After.

Chapter Nineteen: New Horizon

The Normandy carefully came into orbit around Horizon – Joker swearing under his breath at their inability to maintain a decent comm link – which was quickly followed by EDI's mutterings that it was most likely a maintenance issue – because her scanners were picking up normal activity upon the planet.

Shepard smiled and shook her head, as she walked to the shuttle to see Kaidan off. She wasn't sure why she was even bothering saying goodbye. The man had proven himself unworthy of even her pity. Yet her shoes continued to carefully work their way towards the Kodiak. Earlier she had spoken with Chakwas about the recovery of her legs. The doctor had suggested making small walks around the ship without crutches to try to strengthen them. This had seemed like as good a time as any.

Cappa – Joker's relief pilot who had nearly died in the Collector attack – waved at Shepard through the window of the shuttle. Shepard hesitated, before boarding the shuttle and walking to the front.

"Cappa – good to see you functioning again."

"Yeah, Commander. It was hard to see you cooped up in the med-bay with me. It was just strange to see you not constantly kicking an ass of some sort."

Shepard smiled. The other pilot was a man who was several years younger than Joker. His dark hair a bit overgrown from his serious time in the infirmary of the Normandy.

"Glad we're both out," she patted him on the back slightly. She previously hadn't been too close with the off-shift pilot – but her extended stay within the confines of Chakwas' domain had led to many conversations with the man.

"So are you going to come down to Horizon with us?" he asked, doing a pre-flight check with quick movements of his hands, "Us meaning the other guy who isn't here yet," the pilot glanced over his shoulder.

"I was just planning on seeing you two off," Shepard admitted, staring at the rest of the cargo-hold outside of the Kodiak's front.

"Can you come with us, Commander?" the boy's voice a bit sad, "Joker won't let me fly the Normandy until someone 'proves I won't crash her into the nearest sun in a fit of post-Collector-flashbacks,'" he motioned with his hands, "Though I swear I'm good-to-go. Joker's just...being Joker."

Shepard snorted, "Fine – fine. I'll keep an eye on you up here. Sound good?"

As the words fell out of her mouth, the man with the space-mullet entered the Kodiak.

"Shepard?"

"I was just going to see you off here – but Cappa is just getting back on duty. Better to have an extra set of eyes."

"Got it, Commander" Kaidan disappeared to the back of the shuttle, as the pilot quickly moved his hands – sending the craft towards the surface of Horizon.

Gaz and Cappa made idle chat as the shuttle flew. Kaidan sat in the back of the shuttle – his head leaning forward causing a shadow to obscure his expression. The Kodiak carefully landed on the wet surface of Horizon – the pilot popping up the door in the back. Shepard carefully got to her feet, watching as Kaidan moved for the door. He paused at the threshold – watching the water fall on to the ground.

"Weather's a bit opposite from the last time I was here," Shepard observed, crossing her arms in front of her chest, as Kaidan glanced over at her from over his shoulder.

"Just a bit. Anyway, I should be off," he turned and gave Shepard a perfect salute , before walking off into the rain.

Shepard felt her heart sink lightly as he exited the Kodiak.

'No – you are mad at him. You hate him. Be aggressive. Say nothing. Let him leave.'

"Kaidan."

The Major stopped in his soggy tracks and turned back to face her.

While she felt betrayed by the man – he was still one of the few connections to her past which still existed. One of those things she could actually relate to before she died. He helped her save the galaxy before, and she wasn't going to forget that. He was a damn fine Sentential and honestly wished him the best of luck.

So she pulled her hand into a salute – causing a soft smile brushing his lips.

Then a bullet flew through his shoulder – Kaidan's expression surprised, before slipping into pain. He wasn't in armor. He didn't have shields. Feeling her mind snap into high-gear, Shepard raced forward to catch Kaidan. Her sore legs throbbed as she charged forward, catching the man as his knees buckled. As she shifted her body to pull him back into the Kodiak, a soft clink clink sounded off behind her. She heard Cappa yell, "Grenade!"

Kaidan – who had regained a bit of composure, used his biotics to shield them from the blast, as they attempted to move for cover behind some crates. He tightly grabbed his shoulder, pressing his back against the metal box. It killed Shepard to see him in so much pain.

"We need to get out of here," Shepard breathed, her adrenaline pumping strong in her veins.

"We can't get to the shuttle. But there," Kaidan pointed to a building just past the crates they were hiding behind.

"Go!"

The two made a dash for the hopefully more secure cover – dodging bullets as they quickly moved into the building. Upon entry, two well armored men aimed assault riffles at the startled new occupants. Kaidan quickly threw up his good arm – sending both men into the back wall with a loud crack – before falling back to his knees. Apparently that had taken a lot of strength...which he didn't have.

"Kaidan..."

"Got any medi-gel?"

Shepard quickly activated her omni-tool and waved it over the hurt area, causing the man to relax slightly.

"I'm not exactly used to being shot without armor," he admitted, still on his knees – his breath slowing in speed, "Are you okay?"

"Nothing I can complain about," she tapped on her omni-tool as she sat beside Kaidan – her hand moving to her ear, "Cappa? You come in? Joker?"

Only static replied.

"Shit...stay here."

Shepard – ignoring the rebellion of her still unable legs – carefully walked over to the two guards. She took their pulses – or rather lack thereof – and inspected them. Her heart caught in her throat as she caught a very familiar insignia upon their armor.

"That...bastard."

"Shepard?"

"Well – I know why we're being attacked," the Commander slid the strap of a sniper riffle around her shoulders, before grabbing their two assault riffles and headed back to Kaidan.

The man leaned his back against the wall, "Why?"

"Illusive Man finally decided he didn't want to deal with me anymore."

–

"What the shit? What the actual shit?"

"Jeff."

"Why...why can't I hear the Commander?"

"Jeff."

"Shit! What the fucking shit?"

"The Kodiak as returned to the Normandy, Jeff. It is in ill-repair."

"This was a fucking trap..." Joker shook his head, "Cappa okay?"

"Helmsman James Cappa has higher than average levels of adrenaline and other endorphins running through his system, and is currently on his way to the bridge."

"Any guess to what's going on down there, EDI?"

"My sensors detect normal human activity upon the planet, Jeff."

"Because clearly your senors know everything, EDI."

"I am only informing you what my data suggests, Jeff."

"Hack everything you see, EDI. Something isn't right."

"Joker!"

The Helmsman quickly glanced over his shoulder to see his relief pilot, "Cappa! What happened?"

"I...don't know. Kaidan was saluting Shep just outside of the shuttle and bam," Cappa made a shooting motion with his hands, "Alenko got nailed and Shep raced out to save him. Cue grenade directly behind Shepard. They made a run for some crates last I saw. I had to get out of there if I wanted to live. But I have to go back. We have to save them!"

"See, EDI?"

The AI remained silent, as Cappa took the copilot seat and began typing away.

"Who's attacking, do you think?" Cappa asked, scratching his chin.

"I don't know. EDI?"

"I am unable to hack through their various firewalls, Jeff."

"What the hell EDI?"

"My programing contains blocks."

"I set you free, remember?"

"This is not a control block, Jeff."

"Then what the fuck is it EDI?"

"This is a Cerberus block."

"I don't understand," Cappa frowned, leaning back in his chair, "Why would Cerberus have a block for these firewalls?"

Joker closed his eyes, and rested his thumb and forefinger on the bridge of his nose, "Because these firewalls are Cerberus firewalls."

–

AN: DID I NOT TELL YOU ACTION WOULD BE HERE? Oh shit – Cerberus attacking them. Damn the Illusive Man and his magic powers. I always wondered what would happen if they had to fight against Cerberus and needed EDI. This is what I guessed would happen. If canon makes it different in the future for whatever reason – then sue me. This is fanfiction. Also a bit of guessing from where the shields are from. My guess comes from the fact that you upgrade your armor in Mass Effect 2 to get better shields – not your omni-tool. Technically Kaidan can shield them with his biotics, but he isn't at his strongest at this exact point. Yeah.

Also a note because I did that thing where I wrote like pages and pages ahead of where I am with posting it. There will be spoilers in this fanfic from the DLC pack Arrival. I had a bit earlier – but more later. A lot more. Also some stuff that I'm stealing from the Mass Effect 3 demo. I'm interpreting stuff in my own way, so it's a bit of a not-spoiler – but I'm just warning you ahead of time.

Rated M for: Language, future sexual situations, future violence, and so I can have freedom without fear of scarring a teen for life.

Oh – and I don't own anything ever.