Feral was sitting in the Normandy's mess hall, he was off duty for the next few hours and with the Normandy's computer systems fully scrubbed and cleaned, he was finally able to catch a break. When he'd been moving out of the engine room, Ashley and Garrus had grabbed him. The last time they had stopped on the citadel apparently the two had grabbed some drinks and with everything as quiet as it was, they'd asked him to join them.
Shepard was off running an errand for Wrex, he'd taken along Liara and Tali to go and pick up some ceremonial armour for the krogan. The commander liked to keep his squad happy and on focus, a few days back they had finally tracked down Dr. Heart. The bastard Salarian had been holed up on some ship just floated through space before Shepard, Feral and Garrus had stormed the vessel. Garrus was clearly feeling a lot better knowing the Doctor was taken care of, but Feral could see he'd taken on Shepard's lesson. Shooting first was never the only answer, and Feral had told Garrus that there were worst things than death. He should know after all.
He was sitting at the main table, the Normandy's lights had dimmed and no one else was there, with Kaidan, Garrus and Ashley sitting round the table with him. The lieutenant had joined them when they came out of the elevator and they were currently listening to one of his Biotic Boot Camp stories. The group was drinking and laughing as they told their horror stories, Feral was just listening as he knocked back drink after drink, he had a smile on his face though. This reminded him of his days back in the Alliance with O'Hare.
Garrus had been counting the number of drinks Feral had downed and finally he nudged Ashley, who looked over and smirked at the human. "So Feral, you got any good stories?" Feral just looked back at the woman as he finished off his 8th shot.
Putting his glass back down on the table, he leant forward onto his forearms. "Well…there was this one thing I suppose I could tell you about" rubbing his face and noting that he would have to shave again in a little while as skin scratched his fingers. He could see Ashley and Garrus looking expectantly and even Kaidan was interesting, all three of them sitting forward slightly in their chairs.
"There was this one thing that happened to me, years ago. I got captured by Cerberus who then proceeded to do lots of pretty awful experiments on me and one of the results, and this is the really funny part. One of the very many results of their experiments is that I am now physically incapable of getting drunk and revealing embarrassing secrets about myself" Feral finally ended, picking up another shot and quickly downing it before slamming the shot glass back down onto the table. Smiling as Garrus and Ashley just let their jaws hang open.
"Seriously?..."Ashley slowly said
"Mhm, something to do with the way I process toxins" Feral shrugged as he sat back in his chair, Kaidan was just laughing next to him. The shocked looks on Ash and Garrus' faces were too much for the drunk biotic.
"So I bought Turian brandy and drank enough to give myself a hangover in the morning, in the hope that getting you drunk would make you spill a story or two about your past…."Garrus slurred slightly, he rested his head on one of his hands. "And you're going to wake up tomorrow and not feel a thing?..." The turian just sighed as Feral nodded with a smirk on his face. "You're a bastard" the turians head slammed down into the table as he passed out.
Feral and Kaidan couldn't contain themselves and burst out laughing at the scene in front of them. Kaidan was a happy drunk and Feral just found the whole scene hilarious. Sighing Ashley just grabbed the entire bottle of whisky and took a swig, Feral had drunk enough of it on his own and it wouldn't do anything for him.
"So….is there anything else you can eat or drink that we should know about? In case we try to prank you for this" Ashley said slowly, resting her chin in one of her hands as she gripped the bottle in the other.
Feral chuckled before sitting forward again and resting his head on both of his hands. "I can eat just about anything, whether I'll like the taste is another matter" He said, Feral didn't mind revealing things like this. Being fed was hardly torture after all. "but the Cerberus scientists tested that pretty extensively as well. I can eat food that's gone off, even if it's starting to rot. I can eat dextro food and I can take most poisons as well. Like I said I process everything differently to a normal human and I can eat more or less anything. Apparently the scientists were keen on having a soldier that could survive in any environment purely on the environment" He finally shrugged as he looked at the drunk marine.
Ashley sighed as Kaidan laughed at her again. She had thought her plan with Garrus was sure to get Feral to loosen his lips and it had backfired very slightly on them. "So you can eat or drink anything? Even Dextro?" Feral just nodded his head more, sticking his tongue out playfully "Prove it then red, drink the rest of Garrus' brandy" She pointed awkwardly at the bottle, snapping her hand back to catch her head as it fell a little.
Feral looked confused for a second. 'Red?...I'm not ginger…oh the eyes right. Maybe I am getting a little drunk' He chuckled, with the amount he had consumed. He wouldn't be surprised if his liver was getting overwhelmed but he reached forward and grabbed the turian brandy, sniffing it before he pressed it to his lips and down the rest of the bottle in one go. The liquid burning the back of his throat slightly before he put the bottle back down, grinning back at the very drunk Ashley.
The woman sighed; at least he had opened up about something. Even if the revelation was very irritating she just smiled back and finished the rest of her whisky. Hiccupping before laying her head down onto the table and passing out alongside her partner in crime. Feral sat back in his chair and brought his feet back up onto the table, leaning back as he smiled at the scene in front of him. This had been fun, even if he had no intention of revealing his backstory to more people just yet. This had been fun, after 4 years alone he felt like he was making friends again.
Kaidan patted Feral's shoulder as he shakily stood up "Nice drinking with you Feral, it's good to see you laughing. Maybe next time though you can actually tell us a story, mine are getting old." The biotic laughed as he stumbled off towards his sleeper pod.
Feral smiled as the man walked over, wincing as he watched him stumble over and hit his shin on the metal stairs.
"I'm ok! I'm ok!" Alenko picked himself up and eventually got into his sleep pod, leaving Feral alone in the mess hall.
He sat back more, looking up at the ceiling as he shuffled slightly in his chair. Getting as comfortable as possible as he closed his eyes. Smiling to himself as he thought about everything that had happened to him after he had been set free. Life was good again, everything was starting to normalise around his new physiology.
He sighed loudly, reaching into his back pocket and grabbing the chain inside it. Pulling out his old dog tags and letting them dangle above him. His information printed onto the metal catching the light of the dim room as they swung gently above him.
Alexander Lloyd; flashes of his family, his friends, his old squad. He missed them all, but was it really worth digging up the past? He'd been gone, presumed dead for 4 years. Would any of them even recognise him anymore?
15th May 2158; birthdays flashed through his mind. The last birthday before he'd been captured was his 21st; it was a massive occasion for his family. His new promotion, his transfer to special ops. It was something to celebrate. Months later he'd be on a planet, watching his friends die before he was dragged away to his own private hell.
He let the tags drop into his hands, quickly covering them as he rubbed the metal under his fingertips. He considered the options of telling his family…..maybe he could pretend to be someone else…..a friend who was giving the dog tags back. He quickly shook his head at that, there were too many risks. Someone could recognise him, and that could be disastrous. The Alliance would want an explanation. Scientists would want to find out about everything they could on his modifications.
No. Never again. Alexander Lloyd was presumed dead, he'd gone missing on that planet 4 years ago. His new squad knew him as Feral….his friends knew him as Feral. He'd never let who he was go, but the universe would have to. Operations Chief Alexander Lloyd was gone and Feral had taken his place. He finally smiled at that, putting his tags back into his back pocket. A new life, new friends and a new mission. Maybe one day when this was all over, Alex could reappear.
He sat back into his seat again, bringing his arms up to cradle his head as he closed his eyes and concentrated on the noises of the ship. He could first hear the sounds of Garrus and Ashley as they slept in front of him then he let them slip away before listening to the sound of the Normandy hum. The odd footstep of a crew member thumping along the metal as he drowned himself in the noise of the Normandy's engine. He could see why Tali found it so comforting, he nearly fell asleep when he heard the loud steps of 4 people, and one set was much heavier than the rest. Wrex.
Shepard and the team were back and as Feral could slowly hear the group talking as they drew closer he slowly opened his eyes. He saw Tali and Wrex immediately head towards to the elevator as Shepard and Liara walked towards the med bay, they were talking about nothing but he could see the smiles on their faces. Concentrating one last time he heard the sounds of their hearts and chuckled. 'Good for them' he smiled and looked over as they stopped walking.
"Hey Shepard, fancy a drink?" Feral smiled at his commander as the man and woman just stared at the scene in front of them. The mess hall table had several bottles all over it and the heads of Ashley and Garrus straight down into its metal. "I think there's some left in one of these things" he moved some of the bottles around with his feet before shrugging and looking back at the pair.
"What happened to them?" Shepard finally asked, Liara was just standing by him. Snickering slightly at the sight of the very proud people who had passed out head first onto the table.
"They tried to drink me into telling secrets" Feral grinned and Shepard laughed
"and then the whole 'you can't get drunk' thing happened?" He raised an eyebrow, Feral had told him about his inability to have a hangover when the commander had suggested he go to Flux to relax one time. Feral told him it was pointless because drinking alone would do nothing for him.
Shepard turned and looked at Liara "Go get some rest, we can talk more in the morning" he smiled at her, getting a smile in return as the Asari walked off to her small office behind the med bay. Feral said goodnight and got a quick goodnight back before she disappeared and Shepard sat down in the seat next to him. Still in his armour but putting his weapons carefully onto the table before he looked through the bottles.
"So…you and Dr T'soni…?" Feral raised an eyebrow at his commander, a cheeky smile on his face
Shepard sighed before laughing quietly, sitting back when he finally found a slightly full bottle and pouring himself a fresh glass. Offering it to Feral who just shook his head "You have no idea how much I drank before I told them" he laughed, joined by Shepard as they both sat back. Shoulders pointed towards each other slightly.
"So seriously, you and Liara." Feral said again, earning a small glare from his commander "Hey I opened up to you about worse stuff than having a crush, plus it's pretty obvious. Even if you're not me people will start to piece it together."
Shepard sighed, of course the super human senses of Feral would pick up…well he probably didn't want to know what they picked up on. "I don't know, maybe. She's going through a lot with her mother at the moment and with this mission. Who knows?" he took a swig from his glass "She's a wonderful woman though, stronger than anyone gives her credit for as well"
Feral smiled, it was nice to just chat to Shepard, but it was also fun to start getting him to open up about himself. God knows he'd made Feral spill his guts during their many talks together. "The Asari definitely are a beautiful species as well, if that's what you're after. Thought I notice you said she's wonderful. Not stunning or sexy or beautiful or…..god I wish I had a thesaurus BUT either way" Feral waved his hands slightly in the air for effect "You really care about her don't you? You actually like Liara the person, not just Liara the Asari" Feral smirked again, god he was acting like he was in back in boot camp.
Shepard smiled as he quickly took in Feral's words. "Who knew you could be romantic Feral. Does Tali know about this?" he rose an eyebrow back at the red eyed man who just laughed it off, although Shepard did notice a small hint of a blush on the man's pale cheeks.
"Yh because asking her to blow my brains out totally counts as a first date" the two shared a laugh, Shepard taking another swig of his whiskey "and besides I'm British Shepard. Romantic is practically engrained into…well…most of us anyway. It's been diluted over the centuries but you still find it occasionally"
Feral chuckled before a small smile returning to his face "Seriously though, Liara likes you too Shepard. If you two wanted you could make a go of it no problem"
"You're nose tell you that about her?" Shepard looked over the top of his glass
"A gentleman never sniffs and tells Shepard" Feral stuck out his tongue, putting on a very fake posh voice for a moment before the two shared yet another laugh. "No I don't need to do any of that to know it. It's the way she looks at you whenever you're in the room; she practically follows you around and ignores everyone else. Plus you saved her from a ruin Shepard; there are enough clichés in that alone."
Shepard smiled at that, looking over to the door of the med bay. Maybe Feral was right, and if he was only time would tell. For now though, he had to get Garrus and Ashley into their sleep pods. "Give me a hand with them will you Feral?" he downed the rest of his drink before putting the glass on the table; they could get someone else to clean that in the morning.
Feral nodded and pulled his feet off the table, moving around and pushing Garrus' left arm over his shoulder. Lifting the sleeping turian up onto his feet "Come on buddy, let's get you into your pod" the turian just mumbled as he looked at Feral through half lidded eyes, groaning as Feral patted his chest as one of them started to walk towards the pods.
Despite Ashley weighing a lot less than Garrus, Shepard was having a harder time than Feral. The super human eventually just grabbed at Garrus' waist and hoisted his feet off the ground after dragging him a few feet. Shepard still couldn't believe how strong the man was, even after watching him punch holes in husk's heads and tearing chunks out of Geth Platforms. The things he could do still amazed him, other than his deep red eyes. Nothing about the man seemed out of place…..until you watched him pick up a Turian with one arm like he was a paper weight.
Eventually the two unconscious soldiers were in their pods, Shepard wouldn't discipline them. He could tell the hangovers and annoyance of not beating Feral would be enough to put them back in line. Though maybe he'd get a chance to shout a lot tomorrow, make them think twice before drinking that much again. The men walked off, Feral towards the elevator and Shepard towards his quarters, a quick goodnight between the two men as they headed in their separate directions.
Feral took the elevator down, groaning as he thumped his head into the wall as the box slowly moved downwards. Hopping out he noticed Wrex was still awake, polishing the armour they had retrieved while they had been gone. He swore he could see a smile on the Krogans face…or at least the krogan equivalent anyway. Smiling as he walked off into the engine room, grabbing his cot off from behind the railing before he walked into the dimly light, blue tinted humming room.
He stepped down the left hand walkway quietly as he saw Tali was already curled up on her cot; he gently walked across the room. Unfolding the makeshift bed as quietly as he could before putting it down onto the deck. He sat down on his bed before looking up; he was about to flop over when he saw her shivering very slightly. The engine room was kept colder than the rest of the Normandy and it was only Feral's high metabolism that was keeping him warm at the moment, Tali must've knocked off her blanket.
He sighed as he stood up and tiptoed across the room again, standing over the woman as she slept before grabbing her blanket and pulling it up over her shoulders. He smiled as he watched her cuddle in and pull the blanket around her tightly in her sleep. He was sure he saw her eyes flicker slightly through her visor, chuckling as he wondered what she was dreaming of. "Hope it's better than my dreams Tali, at least I put my knife away" he laughed quietly to himself as he wandering back over to his cot, taking one final glance at the sleeping quarian before he pulled his blanket up over his head. Blocking out as much light as he could as he fell asleep.
Shepard had taken off all his armour and gotten into his service dress, the commander had taken a quick shower to get rid of the layer of sweat generated by wearing the thick plated armour. Checking his terminal quickly for any important messages. He'd gotten one from Captain Anderson, he opened it and his eyes opened wide at the small precise email.
'Shepard, I think I have something on Feral. Come to the Citadel as soon as you can'
Shepard sat there for a minute, he hated prying. Feral wasn't just an unknown soldier anymore, not to him anyway. Was it right to pry?...Shepard sighed, he had to know what Anderson had found. He could make a decision then. He reached over and pressed the intercom.
"Joker, set a course for the citadel"
"Aye aye commander, route set. ETA 5 hours." Joker shut off the intercom, by the sound of it he'd been sleeping. Sleep sounded like a wonderful idea the commander thought as he crawled onto his bed.
- The Citadel, 6 hours later -
Shepard had given the crew shore leave for the next few hours; they could come and go from the Normandy as they pleased. He had used the intercom from his room to boom his voice around the ship, stepping out into the mess hall soon after. He could see Garrus and Ashley holding their heads and holding drinks as they tried to stave off their hangovers. Unsurprisingly they elected to stay aboard the Normandy.
Wrex said that he had some business to attend to and considering he was taking his weapons with him, the commander didn't even bother asking. Telling the krogan not to destroy too much, kill too many people and to come back in one piece. The krogan just laughed as he stomped out of the Normandy.
Tali, Kaidan and Feral were sitting at the mess hall table. They were going to hang out around the presidium later, both Tali and Feral thought it best to avoid the markets and the general area around them in case C-Sec were keeping an eye out for them. Kaidan had a small hangover and just wanted to enjoy the fresh air, he was coping much better than either Ash or Garrus though. At least he could still move and look at towards the light.
Garrus was asking, albeit very slowly, what had happened after he had passed out and Feral was telling him. Ashley was adding to the story whenever she could remember something and Kaidan was a little embarrassed to hear about how much he had been laughing. He'd never realised how much a happy drunk he was. Tali was just laughing, she wished that she could've been there to see this all unfold but watching Feral and Kaidan retelling it was a lot of fun.
Ash had really really hoped Feral had been bluffing about being able to take dextro foods, but he here was. No hangover and no upset stomach. Once she could actually hear things without it sounding like a claw running down a chalk board she'd have to ask what else he could do. 20 questions would be the most interesting game in the world with Feral.
Breakfast had been slightly eventful, when Garrus and Tali found out Feral's ability to eat anything they had offered him some of the nutrient paste the Normandy had stocked for them. They had gotten used to its taste but they wondered how Feral would take it. The easy was plain and simple, not well. Feral had squeezed the tube and taken some into his mouth, his eyes bulging slightly and his face grimacing as he eventually starting chewing. Tali was biting her lips to stop herself from laughing to loudly at the poor man, who eventually just mumbled through his lips "Excuse me" and ran off to the bathroom.
Feral eventually returned and sat back down. "That…..." he gulped "sorry I just threw up in my mouth a little" he coughed a few times, grabbing Ashley's drink and downing it in one.
"HEY! Ow" she clutched her head as the light and sound of her own voice made it feel like her skull had exploded.
"That was horrifying…..please tell me you guys can get actual food as well" Feral was still grimacing, Kaidan had begun laughing and eventually Tali joined in, squeaking slightly as she stopped herself long enough to answer Feral.
"Yes of course we can, but this is the easiest and cheapest" she replied
"Yh fuck that we're buying you some good stuff today" Feral stood up "Come on, it's about time we got off the Normandy"
Tali and Kaidan just looked at each and quickly jumped up after the man who had suddenly disappeared. "Feral?" They jolted around as he stepped out of the bathroom.
"Sorry I just….cleaned the toilet with my tongue to get the taste out of my mouth" he coughed again slightly, wincing at the lingering taste of that awful stuff. The three quickly started walking up and off the Normandy, Kaidan and Tali just laughing as they walked behind Feral. Eventually they found themselves in the elevator, Feral in typical fashion was beating his head into the door.
"So…I thought you two were avoiding the markets today and now we're going to buy food?" Kaidan eventually piped up as the thumping of Feral's skull was the only noise in the slow elevator.
Tali was going to reply, he had a point. What was Feral thinking when he came up with that idea. "Yh that's what I thought too…Feral?" she looked over to the grumbling human.
"Yh we're avoiding the markets like the plague today Tali buuut…." Kaidan knew where this was going immediately "Kaidan doesn't have a C-Sec poster with his face on it down there no does he?" Feral rested his head on the door before turning his head and spinning around to grin at the biotic.
Kaidan sighed "Oh come on, you are not going to make me your errand boy!"
"ME?" Feral scoffed "No I'd never dare do that but Tali?" he quickly stepped behind her and held her by the shoulders and turned her towards Kaidan "Tali has a shotgun" He rested his head on her shoulder and smiled towards Kaidan.
Kaidan just blinked as the man hid behind Tali, grinning like an evil Cheshire Cat. "She left her shotgun on the Normandy Feral" he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms
Feral's grin disappeared before he pouted "You really wouldn't do this little thing for our poor dextro-amino friends? That food is so bad and all they want for Christmas is too have good food, AND YOU CAN GIVE THEM THAT!" He was grinning like an idiot again, nodding his head as he held it level with Tali's.
Tali was just biting her lips, desperately trying not to laugh at Feral's ridiculous antics.
"Feral…it's not Christmas and since when do I look like Santa Claus?"
"Well I don't know, shove a pillow up your shirt, put a beard on and wear a red hat and ask me then" Feral stuck his tongue out at Kaidan "All Tali ever wanted was good food to eat, and if she doesn't have it she'll be so sad" Feral gently cupped the bottom of her helmet and wiggled her head gently to emphasize his point "Every time she looks at you all you'll see is her unhappy face and it'll be all your fault"
"Feral" Kaidan sighed, he really couldn't believe he was going along with this game "I can't see her face…she has a tinted visor"
Feral just blinked blankly at the man before responding in a monotone voice "I'll draw one on it then so you can always see how unhappy you made her" Feral suddenly jumped back as Tali pushed his arms away and jumped to one side standing between the two.
"Keelah Feral! You think I'd just let you draw on my helmet?" Feral just nodded sheepishly, grinning again as he stood in the corner. She sighed loudly "I'm sorry Kaidan I didn't mean to let it get this silly"
"It's ok Tali, I know Feral is just playing around anyway" He smiled at the Quarian
"Yeah….but he is right, that paste is horrid." She looked down "I would really have liked to get some other things to eat but I guess it can wait." The sadness in her voice was more than apparent.
Kaidan went to say something but nothing came out, he just opened and closed his mouth before finally sighing and rubbing his face "Ok fine….I'll go down to the markets and grab something"
Tali looked up, bouncing slightly on the spot at the lieutenant's words. "Really? I mean you don't have to I wasn't trying to guilt you into going" she was rubbing her hands together as she fidgeted slightly, hope resounding through her speaker.
"No really its fine, just tell me what you'd like and I'll grab it" Kaidan sighed, briefly looking over at Feral who was biting his own finger trying not to laugh and then it hit him. Tali had tricked him into going down into the markets for her. Feral was a terrible influence on the young woman but he couldn't help but smile.
When the elevator finally stopped, Kaidan stepped out first. He had what Tali had asked for on his omni-tool. "I'll see you two later ok?" he waved as he stepped off and walked off towards another elevator that would take him to the markets.
Tali just waved back as the biotic walked off, she then turned around and watched as Feral slowly walked up to her. His finger was still in his mouth and his face was distorted slightly before he breathed deeply and looked straight down at her.
"You're evil" he started laughing, wiping his eyes slightly as tears had built up from him trying to hold it back.
"Hey! It was use the helpless woman ploy or have you draw on my helmet" she crossed her arms and smiled back at him for a few seconds before laughing as loudly as Feral was. She finally sighed as they both stopped laughing. "I do hope Kaidan won't be angry I did that though, it was rather selfish of me"
"Tali, he didn't have to go. He realised he'd been duped the moment he saw me biting my finger and yet he's still gone" Feral smiled down at her, tilting her head up to look at him "Trust me, he'll get over it…..plus I'd rather have him lecture me for a while than have you shoot me with your shotgun for drawing on your helmet" Feral just tapped the glass in front of her nose as he started to walk off towards the presidium lake.
Tali quickly ran up to him and walked beside him, looking over at him as she walked "You weren't really going to draw on my visor were you?" she was answered by Feral holding up a small black tube with a lid on it. "…is that?"
"Mhm" he nodded, he put it back in his pocket as fast as he'd gotten it out
"You planned all of this?" Tali shook her head
"Let's just say if you hadn't joined in when you did, you'd be a rather annoyed young woman right about now and we wouldn't be walking this close together" he smiled playfully as she just stopped and stared at his back as he wandered off.
"Bosh'tet"
"Awwwwww but you love me really Tali" he winked and stuck his tongue out at her as he spun around 360 degrees on the spot, before walking off towards the artificial lake again.
Tali just watched as the man walked off, laughing at his previous statement. She rubbed her hands together for a few seconds as she looked down at her feet. Her eyes only jolting up again when she heard his voice shouting across the presidium.
"HEY TALI! IF YOU DON'T HURRY UP I'M GOING TO COME BACK THERE AND CARRY YOU!" Feral shouted as he stood a way ahead of her.
Tali just smiled, she briefly considered just waiting for him to come and scoop her up but instead she just giggled and ran after her ridiculous friend.
- Ambassador Udina's Office –
"Shepard, it's good to see you again" Anderson was waiting for the commander, shaking his hand as the two friends smiled at each other.
"It's good to see you too sir" Shepard smiled back; it really was good to see his old XO. He was someone he knew he could always count on. "I suppose you know why I'm here though"
Anderson sighed "Yes, you got my message" he looked around before pulling Shepard into a quieter corner of the office "I have to admit Shepard it's not much but…I may have found some possible names. It's nothing concrete though, those files are locked up tighter than a Volus' suit."
Shepard looked confused "If they are that securely locked away how'd you get the names?"
"You told me that he went missing 4 years ago, so I looked for anyone whose service ended during that time. After that I looked at MIAs and KIAs and noticed something odd. 9 men. Their records are black listed and I can't actually see anything on them but I did get a look at the time stamp. It was dated a few days after Kahoku deployed that platoon for a search mission." Anderson quickly followed up, noting the nod from Shepard to continue
"I know they are only names and like I said I can't do anything without further evidence. Unless one of these names does belong to Feral and you can prove that with 100% accuracy, the records will remain sealed. No picture, no service record. Nothing." He finished
"But 9 men?...thats a very odd number" shepard inwardly groaned at the accidental pun
"I thought so too Shepard, but then I got thinking. What if our theory on a special operations team was right? 9 men would account for that. 8 team members and "
"A pilot. That means there would've taken a Kodiak" Shepard finished the Captains sentence
"Exactly! And it just so happens the SSV Cairo put in a requisition order for a new Kodiak a week after this all got locked down" Anderson finished, his intel was sound and he logic reasonable. It was a good lead, they may have only been names but it was very possible Feral's was amongst them.
Shepard nodded "Ok you've convinced me, show me the list" Anderson just gave Shepard the data pad and he looked down at the names written on it. 9 men's names and ranks were listed;
Captain H. Spencer
1st Lieutenant T. Jones
Flight Lieutenant K. Peterson
Operations Chief A. Lloyd
Service Chief T. Whitby
Specialist P. Mahoney
Corporal O. O'Hare
Private 1st Class R. Keene
Private 1st Class G. Ryan
9 men, 9 names that could belong to Feral. And with the records sealed, with no way opening them without proof of his identity. No pictures to compare to the man on his ship. Shepard sighed, it was the best they had.
"I know it looks like a long shot, but there are names we can cross off Shepard." Anderson said as the spectre looked down at the data pad. "You said he was 25, meaning he was 21 when he went missing. That alone means he couldn't have been the Captain or either of the lieutenants. It also means he's very unlikely to be one of the Chiefs."
Shepard nodded his head again "Yh you're right, if he is on here. He's most likely to be one of the last 4 names." But something was bothering Shepard, Feral was a skilled hacker. A very skilled hacker. "Although…that being said the Alliance has a tendency to shoot people up the ranks if they are incredibly talented at certain aspects. Feral is one of the most talented software technicians I've ever met, is it possible he could've been boosted up to NCO in order to help teach?" He looked up at Anderson.
"You're right" he finally managed to utter "I'm sorry I forgot about that Shepard and all that does is add 1 or 2 more names to the list of possible identities" he sighed "Sorry son, it's the best I can do for you."
Shepard shook his head "trust me this is more than I have, I'm still unsure whether he ever was Alliance at all. But…..I don't know. I need to be careful with this." Shepard thanked the Captain and left the office with the data pad securely in his back pocket. The names running through his mind as he worked his way back to the Normandy.
As he walked along the presidium towards the taxi parked outside, he saw Tali and Feral walking along the lake on the other side. He sighed loudly, just by mentioning any of these names he risked destroying every ounce of trust he'd built with Feral. He wouldn't react well to being effectively spied on either. He struggled to see how this could possibly end with a positive outcome as he got into the taxi and returned to the docking bay. Wondering whether or not there was any alcohol left from last night, god knows he needed one right now.