Kaidan wandered into the Spectre office, surprised that the Spectre codes he was given from Udina still worked. According to Kacey, the Council saw no reason why Kaidan shouldn't be a Spectre and let him keep the Spectre status. He was grateful, and a little confused. But he decided to shake it off and focus on the shooting range that the office contained.
He didn't know how long they would be on the Citadel for; Kacey didn't elaborate that part. So he figured he would get some more practice in, it couldn't hurt after all.
Kaidan headed towards the room for biotics training. He intended to work on using Reave and, hopefully, get a good enough grasp on it so that he didn't develop constant migraines from using it. All he had to do was work on it. He entered the training room, closed the door, and stood a few meters away from the target. He took a deep breath and focused with all his energy on pulling the target apart, moving his hands with the motion. After a couple of minutes, the metal plating of the target was reduced to ash, and Kaidan was left with a couple of sharp pains in his head. He knew his faulty implant was to blame, but at this point, there was nothing he could do but try to work with it; just like he always did.
He took another deep breath, and tried again on another target, this time being a little bit quicker. He manged to destroy it in less time. And so, Kaidan continued to practice another three times before he slumped against the wall, exhausted.
"You know, it's a good thing they have lots of these targets otherwise they'll be mad at you for destroying them."
Kaidan looked up to see Kacey leaning against the door, arms crossed and with a big grin on her face.
"I don't think they'll mind." Kaidan said, standing up, "They do have a Presidium to fix after all."
"Fair point."
"What are you up to anyway?" Kaidan asked, "I thought you were at the lab."
"I was. EDI and I have found the location of Bryson's daughter Ann, who was also researching Leviathan." Kacey explained, "But I needed to check my Spectre terminal. And there are a few things I have to do. I'll fill you in on the way if you're up to it."
"Of course." Kaidan replied, "What's going on?"
"The Volus Ambassador is in trouble." Kacey said, "I don't know much more than that until we get to the embassy offices."
"Okay." Kaidan said, "Let's go."
Kaidan followed Kacey out of the Spectre offices and down the stairs towards the embassy offices. Kacey approached the guard and briefly spoke to him before he stepped aside and let the pair into the empty offices. Kaidan began to look around for anything odd, while Kacey looked around the desks and found a computer on a cabinet nearby.
"Kaidan, over here!" Kacey called.
Kaidan walked over as Kacey began to play the first entry on the laptop.
"You've never been this uncooperative with us before, Ambassador."
"That's because you were actually doing some good in the galaxy."
"Has that changed? How many colonies would be gone if we hadn't taken action against the Collectors?"
"Cerberus." Kacey seethed. Kaidan observed her angry expression as the recording continued.
"Too many. But fighting the Alliance…"
"Must continue. In order to end the war. We understand it took a lot for to reach out to Cerberus, Ambassador Korlack. We ask that you trust us a little longer."
"Din Korlack?" Kaidan questioned, "What is going on?"
"Let's find out." Kacey said as she played the second entry.
"You people are monsters!"
"Ambassador, please—"
"Hundreds dead, Udina betraying the council! I should have cut ties with you ages ago!
"And what would that accomplish now? The risks you took by passing information to Cerberus…it's left you in an interesting position. If you sever contact, we can't protect you from the consequences."
"I don't…I have no time for this!"
"We'll speak again. Have a good day, Ambassador Korlack."
"Do you recognise the voice, Kacey?" Kaidan asked.
"No, I don't." Kacey replied as she played the third entry.
"The turians think I'm still working for Cerberus. They've put a price on my head! I can't go to C-Sec, but Cerberus has plans. An entire turian colony rests on my life. If anyone finds this, I hid a tracking receiver in the office suite beside the human embassies. What are you—"
"Damn, Cerberus has them everywhere nowadays."
"The hell?" Kacey said in shock.
"You gonna go on about them all night?"
"Just get the car up here quick. Little bastard's even heavier than he looks."
"Zaeed?" Kacey said shocked.
"Zaeed? As in Zaeed Massani? The mercenary you recruited?" Kaidan asked.
"Yeah, that's his voice." Kacey said, "Come on, we need to find that receiver."
The pair searched the entire office, looking everywhere for the receiver. Kaidan eventually found the device hidden underneath one of the cabinets in the room. Kacey linked the device up with her and Kaidan's earpieces.
"How long till we kill Korlack?" Zaeed's voice rang out through the comms.
"Once the credits go through." A female voice replied, "Was beginning to think you weren't interested in the money."
"I'm not." Zaeed replied.
"Because Korlack worked for Cerberus?" A deeper voice rang out, "What'd they do to you?"
"None of your goddamn business. He waking up?"
"This is Commander Shepard. Can you hear me?" Kacey said through the comms.
"Yes! Yes, I can hear you." Din Korlack replied.
"Tell me where you are." Kacey said as the pair exited the office.
"Ah…we're still near the Presidium." Din Korlack answered, "C-Sec will check Selkish Arms when they realise I'm missing."
"They won't give a damn when they realise you sold them out to Cerberus." Zaeed said.
"He sounds charming." Kaidan quipped.
"Very." Kacey smirked.
"Wait," Din Korlack pleaded, "Cerberus is planning to attack a colony that—"
"Stay calm." Kacey instructed, "Help's coming."
…
As the pair left the elevator, they looked around trying to find the volus.
"Zaeed used to work for Cerberus." Kacey said through the comms, "Ask him why he's here."
"They're not here, Kacey." Kaidan said, "Maybe further down?"
"Probably." Kacey replied, "Come on, let's go."
"Why? Why go after your old employer Zaeed?" Din Korlack asked as Kacey and Kaidan ran down near the apartments.
"How do you know my name all of a sudden?" Zaeed grumbled.
"Good question." The female voice said.
"You don't think they could be in one of the apartments?" Kaidan asked, "It's the only closed off place here."
"You may be right." Kacey said as she turned towards them, "But which one?"
Kaidan bolted upstairs to the door at the end of the right side of the hall and tried to open the door but it was locked.
"Any luck?" Kacey asked.
"Nope. It's the wrong door." Kaidan said, running back downstairs.
"Dammit." Kacey said before talking through the comms, "He needs you alive to stop Cerberus."
"Cerberus is after a turian colony." Din Korlack said, "Kill me, and they get it."
"Drop my name." Kacey ordered.
"You got a plan?" Kaidan asked.
"Always do."
"Commander Shepard's investigating, she's a recent acquaintance." Din Korlack said quickly as Kacey and Kaidan darted up the stairs on the left-hand side.
"How recent?" Zaeed asked.
"Very."
"Shit." Zaeed said, "Alright, I'm listening."
"Worked like a charm." Kacey said as she opened the door.
As the pair entered, Kaidan saw the corpses of the two bounty hunters lying across the floor. On the other side of the room, a human male in dark yellow and white armour was leaning against the window.
"Been a while, Zaeed." Kacey said.
"Shepard." Zaeed said, "Glad I wasn't making an ass out of myself over a hunch. Undisciplined bastards, this is what I get for signing up last minute."
"Where's Korlack?" Kacey asked.
"I'm here, Commander." Korlack said, "I…You saved my life. I almost died because the turians thought I was still with Cerberus."
"Did the mercs hurt you?"
"I'm fine. They wanted me alive until the fees were delivered for my capture. They didn't care about what I had to say."
"Didn't we go over this before, Zaeed?" Kacey looked at the mercenary.
"We did, but I don't give a damn."
"And how is that working out for you?"
"Point taken."
"You kept mentioning a colony in your message." Kaidan said.
"Information on a turian planet defences." Korlack explained, "They'll strike soon. But if I tell you which planet they're attacking, Cerberus will know I turned traitor."
"Turn? You already betrayed your own people." Zaeed scoffed.
"We saved your life." Kacey said, "Tell us which planet you put in danger."
"I can offer a bargain." Korlack said quickly, "The volus bombing fleet. In tactical terms, its worth far more than a colony."
"Or you could give us both." Kacey said, crossing her arms.
"You can warn the turians there'll be an attack, Commander." Korlack said, "That should be general enough to ward off suspicion."
"You are better than this." Kacey replied, "You tried to do the right thing before. It failed because you trusted the wrong people. Now here's your chance to make up for it. You're giving us volus support and you're going to help us make Cerberus pay for using you."
"I can't."
"You can."
"Waste of everyone's time trying to appeal to a volus's better nature, Shepard." Zaeed dismissed.
"Aephus." Korlack said, "The colony's name is Aephus. Cerberus wants its shipyards."
"And the bombing fleet?" Kacey asked.
"Yes. It's yours, Commander." Korlack replied, "I'll speak with Citadel Security about this…incident. You have my thanks."
"Took him long enough to spit that out." Zaeed said as Korlack left.
"So, Zaeed." Kacey said, "What are you doing here?"
"Working, what else?" Zaeed replied, "Wondered if you'd show up Shepard. Figured you'd be too busing recruiting goddamn armies for this war you're in charge of. Who's your friend?"
"Kaidan Alenko." Kaidan responded. Zaeed eyed him cautiously.
"I see." Zaeed replied, "So this is the one that nearly got the Council killed right?"
"Yeah." Kaidan replied, slightly embarrassed.
"You're one to talk." Kacey said slyly, "That was a diplomat you were going to kill."
"Yeah, and?" Zaeed replied, "I'm a mercenary Shepard. It's what I do. I'm not goody two-shoes like you."
"I wouldn't say that I was." Kacey replied, "Goody two-shoes don't get arrested."
"You? Arrested?" Zaeed said in disbelief, "I don't believe that."
"It's true." Kacey replied, "House arrest for six months. Dishonourably discharged from the Alliance."
"The hell did you do to get that?" Zaeed asked.
Kaidan was wondering the same thing. He wasn't told the reason as to why Kacey was arrested. Anderson never told him why and refused to answer Kaidan. He always assumed it was because of her work with Cerberus but now…he wasn't too sure.
"You'd be surprised." Kacey replied.
"Maybe."
"I'm more surprised that you didn't go through with it." Kaidan said, "You wanted to kill the Ambassador, but Shepard's name gets mentioned and you stop? Why?"
"Everyone in the Terminus Systems knows to stay clear of Commander Shepard." Zaeed explained, "After what we did to the Collector base and how she screwed over Cerberus and the Illusive Man, nobody in their goddamn minds will want to cross her."
"Is that so?" Kacey said surprised.
"You've got Aria T'Loak on your side, Shepard. Nobody's gonna risk their necks if it means running into her. I know better than to cross you, Shepard."
"I see you still remember what happened at the refinery." Kacey replied.
"I do. Still pissed about it."
"Why don't you channel that anger and take out on the Reapers?" Kacey asked.
"I've seen footage of what happened on Earth." Zaeed said, "Tell you what: I'll see if some old contacts of mine are still around. Can't promise you anything, but if enough of them are still breathing…I can lend a hand."
"Glad to hear it, Zaeed." Kacey replied.
…
"Commander Shepard. Major Alenko. Jondum Bau, Special Tactics and Recon." Jondum introduced himself, "I've got intel suggesting that high-level hanar officials may be indoctrinated."
"That's a damming accusation." Kacey said, "What have you got?"
The salarian pulled up his omni-tool, "Evidence of an Alliance black ops team raiding a batarian research station. The batarians were studying Reaper technology."
"The batarians had Reaper technology?" Kaidan asked surprised.
"The Alliance raid turned into a massacre." Jondum Bau continued, "The humans ended up with nothing. Your people faked a power failure to hide the incident."
"The batarians would've gone to war if they found out." Kacey explained, "But how does this implicate the hanar?"
"They maintained discreet grey market trade relationships with the batarians, and led the Alliance to the station. We suspect those hanar operatives escaped with batarian tech. If your reports on the Reapers are accurate, they could already be indoctrinated."
"What's your source on all this?" Kacey asked.
"It was an anonymous 'gift', but I believe it came from a thief named Kasumi Goto. I've been after her for years."
"Kasumi? You're hunting a thief?" Kaidan said in disbelief.
"A master thief. Her intelligence and skill are almost salarian."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate praise from the Spectre who's chasing her down." Kacey laughed.
"I only need her data. I admire her personally." Jondum admitted, "And since she sent me this, I assume her feelings are mutual."
"So, what do you need us to do?" Kacey asked.
"The hanar operative is now a diplomat on the Citadel. I don't have a public name and the hanar will go to ground if I make a formal inquiry."
"So we're hunting." Kacey mused.
"I'm tracking suspicious transmissions to the hanar homeworld." Jondum explained, "I could use your help."
"Let us see what we can dig up at the Spectre office." Kacey replied.
"Thanks Shepard, Alenko." Jondum said, "And for the record, Shepard – not everyone doubted your concerns about the Reapers. I just hope we're not too late."
The pair parted ways with Jondum, heading back towards the Spectre office. Once they had entered, Kaidan saw Kacey lean against the door, a big smirk on her face.
"I assume you broke into this office, Kasumi?" she said.
Kaidan was surprised as another woman appeared next to Kacey, in all black with her hood covering her face.
"Obviously." Kasumi teased, "Who's this?"
"Kaidan." Kacey said as Kasumi walked towards the biotic, "And he's taken, by the way."
"So, this is the boy that upset you on Horizon?" Kasumi said teasingly, "I'd be upset too if I got into a fight with someone who looked like that."
"Nothing on the Normandy is ever kept private, is it?" Kacey complained.
"No. But Joker is a terrible liar." Kasumi replied, "He told me, by the way."
"Of course, he did." Kacey said.
"So, have you two made up? Because you look like a lovely couple together." Kasumi teased.
"Yes, we have." Kaidan said.
"Anyway, why are you here Kasumi?" Kacey asked, "Not that it isn't good to see you."
"Do you remember how you helped me get Keiji's greybox from Donovan Hock? The one with information that could start a war?"
"Information like an Alliance black ops raid on a batarian research lab?" Kacey said.
"I figured it wouldn't hurt to leak it now." Kasumi replied, "Especially if there really is an indoctrinated jellyfish out there…crazier than usual. If you don't mind me tagging along cloaked, maybe I could help you dig up some dirt on the hanar."
"I'd appreciate it."
Kacey and Kaidan searched through the Spectre terminals, looking for anything that might link up with the hanar diplomat. After several minutes had passed, Jondum radioed through.
"Shepard, Alenko, I'm checking security reports. Can you track the transfers coming from the hanar embassy?"
"We're already on it." Kaidan replied.
"Bau's got a good plan." Kasumi mused, "Hanar are predictable. Anything suspicious in their terminal use should narrow down our list of suspects."
"So you approve of Bau?" Kacey smirked.
"Absolutely. He's a good Spectre. The galaxy needs more like him."
"And the fact he's trying to arrest you?"
"Well, nobody's perfect."
"I found something." Kaidan said, "There's some odd signals by a terminal near the embassy offices."
"Good work." Kacey said, "Come on."
The pair quickly left the Spectre office and made their way to the towards the embassy offices. Kaidan tracked the signal to a terminal on the wall, which Kacey hacked into.
"Bau, I have some possible hits." Kacey said, "Got some strange money transfers on Bolohn, and Oloon is sending a lot of data."
"Bolohn's clean." Jondum replied, "His money transfers are to support his mistress. Not sure about Oloon. I'll pull his bio."
"I'll check Oloon's personal records and pull his recent messages." Kaidan said.
"Can I just note how odd it is for a hanar to have a mistress?" Kasumi mused.
"You know, if Bau catches up with you, I can grant you immunity." Kacey said.
"What, if I join up? Last time I did that, you roped me into a suicide mission."
"I didn't say you had to join up."
"You were working your way around to it."
"Touché."
The pair (with Kasumi following in secret) made their way to the elevator. The trio then arrived at the docks holding bay, where Kaidan began working on the terminal near the elevator.
"Bau, Oloon's doing some heavy lobbing for the hanar to support the war effort." Kaidan relayed.
"So he's clearly not indoctrinated. Who's opposing him?" Jondum asked.
"An unnamed hanar recently posted here from Kahje." Kaidan explained.
"We'll check the transit records for incoming hanar." Kacey added.
"It all comes down to the war…and you trying to pull everyone into it." Kasumi said as they entered the holding bay.
"Would you rather the Reapers win?" Kacey asked.
"I'd rather spend whatever time I have left with Keiji." Kasumi answered.
"Keiji wouldn't want you to spend all your time plugged into that thing." Kacey replied.
"Well, he shouldn't have died then."
Kaidan shared the sentiment; he was lucky, extremely lucky, that Kacey was revived, Cerberus notwithstanding. But for Kasumi; if that was all she had left of the person she loved…then it was only fair.
"I've got a list of new hanar arrivals, Bau." Kacey said, pulling up her omni-tool, "Forwarding it to you."
"Damn. These are all face names. The hanar names from the Alliance raid are soul names." Jondum said, "And hanar soul names are private. There's no public record. Can you get back to their personal communications?"
"On it. Maybe we'll find the names there." Kacey said.
"So how's the rest of the gang?" Kasumi asked, "Met up with anyone else?"
"Garrus is helping out on the Normandy." Kacey said.
"He never could pass up a good fight."
"Jack is at Grissom Academy as a teacher. We rescued her and her students about a month ago."
"How did that happen?" Kasumi laughed.
"No idea." Kacey replied, "Grunt's still kicking. He's fighting on Palaven and Samara is doing her part. We literally just ran into Zaeed before we met up with Bau and Joker and EDI are still the old married couple you remember."
"What about Jacob?" Kasumi asked.
"He's fine." Kaidan said, "He's helping out with the Crucible."
"See, Jacob could've gotten me back on the Normandy. Or Kaidan if he was single." Kasumi teased.
Kasumi nearly laughed as both Kacey and Kaidan had turned bright red.
"I thought you were happy with your memories of Keniji." Kacey said.
"Hey I'm nostalgic. Not dead." Kasumi replied.
"Bau, here's the correspondence." Kaidan said through the comms, "If there's any mention of soul names…"
"I've got it!" Jondum said, "A recent arrival, Zymandis. Soul name: Regards the Works of the Enkindlers in Despair. He was with the Alliance team that massacred the batarians. He's been on 'special research assignment' ever since."
"So he got his tentacles on some Reaper tech." Kacey said.
"Looks that way. I'm sending you they NavPoint for his office. I'll meet you there."
The trio headed back into the elevator, heading back towards the Citadel Embassies. Once they had arrived Kacey and Kaidan met up with Jondum Bau outside the offices, and headed inside where they found a hanar inside.
"Zymandis?" Kacey said.
"Or should I say, Regards the Works of the Enkindlers in Despair?"
"It seems this one has been apprehended, but confinement is irrelevant." Zymandis said bluntly, "The work of the Enkindlers cannot be stopped."
"Why are you trying to help the Reapers?" Kaidan asked.
"We obtained information regarding the Enkindlers from classified sources." Zymandis explained.
"The Enkindlers? You mean the Protheans?" Kacey asked.
"Yes. As you are aware, Commander Shepard, the Protheans eventually became the Collectors. And the Collectors serve the Reapers."
"You've got to be kidding me." Kacey said.
"Therefore, as a faithful servant to the Enkindlers, we too must serve the Reapers."
"Oh, you big stupid jellyfish." Kacey sighed.
"You know, I support religious freedom for all species," Kasumi whispered loud enough for Kacey and Kaidan to hear, "but that's just crazy."
"Your scepticism does not matter." Zymandis continued, "When the Enkindlers uplift us as their chosen sapiens, the galaxy will bear witness."
"Or we'll all be dead." Kaidan mused.
"You are under arrest." Kacey said, "Don't make this any harder than it needs to be."
"Your belief in your victory is mistaken. Our planetary defence systems are largely automated, it can be disabled with a single virus…which I have just uploaded."
"Damn it! Wait…" Jondum Bau said, "A virus would be detected unless sent through low-priority channels, which have a time-lag. I may be able to block the upload.
"You may be delayed."
The human C-Sec guard attacked Jondum Bau.
"Help him!" Kasumi said, "I've got this."
Kacey and Kaidan were quickly able to restrain the guard and Kacey knocked the guard out for good measure. Once he had recovered, Jondum Bau shot Zymandis, killing him.
"Got it!" Kasumi said, "Upload's disabled. Looks like we're in the…wait, he's got some kind of failsafe. Get down!"
The laptop exploded, rocking the entire room.
"She was here the entire time?!" Jondum Bau said.
"She was an old friend." Kacey replied.
"I intended to arrest her."
"She helped me take down the Collectors and she just gave her life for the hanar homeworld."
"Point taken." Jondum Bau replied, "It was an honour to work with you Shepard, Alenko. When the time comes, I'll be there to return the favour…with a few friends."
Once the salarian had left the room. Kacey crossed her arms, looking over towards the laptop.
"You can come out now." Kacey said.
"How'd you know?" Kasumi asked.
"Lucky guess."
"There's no way you're recruiting me to fight in a galactic war!" Kasumi said.
"Who said anything about fighting?" Kacey said, "The Crucible project needs technical experts."
"I'm not a scientist!"
"You're the best thief in the galaxy who can hack unfamiliar technology better than anyone." Kacey said, "Plus you owe me one for making me wear that stupid dress."
"Ugh, fine." Kasumi said.
"Hey, look on the bright side: think about all that expensive tech just lying around…" Kacey teased, "It's not like they'll check your pockets at the end of the project."
"You say the nicest things." Kasumi said, "And Shep…nice working with you again."
…
"So, what's the plan?" Kaidan asked as the pair walked through the Normandy's docking bay.
"Once we're done here, we've got to go and find Ann Bryson." Kacey explained, "She was also studying Leviathan. Hopefully she knows something about it."
"Commander Shepard! Commander Shepard!" a female voice rang out.
"Oh, not again." Kacey sighed.
Kaidan turned to find the all-too familiar face of Khalisah Bint al-Jilani running over towards them, with her news drone right behind her. Kacey facepalmed as the reporter approached; Kaidan remembered the stupid questions she had asked while they were chasing Saren.
"Commander Shepard, Khalisah Bint al-Jilani." Khalisah introduced herself, "Isn't it true that you were on Earth when the Reapers attacked? How do you justify running away while millions of people on Earth die? Is that the best we can expect from the Alliance?"
Kaidan looked at Kacey, worried. He was already concerned about her before, but the despondent expression she had on her face as Khalisah continued to ask her questions worried Kaidan. Kacey took a deep sigh before answering.
"I came here to get help for Earth. For everyone." She replied in her commander voice.
"What about all the people suffering while you play politics with the Council? What about them?! How can you stand here while our families die?! What are you going to do!?"
Kacey was becoming harder to read. Any previous sign of fleeting joy or happiness had drained from her face.
"Khalisah, we are doing everything we can. I will stop the Reapers or die trying." Kacey replied, frustrated, "But I can't do that if I'm standing here, answering your questions can I?"
"No, I suppose not."
"Thought so."
Kacey stormed off towards the Normandy with Kaidan close behind. As they went through the decontamination process, Kacey remained quiet and Kaiden's worry grew.