

As a soldier you're trained to hear things in your sleep: faint whispers, soft breathing, light footsteps; everything associated with someone trying to approach you without awakening you. But Kaidan had little to worry about person walking to his bedside, who was unaware of how stealth-like their actions were coming across. But as he would act in a serious situation, he did now: observe and wait to strike.

Kira was certain her father hadn't heard her, he was still making those funny noises that her grandfather made when he slept. She stopped to ponder if all grown-ups made that sound when a sudden snort caused her to duck down at the front the bed. Biting her lower lip she slowly stood up to look over the covers and saw her father was now lying on his stomach. She took this opportunity to crawl onto the mattress.

Kaidan felt the mattress shift as small hands and knees made their way cautiously toward the pillows he was resting his head on. He opened his eye just barely to see Kira pick up one of the pillows beside him, 'A pillow fight, huh?' He grinned to himself and decided to make his move.

Quicker than she could raise the pillow above her head a pair of arms reached out and grabbed her. Kira squealed happily as she found herself looking down from her father's arms to his laughing face. "I tried to sup'wise you!" she told him, Kaidan smiled and responded, "But I surprised you first." Kira wriggled out of his arms and crawled under the covers. Kaidan watched with amusement as she popped her head out at the opposite end of the bed and gave him a happy grin.

"So what's happening little lady?" he asked her as he leaned back against the headboard. "Umm, breakfast? Oh, and the park!" she looked toward him for confirmation, "Alright, sounds good. Go get dressed and we'll head out." Kira smiled from ear to ear and scrambled down the hall to get ready for her day with her father.


'I guess it's a park' Kaidan thought as Kira skipped to the reflecting pool. He would remember growing up on Earth as a child when his parents took him and his siblings to the local park. Remnants of the good past his father would call it; but Kaidan just knew the park as a place people went to be happy, to be with family, to run around all day and collapse when you finally went home.

The Citadel wards did their best to add what they called Enviro-Centers, naturally the center closest to the Alliances offices was based off of Earth, but it looked out of place. If you walked too far you'd end up back in the wards; shops, restaurants, and advertisement posts quickly overtook whatever Earthly feel the center was trying to evoke.

But Kira was happy; there wasn't anything like this on Shoal Station. Kaidan's thoughts went to Tim and Hannah at memory of the station. It had been three months since Kira came to live him, and she talked to Tim over the extranet quite a bit, but Hannah picked up the first off-station posting she could and had only been able to make contact with Kira once since then. Even after he assured her that Kira would continue to be in contact with her, she just left.

But he wouldn't linger on it; it wasn't his fault she decided to isolate herself. And he had no regrets; being with Kira was what he wanted, and she had begun to heal that invisible wound that Shepard left.

It would be three years tomorrow; three years since Marie Shepard had died. Kaidan had loved her; not only did she break down that heavy wall of control he had carried since BAaT, she had also given him a daughter. A wonderful child that may look like him but embodied her mother's spirit.

Kira had been holding her father's hand as they walked through the Wards; she was thoroughly enjoying her day with her father. She was now staring at all the lights and signs when an advertisement post caught her attention. She stopped so suddenly that Kaidan nearly jerked her out of place. He noticed she was staring to the Alliance recruitment center across the ward and then he realized what she was focusing on. The advertisement post was displaying an image of Commander Marie Shepard, Hero of the Blitz, and Savior of the Citadel.

But Kira almost seemed not to recognize her; there was certainly something familiar about that woman but her hair was different, it was in a tight bun, it wasn't hanging around her face. And she was wearing black armor, with battle scars on it. But the most noticeable difference was the hard, determined look on her face with a stern line in place of the soft smile that the woman in Kira's locket had. It was a different woman.

Kaidan looked down at Kira to see if she had realized that the woman in the advertisement was the same woman in her locket but she simply turned to him and smiled, "I'm tired Papa, can we go home?" He did his best not to show the sadness he felt at the memories that came flooding back to him, he worked out a smile and picked her up, "Yeah little lady, let's call it day." Kira nodded to him and they headed home, all the way wondering about the woman she saw.

Kira had fallen asleep on the walk back to the apartment, Kaidan was relieved she hadn't asked any questions about the advertisement; but now he knew to avoid the offices on the way home from now on with her. He was going to also talk with the recruitment center, see if they have found a new poster soldier yet; and if not, he would help them find one.

Kaidan reached Kira's room and went to set her on her bed. She slightly protested when her arm's left his neck but quickly found a suitable replacement in her pillow. Kaidan slipped her shoes off and tucked her in. He reached to brush that stubborn strand of hair out of her face and she sighed contently in her sleep.

Kaidan was walking to his bedroom when his ommi-tool went off, signaling he had a message. It had Alliance clearance and was marked 'URGENT', he quickly opened the message to find a recording of Admiral Hackett addressing him, "Commander Alenko, you are required to meet with Councilor Anderson and myself tomorrow at 0900 sharp in the Alliance Ambassador office. It is of the utmost importance you attend, that's an order. Admiral Hackett out."

The message was unnerving to say the least, but Kaidan had an order that he had to follow. He turned to look back down the hallway, at the open door to Kira's room. Hopefully, the revelations at this meeting would not affect her.


"Thanks again Leigh, I know this is last minute but-" she interrupted him, "It's fine Commander, now go or you'll be late." Kaidan nodded and left the apartment. Leigh was Captain Leroy's wife, a decorated leader that reminded Kaidan of Anderson from time to time; they lived in the apartment across from him and Kira. Their children had grown up and left home some years ago, so Leigh was more than happy to watch Kira when Kaidan was working, it was daycare his military stipend could afford.

Kaidan stepped off the transit shuttle and headed to Embassies. He nodded to the Asari secretary who quickly sent notice of his arrival to the room up the stairs. When Kaidan entered the office he noticed that only Anderson and Hackett were present for this urgent meeting, 'Figures, Udina wouldn't be here.' He stiffened his posture and saluted the Admiral.

"At ease Alenko, there isn't any room formalities right now." the Admiral said grimly. "I assume you'll fill me in quickly then?" Kaidan asked. "Come sit," Anderson spoke up and gestured to a group of chairs, "We have a lot to talk about." Kaidan became wary, quickly thinking of things he could've done that would cause such grim attitudes.

"Have I done something Councilor?" he asked, Anderson shook his head, "No, it's what we need you to do." Admiral Hackett, now facing Kaidan, spoke, "No doubt you've heard about the disappearing colonies, yes?" "I am aware yes, but there isn't much the Alliance can do. The colonies that have disappeared are on the fringes of Alliance space, that and there is nothing to recover to prepare for or prevent what is causing the disappearances." Kaidan turned to Anderson, "I also know the Council considers this a Human concern, as only human colonies have been hit, so they say, or rather, do not wish to get involved." he finished, waiting to hear what was next.

"We've received some information that may help us greatly." Anderson said, "There is a colony that has come up in quite a bit in chatter connected to Cerberus; it may be that they are responsible for what is happening." he continued on, "It seems probable that they could be behind the disappearances; their willingness to take any measure to "protect" humanity may be the root of all this." Kaidan took in this information, "Is the source of the information legitimate?" "We have no reason to believe otherwise."Hackett stated.

"So what's my role in this?" Kaidan asked warily. Hackett swallowed and then looked Kaidan dead on, "We're sending you to the colony of interest, Horizon, as a liaison for the Alliance, officially we'll call it an outreach program, but unofficially you'll be there to keep an eye out." "And when will this take place?" Hackett didn't deter his look, "You ship out at the end of the week," Kaidan's stomach dropped.

"That will give you enough time to relocate your daughter to Shoal Station. We've already contacted Tim Shepard to let him know you will arrive soon." Kaidan grimaced, he knew he wasn't supposed to argue with his superior officer, but he couldn't leave without asking, even though he knew the answer all too well.

"So I have no say in this? You get an alleged "legitimate" tip and decide to run with it? Y-You decide me to throw into it with nothing more then shady intel?" he kept his voice even, "I was assured that I would be on the Citadel for six months-" Hackett cut in, "Unless absolutely necessary. Of which this is. You are an Alliance Soldier, and you do what is commanded of you." He finished firmly.

'And there's the answer' Kaidan became formal, "Understood sir, I meant no disrespect sir." Hackett nodded, "Councilor Anderson has some more information for you." He stood up to leave the room, but not before turning to Kaidan again, "You'll do fine, Staff Commander." once again reminding Kaidan of his duty.

The doors hissed shut and Anderson spoke up, "It's not like you to question your duties, Alenko." "I wasn't questioning my orders; I'd just needed to be sure of this…for my own sake. I am an Alliance Soldier and I know what I must do. It's just-" Kaidan breathed deeply, he knew he could talk to Anderson freely, "I guess being with Kira, I mean actually being able to live with my daughter has made think twice about taking on assignments. But I know by doing this, I'm protecting her, you know?"

"You won't be able to contact her, this mission is too important to be compromised." Anderson told him. "I figured as much, but I can't do anything about that." Kaidan shook his head, "Hackett said you had something else to tell me?" Anderson's face fell, "It's just rumor, the scuttlebutt of some of the information we received, but some reports are talking about Shepard."

Kaidan wasn't sure what he meant, "Talking about Shepard? Wha-" Anderson answered him, "The reports give indications that she's alive, and possibly associated with Cerberus." Kaidan knew he was hearing Anderson wrong. "That's not possible, she's dead, and even in death she wouldn't be associated with Cerberus." Anderson nodded, "Like I said, it's just rumor."

Kaidan stood up, "I need to go, I need to start preparing to leave. Thank you for your time Councilor." he bowed his head and left, Anderson didn't bother to try and keep him any longer. Kaidan had to wrap his head around everything he had just been told, just been ordered to do; he needed to breath.

He walked to the transit shuttle in a trance, and leaned back against his seat. This would be the first time he would not be looking forward to see his daughter.