Chapter 4.5: A Trip
The next week passed in a joyful blur. Kaidan was no longer under the shadow of his old guild. Anna and Kaidan both kept a copy of what they had pulled, but Champ and Rose hadn't come after Kaidan. They had gone to the mountain again, spent a day on the beach, and even went window shopping one day in Downtown Vancouver. Their evenings had been spent in the Alenko living room, sharing stories or reading some of Kaidan's collection. Neither could have imagined the wonderful time they had that week. But at the end of the week, Kennan and Annalisa packed their bags. Kennan was heading out for another tour while Anna would be accompanied to Arcturus by Lieutenant Wilson, an officer friend of Kennans, for a rendezvous with Captain Hannah Shepard's ship. Kaidan had asked to go with them to the drop-off since Anna and the Lieutenant wouldn't leave Vancouver before the next morning, and everyone had agreed. As they walked through Downtown Vancouver, Kennan cleared his throat.
"I just wanted to air something out before I left," he started, and Kaidan and Anna gave him a confused look. "I'm glad you left that gang, Kaidan." He and Anna froze in their steps. He knows, Kaidan realized. He told Mom and Dad, and I'm going to be in so much trouble. "I didn't tell your parents," Kennan confessed, and the tension seemed to melt, leaving Kaidan a relieved mess. "But Anna was dumb to climb out of the house right next to my window. So I waited for you two on the edge of the property and overheard the conversation about the gang. I also overheard your victory. You were dumb to get involved in them. But I know you had to be shrewd to get out, and it was valiant of you to help him, Lisa." Anna seemed to hover on the edge of the conversation, unsure of what she should say.
"I couldn't just let it keep happening," she offered as explanation, and Kennan ruffled her hair affectionately.
"I know sweetheart. You picked it up from life on a ship. But you kids should have come to any of us adults. We could have fished you out of trouble a lot easier. You were reckless in pursuing him, but you were smart in convincing him to get out. Either way, as long as you two stay out of trouble, you'll do well." He went and hugged both of them and resumed his walk. "Now Kaidan. You'll be staying with my daughter for a little while longer than I will. So I am going to make you promise me something. Give me your solemn word that when I am not here, you will protect my daughter. She dear and precious to me, and I will not stand for any harm to come to her while a friend can protect her. Do I have your word?"
"You have my word, Commander. I won't let anything bad happen to her," Kaidan sincerely swore, and Kennan nodded, satisfied with the promise.
"Come on then, Wilson won't wait all day and neither will my flight." The three began walking again as Anna shook her head.
"You know I'll be fine, Dad." She said, swinging her braided hair to her other shoulder.
"I know, but when you're with friends, I want to make sure that they'll protect you. I love you, Lisa. You'll understand when you have kids of your own and you've served." At that moment, Kennan's omni-tool rang. "We're heading over to you now, Wilson."
"I need your help, Kennan. I called the Vancouver PD, but they won't be here for a while. There was a woman attacked, and she is having a fit." As if to punctuate his plea, there was a loud sob from outside of Wilson's screen.
"Please. Please don't leave me. They'll come back." Neither of them could see her, but the woman's voice sounded downright terrified. Kennan sighed and looked at Anna before turning back to the vid call.
"Alright. We're heading over there now. We'll stay until Vancouver PD gets there." Kennan agreed.
"I'm sending you my location now. Get here soon and then I'll see what I can do about getting you a ride back to HQ," Wilson said before he hung up. Kennan looked at his omni-tool for a minute longer before he set their path. Ten minutes later, and they finally found the alleyway where Wilson and the woman were supposed to be. But as they walked down the alley, everything was quiet for five seconds before they heard a woman's scream.
"I need both of you to be quiet and stay behind me," Kennan instructed as he pulled a pistol from one of his pockets. Anna and Kaidan formed up behind him, and Kaidan grabbed Kennan's bag, putting it on his back instead. The three then quickly moved forwards as a second scream resounded. But as they turned another corner, they saw a small open area with Wilson and the screaming woman. Only the screaming woman wore an outfit with a strange insignia. "Lieutenant, what the hell are you doing with a Cerberus operative?" Cerberus, Kaidan thought. He then remembered bits of one of Kennan's conversations with his father. The Commander had fought Cerberus in the past. This is going nowhere good fast. The woman smiled at Kennan's question, pointing a gun at them.
"Handing Cerberus a nosy Alliance Commander." She said with a strange smile that made Kaidan shudder.
"I was hoping you would bring the Alenko boy as well. He's one of the strongest biotics Conatix rolled out, and Cerberus has been waiting for a good opportunity to get him." The blood drained from Kaidan's face with every word from Wilson.
"You're a good person, Wilson. Let these kids go. Take me if you want, but let them go." Kaidan could see Kennan make a few motions with his omni-tool behind his back, but Kaidan couldn't make any sense of it.
"Cerberus wants the Alenko boy as well. Why should we let him go?" The woman asked, smiling at Kaidan, and for the first time in a long while, he knew to be very afraid of this person. Her smile was eerily similar to Rose, a smile that only showed when she knew you were good and trapped.
"Let the boy choose. If he doesn't choose you, pursue him. But let the boy make his own choice. He deserves that much. Let him sort out the loyalties for himself." Kennan reached behind with one hand and began to push at him. Kaidan took the cue to back up, one arm firmly around Anna, his right hand prepping the pneumonic for a barrier.
"Hmm. I'm tempted, but not quite convinced. Sweeten the deal for me," she stage-whispered, bending forward, making a 'come hither' gesture and extending the gun in one fluid motion.
"I'll go with you willingly if you let them go," Kennan stated, and Anna made a noise beside him as three fully armored Cerberus agents stepped out of shadows. "I'll lead the Alliance away from here. I'll send them to the kids, and they'll never find us." The woman straightened and took a few steps towards Kennan.
"You heard him, brats. Scram," she declared, but when Kaidan tried to move Anna, she wouldn't budge.
"Go, Lisa," Kennan softly begged. "I love you, and I'll find a way back." He turned his gaze to Kaidan. "Take care of her."
"You have my word, sir," Kaidan answered, and he moved Anna more forcefully back the way they came. After they turned the first corner, he forced Anna into a run. He could only hope that they could put enough distance between them and the Cerberus men before they decided that the two of them were an easy target.