Chapter Six: Visitations
"Kaidan's dead Shepard, they're all dead."
Admiral Hackett had returned to Vancouver, for the second time since she'd woken up and it wasn't exactly a social visit. He'd come to tell her that it was official; the Alliance had given up on the Normandy, the crew presumed dead. He'd asked to meet her at the Alliance HQ, taken her down to the shooting range, but he'd waited until they were in private to break the news. Which was probably for the best, although she felt like venting some anger she could not be held responsible for her actions were anyone to hand her a gun now. She should have guessed something was going on; he'd spent most of the morning buttering her up. Now she just starred insolently out of the window, sat behind a desk like a school child whilst the Admiral stood tall, she couldn't even look him in the eye. She was mad as hell, how dare they give up; they hadn't found anything to prove the fate of the Normandy, one way or the other. She knew the krogan's were still looking, Wrex kept her updated, but they'd had no luck as of yet. Shepard was still holding on to the hope of eventually being able to join the search herself. Hackett continued speaking, she was only half listening.
"The Normandy is lost. You need to accept that Shepard. People need to grieve, move on with their lives. The Alliance can't be seen to be resting on its laurels for anyone, not even you. I wish there was another way." He said sympathetically.
Shepard quickly turned her head to face him.
"I don't know what you want me to say Hackett." She snapped. "There's no way I can be happy about the Alliance calling time on the Normandy." She paused. "And this is not just about Kaidan; it's about all of them. They deserve better than this. But you know that, you wouldn't have come here to tell me in person otherwise." Shepard returned her gaze to the window.
"Listen Shepard, the funeral has been arranged, I need you to be there."
"It is not my job to put on a good show for the cameras!" She slammed her fist down onto the desk. "I am not-"
"-What the Krogans do and what you do once you're fit enough are your own concerns." He interrupted, momentarily losing his temper before returning to his calm, diplomatic manner. "Look, if they are found and this was funeral a waste of time then the jokes on the Alliance, but if they never come back or they turn out to be dead I know you will hate yourself for not being there."
Shepard seethed with anger; she was pissed off with all of this. She didn't want to take this out on Hackett, this went above him and he'd come to tell her as a friend, not because he had to. But she couldn't stem the tide of her rage. Most of all she was angry because he was right.
"I'll be there." She said her voice nothing more than an agitated whisper.
"I'm glad. Now we need to talk about the arrangements for when you leave the hospital, there is always a home for you at the Alliance. Do you want to remain in Vancouver?"
Shepard starred at him stunned; he wanted to do this now? She was past caring what would happen to her. She had just been told to accept that the man she loved, the only thing that had stayed with her, was gone and now Hackett wanted to talk about living arrangements? She stood up as forcefully as she could manage given her condition. She grabbed her crutches and made for the door.
"Shepard, wait..." Hackett called after her, she stopped just as she opened the door.
"What?" She kept her eyes forward, determined not to turn and face him, focused on getting the Hell out of there.
"I have these." She heard the faint chink of metal. "They're your dog tags from the Citadel. I thought you might want them back. They're a bit mangled and pretty much unidentifiable, but they're yours if you want them."
She looked over her shoulder at the twisted metal swinging on the chain in Hackett's hand and then looked down at the shiny new replacements hanging proudly on her neck.
"Keep them." She said coolly. "The woman they belonged to died with the Normandy." She walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Kaidan teetered on the edge of consciousness, he became vaguely aware of a light breeze on his face. The clanking of metal roused him from his sleeping state. He opened his eyes, stone walls surrounded him, bars lined the wall directly in front of him. He tried to shift his weight but his whole body screamed out in agony. His legs burnt, protesting to being knelt on the hard rock floor. His arms ached, suspended above his head. With his eyes he followed the path of his arm until he reached his wrists and saw the crude metal cuffs that chained him to the ceiling. He pulled against them, testing their strength and quickly decided there was no way he was breaking himself out. He was being held prisoner then, he pondered this, at least he wasn't dead, that was always a positive. There was no sign of the others.
"VEGA? JAVIK?" he called out in the hope that they were still alive and also being held close by.
But his shouting did not elicit the attention of whom he intended. Alerted by the noise one of the creatures appeared at the gate, she eyed him suspiciously. In a matter of seconds she had unlocked the gate, using her unnatural speed to appear instantly inches in front of Kaidan's face. She snarled at him, displaying her many thin pointed teeth. Kaidan didn't flinch; he wouldn't give this thing the satisfaction. It was the first time Kaidan had been close enough to study one of these creatures' faces properly. He noticed now that their ears were long and pointed, her cheek bones harsh and her face elongated, with a pointed chin. Her features, although more accentuated that that of her human, if it weren't for the blood red eyes and terrifying teeth, could still be considered beautiful, bearing a close resemblance to creatures common to folklore, a pixie or an imp.
The creature grabbed Kaidan's face firmly in her hand, violently twisting it from one side to the other, inspecting him. Seemingly satisfied by her observations she released him and strode back out the cell, not even bothering to lock it behind her. She spoke to someone out of Kaidan's view, he couldn't understand what she was saying as she clicked and snarled her words in a foreign tongue. She gestured towards him and disappeared into the prison, at her instruction two other creatures appeared and entered his cell. They undid his cuffs. Kaidan's body was weak and he instantly fell to the floor, the creatures seized him roughly, dragging him to his feet and out of the cell.
They brought him, blinking, into the day light. The prison was on the hills at the edge of a vast and ancient city, the stone walls of its many buildings crumbling away. In the centre rose a great tower, vastly taller than any other building, it cast a looming shadow over most of the city. His captors exchanged a glance and then shifted, rapidly manoeuvring through the twisted streets and alleyways. Only seconds had passed but they had already reached the large tower he had spied from the prison. Here they stopped, releasing Kaidan. He fell to his hands and knees, vomiting, a side effect of his swift transportation. As soon as he recovered hands were upon his shoulders, forcing him to remain on his knees. A large group of creatures had gathered upon the large stone steps that lead up to the tower entrance. He glanced to his right and caught sight of Vega and Javik, also being held down. Judging by the look of Vega he hadn't enjoyed his transportation either. At least they're alive, Kaidan thought.
Slowly one of the creatures descended the steps, her hips sleekly swaying from side to side. She was dressed the same as the other creatures but with the addition of an intricate necklace and head piece made from thousands of tiny red beads, a crudely carved ruby idol dangling between her breasts. The other creatures bowed their heads as she passed, indicating she was some sort of leader. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she suddenly shifted forward and grabbed Kaidan by the face, snarling at him. Her blood red eyes starred deeply into his own, he held her eye, refusing to flinch away. When her actions failed to illicit a response she let go. Rising, she directed her attention at the crowd to her right, it seemed as though she was dictating orders. Eventually, the crowd parted pushing another creature through to the front, she stumbled forward awkwardly, turning back to the others and letting out a snarl. This one looked different, her hair dreadlocked, worn up and pushed back with a strip of material. She wore clothes, a pair of ripped trousers and another strip of material covering her breasts. She approached Kaidan, ceasing his arm roughly and began by activating his omni tool. Producing her own, she let his arm go enabling her to press the buttons. Kaidan kept his arm in place, guessing it was better to cooperate given his current situation. Closing her omni-tool, she paused briefly, observing Kaidan with intent curiosity, as if she was trying to answer an internal question. Gradually, she rose and turned back to the leader, giving her a nod.
"You understand?" The leader demanded in a thick accent.
His translator was working; the other creature had managed to update the software somehow to detect their language. When his answer to the leaders question did not come quick enough his captors struck him hard, across his back, he stumbled but remained upright.
"You understand?" The leader asked again more forcefully, growing increasingly impatient.
"Yes." He said looking back to the leader.
"Yes." The dreadlocked creature repeated after him, he assumed in her own language so the others could understand, but his translator had picked it up anyway.
"You are in charge here?" She gestured to Javik and Vega.
"Yes." He said and the dreadlocked creature repeated again.
"Your women allow you?"
Kaidan looked at her puzzled, not sure of her meaning. When he didn't reply the leader quickly became angry, she shifted forward until her face was inches away from Kaidan's.
"They send men to my planet! They think they can defeat me with men? They insult us!" She snarled at him. "They will pay for their insolence!"
"Excellent, it appears that these chicks are batshit crazy." Vega muttered, his comment met with a knee in the back causing him to fall forward. His assailant followed him down, placing a hand on the back of his neck, grinding his face into the dirt.
"You will speak when I allow it!" The leader shouted at Vega, he anger rising to the point her red eyes looked as though they were boiling. "Why have you come here?" She demanded, returning her attention to Kaidan.
Kaidan looked towards the dreadlocked creature, she was not watching the altercation with the same blood-lust the others were, her countenance was more of the passive observer. She met his gaze and nodded, indicating that he should answer the question, quickly.
"We came to rescue our people, to take them home." As he spoke the dreadlocked female repeated his words to the others, holding his gaze. "We were unaware the planet was inhabited, this can all be resolved peacefully if you just let us return to our ship-"
"- YOU WILL NOT!" The leader screeched frantically. "The Old Gods have brought you to us as they brought those before you. You belong to us now. You will appease the Gods, return them to our favour. They have not abandoned us, they have not abandoned us." She began to repeat the sentence over and over again, turning the red idol on her necklace over in her hands. Whatever these creatures were they were half crazed. Suddenly she turned, using her speed to appear before Kaidan again, grabbing him by his throat and lifting him off the ground.
"The False Gods came, they travelled as you do. They were tainted, as you are. They promised we would do the same; that we would travel stars, rule the universe in their name. They promised us many things. THEY LIED!" The leader screeched at him, still dangling him high above the floor. Kaidan struggled for breath, kicking his legs wildly, but he was too easily over powered. "THEY WERE FALSE GODS!" She screeched again, tightening her grip. "Their promises wrong, unnatural things. They made us turn away from The Old Gods. But you, your people, they killed The False Gods." She released him and he crashed to the floor, clutching at his throat and gasping for air. Being chocked to the point of blacking out was becoming an all too common experience for Kaidan. The leader retreated up the steps away from him. "The Old Gods sent you to us, to prove ourselves worthy again. You killed The False Gods and we kill you, a sacrifice." She turned, again playing with the ruby idol upon her neck, her blood red eyes wide and crazed. "Yes, Yes. They have not abandoned us. They have not abandoned us. Take them in the tower!" She ordered.
Kaidan was seized and dragged up the large stone steps to the carved entrance to the great tower.
Shepard awkwardly paced her room, careful not to catch her cane on anything like she had done several times previously. It was days like today which were the hardest. Miranda and Oriana had to leave and Jack had gone to visit her students for the weekend. When she was alone, it gave her more time to think about Kaidan, too much time. He already plagued her nights and without a distraction he crept into her days as well. She could always go train with Logan, but things had been... awkward since he'd found out about Kaidan. She hadn't spoken to him about it and Logan tried to act like nothing had changed but he wasn't his usual relaxed self and there was an air of disappointment in his manner. She thought she should ring Hackett and straighten things out from the other day, but she was still kind of mad. Maybe she would leave it till after the funeral.
As she paced someone lightly knocked on her door.
"Come in." Shepard called.
A nurse peered round the door.
"Commander, a Ms. Alenko is asking to see you."
What? Alenko?
Shepard stared at the nurse, dumfounded. Her mouth opened and closed as she struggled to think of a reply. She wasn't expecting anybody and certainly no one of that name. Who was she? Did Kaidan have any family? She couldn't recall. A wife? No, that was impossible; somebody would have known if he'd got married, it would have been in the news report. What had Miranda said about a woman on the Citadel?... Regardless, Shepard certainly wasn't the type to take up with a married man, was she?
"Shall I show her in?" The nurse inquired when Shepard didn't reply, puzzled by her lost expression.
"Erm... Yes, please. Thank you." Shepard blurted out before she could change her mind. Whoever it was she was about to find out.
The nurse nodded and disappeared back into the corridor. Moments later an older woman entered, with long grey hair, neatly tied up in a bun. She was a homely looking woman, but one look at her face and Shepard knew instantly who she was. Her eyes a familiar deep brown, the corners wrinkled with age. Features of her face so closely matched to the face that had haunted Shepard for so long now, the similarity almost too painful for her to bear. There was no mistaking that this woman was Kaidan's Mother.
"I wasn't sure you'd let me in." Ms Alenko spoke; she looked down and played nervously with her hands. "From the look on your face I see you've already guessed who I am." Her voice was motherly, affectionate.
"You're Kaidan's Mother."
"Yes. Please, call me Eleanor." She smiled. "You're probably wondering why I'm here." She glanced at the sofa in Shepard's room. "Do you mind if we sit?"
"Erm... No, not at all." Shepard was still in a state of shock at this woman's unexpected arrival. Eleanor smiled again politely, taking a seat. What could she possibly want with her? She had no information about Kaidan. The funeral, she must be here about officiating the Normandy crew's deaths, including Kaidan's. But Shepard didn't have anything to do with that, she hadn't even been asked. She shuffled over to the sofa, easing herself off the crutch and down onto the cushioned seat. Eleanor watched her intently, taking note of Shepard's physical difficulties.
"They told me, about your amnesia, when they realised who I was and because I insisted on seeing you." She paused. "How much do you remember about my son?" Eleanor asked, her eyes scanning Shepard's face.
"Erm... I don't remember much. Kaidan is the only thing I do remember, but even that is... patchy. The odd conversation."
Eleanor nodded.
"He never told me about you, you know. Last time..." Her voice waivered. "Last time, I spoke to him, he told me there was someone, that he was happy and that I could meet her after the war was over." She looked down, once again playing nervously with her hands. After a brief pause, she looked back up at Shepard. "I never guessed it was you." She sighed. "It all makes sense now, when the original Normandy went down, he came home for a while. He was so depressed, so cold and distant, not like himself at all. For weeks he didn't do anything, he wouldn't eat, or sleep, he wouldn't even talk about it. For a long time, I thought I'd lost him. I figured it was just because he had lost so many friends aboard that ship." She shrugged. "And when the rumours that you were alive began, I said to him - I said that he must be happy his Commander could be alive after all. He got so angry, completely went off the rails. I have never really seen him get mad with me before - he shouted saying it wasn't you, it couldn't be. You were dead and you weren't coming back... In hindsight maybe it was obvious there was more to it than he was telling me... I'm just glad he had someone, in the end. And the famous Commander Shepard, nonetheless." She laughed but it was a weak attempt, the smile never really reaching her eyes.
Shepard remained silent throughout; she wasn't sure what to say, or where Kaidan's Mother was going with this.
"I always knew he was special, I'm glad you could see it too." She leant over and clasped Shepard's hand, Shepard looked down at their hands, finding the friendly contact strange, Eleanor continued.
"Anyway, back to the reason why I'm here. My son, my husband, they're both dead. I have no one left and I thought, well." She paused, tears forming in her eyes. "And if what's written on the extranet is to be believed you don't have any family either, and if that's the case, then, I thought you might want to come stay with me, here in Vancouver."
Shepard looked up suddenly and starred at the woman in front of her.
What?
Had she misheard or was this woman crazy? They hardly knew each other, they'd only just met! And Kaidan... Kaidan was gone, that's what they kept telling her, what she had to convince herself. The very sight of his mother was painful, like a hot knife to the heart, a constant reminder. To see that everyday would be torture. But then again, maybe she was masochistic, maybe that's what she wanted, maybe the pain would be better, she never wanted to forget him, she'd forgotten too much already.
"Listen." Eleanor continued, sensing Shepard's hesitation. "They'll expect you to leave here soon; you need somewhere to go once you're discharged. The press are already hounding you. You've settled here in Vancouver, the Alliance base is nearby. It would be the perfect place for you to recover; I even used to be a nurse. And it's peaceful, from our house there are beautiful views over-"
"English Bay." Shepard said automatically, her brow furrowed as she puzzled over where that had come from.
Eleanor smiled sympathetically. "Kaidan must have mentioned it." She paused. "You must have questions, about Kaidan, about who he was; maybe I could help you with that. It might help you remember him, to remember yourself. Just don't dismiss the idea completely, take some time to think about it, okay?"
Shepard thought for a moment, it was certainly crazy, but there was no harm in considering it. What if this was her last connection with Kaidan? Her last chance at answers?
"Okay." Shepard said before she could change her mind.
"You'll think about it?" Eleanor said, her voice a mix of joy and surprise.
Shepard nodded, wondering what on Earth Kaidan would think of all this.
The creatures forced Kaidan and the others through the narrow and twisted stairway of the tower, continuously climbing higher and higher. They passed numerous archways, leading to further passages, too dark for Kaidan to make out what lay beyond. But the noises were terrifying, the clang of heavy metal chains and tortured wailing, mixed with the smell of decay and destitution.
After what felt like a decade they reached their destination, on a floor no more distinctive then the hundreds they had already passed, the creatures forced them through the archway. Once inside, the passage became even narrower than the staircase, but the stone walls were replaced with bars, another prison.
But it was what was inside the cells that was truly shocking. In the first, huddled in the corner was another creature, the same species as their captors but this creatures hair was pushed back in a short ponytail, his bare muscular chest completely exposed. Evidently, a male of the species. He cowered in the corner, the fear and panic evident in his large, desperate red eyes. Kaidan wasn't sure if it was the sight of them or the females presence that caused this reaction, he guessed it was the latter.
"Curious..." Javik puzzled. "It appears that this race is not an asexual race like the Asari as I originally believed."
One of the captors struck Javik across the back of the head with her spear, causing him to stagger. Talking was obviously not permitted. The violent outburst caused the male to whimper, covering his head with his hands. One of the females hissed at him through the bars and pushed her prisoners forward, obviously enjoying herself.
On their journey through the winding corridor they passed numerous cells, all containing male prisoners. Some cells contained more than one, some contained what looked like children, and all were petrified by the sight of the females.
What is going on here...
Eventually, they reached a dank, empty cell, the trio were pushed inside and each was chained. Kaidan was forced into the chains suspended from the ceiling. To his left Javik was affixed to the stone wall, Vega's captor positioning him a few meters further down the wall. As the creature closed the last metal cuff around Vega's wrist she ran her tongue along his cheek and smiled wickedly. Before he could react all three creatures shifted away, locking the sturdy metal gate behind them. The three suddenly found themselves alone.
"Well, what can I say; I have that effect on all women, of every species. Ha." Vega flexed, testing the strength of his restraints, to no avail.
"Brilliant. Do you think you can charm you way out of this one Vega?" Kaidan questioned, the tension evident in his voice.
"Even my charm has its limits, but anything is possible." Vega pulled on his chains again, using the whole of his weight. Nothing happened. "Maybe we should have been Liara or Tali, I feel that they would have been better received, judging from the prison full of dudes."
"Well I don't think the reception could be worse." Kaidan surveyed their surroundings, finding nothing of use. "We need a plan. Javik, any information on these creatures? Anything you remember from your cycle?"
"I do not remember these creatures, no. But there was much even the Protheans did not know. They said there will be a sacrifice. We will have to strike then. There is nothing that can be achieved from here." Javik replied.
Time passed, it was impossible to say how much, but the light that was previously streaming in through the small slit remotely resembling a window had gone, leaving the room illuminated by pale moon light. The trio had laid out a basic plan of attack, it was far fetched and improbable but it was all they had. Vega was still relentlessly pushing against his restraints, the belief in his physical strength unshakeable, even though the chains still refused to give. Kaidan starred at the floor, trying to remember every curve of Shepard's face, the way her skin felt, his memories all he had left to keep him going, they could all die here. A noise at the cell door caught his attention, he looked up. The dreadlocked creature had appeared, letting her self stealthily in through the gate. The moon light reflected off her stark white skin, making her look almost spectral. She shifted until she was in front of Kaidan; she looked at him, holding a long clawed finger up to her lips.
"I mean no harm." She said quick and quiet.
She moved to Vega and then to Javik, altering their omi-tools like she had done with Kaidan's earlier, after she had finished she returned to face Kaidan, sitting herself down directly in front of him, crossing her long, powerful legs beneath her.
"Now you all understand, know my name, K'tulu." She held her hand to her chest and nodded at Kaidan. "You?" Although it was clear she was attempting to be civil her countenance was still threatening, she spoke in a way which was unintentionally fierce and demanding.
"I'm Kaidan." He replied. "This is James and Javik." He nodded towards the others.
She starred at them individually, taking her time study each once.
"It is believed the Protheans are extinct." She said, her head cocked to one side as she observed Javik.
"I am the last, what is your kind primitive?"
K'tulu instantly shifted to Javik, she grabbed his head pulling it back, he other hand around his throat.
"I am no primitive." She hissed.
"Stop! He didn't mean to insult you! K'tulu, that was your name wasn't it?" Kaidan tried to reason with her.
She turned her head to look at him, her hands remaining on Javik's throat.
She let go and sighed.
"You would think us primitive, from what you have seen. This is why I come." She turned to face Kaidan again, this time she remained stood, her height dominating the room. "This is planet of Anam G'uk, my kind. You have seen my people, what has become them. I am not like they. The reason I am here. I will help you escape but for price... you take me with you. On your ship that travels stars." She starred at Kaidan, awaiting an answer.
"Why?" He asked, unsure how to respond to the request. She could be their only chance at escape, they needed her, their chances without her were slim at best. But she was dangerous, an unknown species and he'd seen her kind in action. She was aggressive and she could have just easily killed Javik in seconds. But she hadn't, that was what was important. Could he take her back, what would he do? Just walk her into the Citadel and hope no one noticed the 8ft tall white creature with blood red eyes, unlikely. There would be Council repercussions to face, but he was a Spectre now. Hell, if Shepard had walked a once-extinct Prothean into the Citadel like it had been no big deal, why couldn't he?
"Why? You see them and you ask me why?" She raised her voice; he'd clearly said something to agitate her. "But, yes, you do not know everything. You need answers. I tell." She calmed. "You see the male in this tower? All male of Anam G'uk kept here, prisoners for all life. Anam G'uk once live peacefully, man and woman, together. But old food source ran out, died out. We turned on one another, males lost. Females keep them here. It is believed to be ritual, made to Gods that gave us power over man. During ritual, males are mated to ensure survival of race but - after mating... the females - they eat them. Over time, the meat, it has turned them mad. I am barely a child in Anam G'uk life; I made to work here, in tower. Males are not fed G'uk flesh, not worthy. I notice they not show symptoms of madness, like females. When I came of age, I refuse meat, I claim I am not worthy, that I love The Mother too much, wish her to have my share. They believe me pious, they are wrong. I do not wish to become them." As she spoke she paced the room, occasionally shifting from one place to another. "You are not first ship to crash here, happen many times before. Crew not normally survive. I find wreckage, I learn about technology. I find the parts, fix console, connect to extranet. I took omni-tool from dead crew. I see outside world, Human, Asari, Turian, all of them. I am smart, that is how I know to operate your translators. I wrote software myself."
"So this is what they plan to do with us? Sacrifice us to their crazy carnivore god and then eat us?" Vega questioned.
K'tulu nodded in reply.
"Excellent! I know you call the shots around here Alenko, but I say we take her with us."
"What did the woman on the steps mean about old and false Gods?" Kaidan asked, ignoring Vega's less than helpful comment.
"She The Mother. The False Gods came here moons ago. They promised they would allow us to travel the stars, they would destroy the other races, the heretics and we would be supreme beings. They promised to give me technology to develop for my people, they see potential in me, otherwise I think G'uk not allow me to live as I do. I began to dress, change my hair, normally forbidden. - G'uk abandoned Old Gods to worship False Gods, until you destroyed them and they were no more. You no call them gods, by different name. The Reapers."
"The Reapers came here?!" Kaidan exclaimed.
"It would appear the Reapers choose the G'uk as the organics to lead the next cycle, left them to survive like the Asari in this." Javik explained.
"It matters not now, they are gone. What matters now, whether you will take me with you?" Her normally forceful tone almost giving way to a plea.
Kaidan weighed up his options and exchanged a quick glance with the other two.
Here goes nothing...
"Yes. You have my word. But, the other humans here, they must be rescued too, I want them to come with us."
K'tulu made a noise somewhere between glee and a purr.
"I can do that. First, I need you to give details for your ship; I must contact them if we are to escape. I will do everything. When the time is right I will return to give you plan." She quickly undid Kaidan's chains; he produced his omni-tool and passed on the required information. "For now, you must stay here. I am sorry; nothing else will not lead to suspicion." She chained him back up. "You understand?"
"Yes." Kaidan confirmed.
She gave him the most unintentionally menacing smile he had ever witnessed and shifted to the other side of the gate, locking it behind her.
"K'tulu! Wait!" Kaidan called after her, she cocked her head to one side. "The explosion, that killed the Reapers, what have you read on the extranet? Who set it off? Were there any survivors? Does the name Shepard mean anything to you?"
She continued to look at him, puzzled by the nature of his questions.
"I know not, when Reapers destroyed I hid technology far from city. I wish not The Mother to take it away... I am sorry I not able to help, this seems to... distress you." She gave him one last confused look and shifted off into the darkness of the tower.
