Author's Note: I am so sorry for a few things. I am sorry if I didn't reply to your review on the last chapter. I am sorry that this took so long to get out. I am completely shamefaced and hope no one has lost interest. Thank you to those who left a review on the last chapter: Kirabaros, Abubis85, Vorcha Girl, Kateriel79, Stryper, ela11, Jules Hawk, Kirsah, FullMetal191, and Silver Ilix. I loved hearing what you thought and hopefully you're still out there.
You've waited long enough. With no more from me ... Enjoy. - TLC
Chapter Sixty-Six
"Commander," Joker's voice rang out from the control panel before Cortez. The tension in his tone killed the light banter between the Kaidan, Shepard, and Garrus as the cool façade of Commander Shepard washed over her features. She stood, her eyes glued to the back of Cortez's head as she walked to stand behind him, bracing herself on the back of his seat.
"Joker."
"We're picking up a transmission from the station," The pilot announced, and Shepard ordered him to patch it through to the shuttle, but keep his line open.
"This is Grissom Academy, requesting assistance. We are under attack by Cerberus troops. Goddamn it, please let there be an Alliance ship in range," The last sentence was barely picked up, spoken as a whispered prayer. What caught Kaidan's attention, however, was Shepard's reaction to the voice.
She reached over Cortez's shoulder and turned on the outgoing comm, "Kahlee?"
Silence answered her, and Kaidan could sense her tension from across the shuttle. He glanced at Garrus quickly and was relieved the Turian seemed just as confused. "Sloan? Is that you?" The trembling voice on the other end replied.
"Yeah, it is. What's going on?" Shepard asked, slipping back into her role of rescuer and Kaidan shifted. This woman knew Shepard, that was clear, but she knew her as Sloan. She knew her personally, and Kaidan didn't know who she was.
"I'm the Director here and Cerberus is after my students!" She responded, fire in her tone.
"Alright. We're approaching in a shuttle, but we're blocked," Shepard explained and discussed other options. It was decided that Joker would use the Normandy as a decoy, to pull some of the Cerberus cruisers away from the station and allow Cortez to get the shuttle to an auxiliary bay.
With the plan in place, Kahlee Sanders' voice softened, "Sloan, David said you were back with the Alliance and I've been following your missions through the news reports. Are you alright? Really?"
"Yeah," she answered, glancing over her shoulder at Kaidan. "I'm good. We'll talk more once I'm inside." Kahlee Sanders agreed and the comm cut off. Shepard spoke quietly to Cortez before walking over to her spot between Kaidan and Garrus. She sat, secured herself, and they waited. He could feel the nerves and fear rolling off her. He reached over, and took her hand from her lap and held it. He wished they didn't have gloves on, but her eyes met his and she forced a small smile.
The Normandy swooped in above them, her cannon taking out two of the Cerberus shuttles before racing off. Thankfully, they reacted the way Shepard expected, and a majority of the other shuttles chased after the frigate. "Shepard," Garrus' voice trilled, and Shepard turned her head to him. "You know this woman?"
"I have known Kahlee for many years," she answered, and her tone said that was all she would say on the subject. Garrus met Kaidan's eyes briefly before Kaidan turned away and stared towards the cockpit. She had spoken these words before, similar words anyway, when he and Ashley had asked her about Anderson. He let it go, wondering briefly why she didn't say more. Cortez was able to bring the shuttle into the dock without interference. "Head out and be ready to circle around when I call for extraction." He answered in the affirmative as Shepard, Garrus, and Kaidan stepped off the shuttle.
With hand signals, she ordered them to have their weapons ready and move forward silently. She took point. Kahlee's voice rang through their helmet comms. "Sloan, I'm locked in a server room around the corner from your entrance point. Cerberus troops are trying to break in," she sounded anxious when she spoke, but not scared. Kaidan had to wonder if that was because she knew Commander Shepard was on her way.
A set of doors opened before them, showing a handful of troopers trying to break through the door's defenses. It was over before it started. Kaidan flared and sent two of the troopers flying backwards while Shepard charged into them with her full power, breaking their bones on impact. Garrus rounded out the effort with a few well placed shots from his rifle as Shepard turned her attention to the door. It opened, and she easily removed her helmet as she stepped across the threshold towards the woman inside. Kaidan and Garrus followed suit, removing their helmets and securing them to their hips. They entered the room just in time to see the women embrace.
Kaidan and Garrus exchanged quick glances as they stepped further into the room. Shepard pulled back first, and Kahlee's hands went to her face. The older woman brushed her hands over Shepard's features as her eyes followed. "I knew you were back, that you were okay, but it was hard to believe until right now," Kahlee's voice trembled as her eyes filled with tears.
Kaidan could sympathize with the woman.
"I'm back. I'm okay," Shepard answered with a nod; her own voice shook with emotion even Kaidan rarely heard. Shepard pulled back and gestured to Kaidan and Garrus. Kaidan's eyes went to Kahlee and he wondered where he had seen her before. She was just about as tall as Shepard, but she had rare blonde hair, fair skin, and bright green eyes that showed she had seen a lot in her years. She looked familiar, but Kaidan couldn't place her. He and Garrus stepped forward.
"Kahlee, this is Garrus Vakarian, and," Shepard started the introductions, but Kahlee interrupted her when her eyes landed on Kaidan.
She gasped lightly, and her eyes were bright with mirth as she exclaimed, "The Lieutenant!"
Kaidan cleared his throat and his eyes bounced from Kahlee to Sloan, "Uh, Major, actually, Major Kaidan Alenko, Ma'am," he introduced himself, holding out his hand which she shook. Kaidan was surprised by the color in Sloan's cheeks as she looked away from him.
"Right, right, of course, now you're a Major, but when I saw Sloan last, you were a still a Lieutenant and her Head of Marine Detail." Kaidan was oddly uncomfortable as this woman's eyes moved over him, clearly appraising him. "I will admit she was absolutely right about your eyes, and your voice," Kahlee gushed, and the red in Shepard's cheeks deepened when Garrus chuckled.
Kaidan knew he was grinning as he stared at Shepard, who refused to meet his eyes, "Is that right?" he asked, his voice shaking with barely suppressed laughter. She had talked about him? It was then he remembered where he'd seen Kahlee before - in the pictures on the walls of Anderson's apartment. This was the woman he'd seen with Anderson. The pieces all fell into place. If Anderson was like her older brother, this was the equivalent of an older brother's girlfriend or even an older sister. Kahlee Sanders is family.
"Yeah, don't we have students to save?" Shepard asked, her voice cool but the self-conscious smile still tugged at her lips even as Kahlee sobered at the mention of her students.
"You're right," Kahlee answered turning her attention to her omni-tool. "We can catch up once we're off the station." Kaidan moved to stand over Shepard's shoulder as they looked to the info on her 'tool. There were less than twenty students left on the station, mostly tech and biotic specialists training for military applications of their skills. There were two staff members left, as well, Kahlee and one of their biotic teachers.
"Alright, I'll gather them and we'll meet back here. My shuttle pilot will be able to pick us up once we're ready," Shepard dictated, and Kaidan couldn't help but see the pride shining in Kahlee's eyes. The older woman gripped Shepard's hand briefly, and Shepard gave her a genuine smile before nodding her head in an order to move towards the door. They fell into a practiced step, Shepard at point with Garrus and Kaidan on her flanks.
It felt comfortable, and when they came across the first batch of Cerberus troopers, they took them out with an efficiency Kaidan had missed in the last years. Minimal effort with maximum results. They came upon one of the biotic students, and Kaidan was instantly impressed with his barrier. It held off the Cerberus attacks, and kept him safe while Shepard and he took out the troopers. Once the way was clear, Shepard ordered him back to Kahlee's location.
He retreated and Shepard watched him until he rounded the corner. She turned to proceed and Kaidan and Garrus followed. As they made their way towards Orion Hall, where the students were holed up with their instructor, announcements were playing from Cerberus. They were insisting that the Alliance could not help them, and that they would be safer with Cerberus. "Ms. Sanders," Kaidan reached out to her over the comm. She replied quickly, asking how she could help. "Can you get control of the overhead announcements back?"
"I'll see what I can do," she answered as they continued down the long, eerily empty hallways. They reached an empty classroom and Kaidan stalled as he looked at the data pads left out. This is what his training could have, should have, looked like. At least they learned, and future biotics wouldn't have to suffer through what he and his friends at BAaT had suffered through. If there was a future. He lifted his eyes from the data pad and found Shepard watching him. He wondered if she knew where his thoughts were. She gave him a gentle, encouraging smile and he knew she did.
"Heads up," Garrus warned, breaking the silence and the trio dropped into cover behind the nearest desks as a swarm of Cerberus Troopers entered the room and opened fire. Engineers set turrets, and but not before Kaidan and Garrus could overload, and sabotage them. Shepard Lifted the troopers and turned her rifle on them as they floated above her. It was over shortly after it started. An exploding turret the final sound before Kaidan ran a scan.
"Area's clear, Commander," he announced and Shepard gave the hand signal for them to move out. As they walked through seemingly endless corridors, Kaidan couldn't help but wonder just how big the station was. After walking a few paces, the announcements cut off overhead and were replaced with silence.
"I don't know how long that will keep them out of the system, but it should hold up for at least a while," Kahlee's voice declared confidently. "I've been monitoring your position," she informed them, "Orion hall is just through those doors."
"Thanks, Kahlee," Shepard answered as the doors opened before them. They continued into the open space, and Kaidan's eyes were instantly drawn to the woman in the center of the room. She was thin, small even, covered in tattoos, and wearing little. She was beautiful, and intimidating, as she sheathed herself in blue and Threw multiple troopers backwards. "Jack?" Shepard called out once the immediate threat was clear.
"Shepard?!" The woman responded, turning to look at her rescuers. There was no time to respond as a Cerberus Atlas thundered into the room. The large mech, operated by a Cerberus trooper, towered over them and was equipped with a cannon that could do serious damage. It turned its weapons on Jack's students and she cursed and dove in front of them. The power she emanated with her barrier tingled against Kaidan's regardless of the distance between them. Calling her powerful was an understatement. The Atlas's attempt ricocheted off her barriers and she demanded that Shepard and her team keep it off them. She gave one signal, and the trio turned their attention on the monstrous machine in the center of the room.
Kaidan relied on his tech attacks, allowing Garrus to use his concussive rounds on the weak spots while Shepard blasted it with her shotgun. His omni'tool was warm to the touch as he continued to overload its shield and sabotage its weapons. Eventually, it started to tremble, "Get down!" Shepard ordered seconds before it exploded, raining pieces of tech down through the room. When the dust settled, her voice was calm over the comm. "Everyone good?"
They answered in the affirmative as they stood, and turned towards Jack and her students. "When Kahlee said she was sending out the distress call, I should have known it would be you who answered. Can't pass on the chance to play hero, can you, Shepard?" Jack's voice was pleasantly husky as she called to Shepard from the balcony where her students were staying safely out of range.
"If I don't pull your ass out of the fire, Jack, who would?" Shepard answered, grinning at what was clearly a friend. Jack laughed, loud and from her center before she turned to her students. She ordered them to refuel, and critiqued their barriers and efforts during their skirmish. Her style was harsh, but not violent, and there was caring at the base of it all.
She threw herself over the balcony, using her biotics to help break her fall – something Kaidan had yet to master. She crossed the space between them in three quick steps. She was still sheathed in her biotic energy when her fist connected with Shepard's face. Shepard stumbled slightly from the force of it, and without a second thought, Kaidan flicked his wrist, coated Jack in his power, and Lifted.
She thrashed like a cat in a burlap bag, struggling to break Kaidan's hold on her, as her students looked on in stunned silence. Kaidan turned his eyes from his captive to Shepard to make sure she was alright. She was already standing straight again, her hands on her hips, eyes on Jack, and a beautiful smile on her face. Jack was floating, helpless, just above their heads. Shepard's rich, full laugh echoed off the walls as the students started whispering amongst themselves. Even Garrus laughed, his rolling undertones light and pleasant. With every second that Jack was trapped, her anger intensified and her curse words grew more colorful as she flailed uselessly against Kaidan's hold.
"Alright, down boy," Shepard teased good-naturedly. Kaidan nodded and started to lower her to the ground as Jack continued to fight against him and curse at Shepard. It couldn't be helping the situation that Jack's students were witnessing this. Jack let a particularly vulgar string of curses fly.
"She's as charming as ever," Garrus's humor laced voice rumbled from behind them. His mandibles twitched as he took in the sight.
"Fuck you, Vakarian!" Jack bellowed, her anger and embarrassment evident in the way she raged against Kaidan's power.
"On second thought, maybe we should just leave her up there," Shepard mumbled, and Kaidan chuckled. She turned her grin to him as Jack screamed her name again.
Kaidan let her drop gracelessly to the floor and though she looked like she wanted to charge, she didn't. She scrubbed her hands over her face and stood, her eyes moving in a calculated path over Kaidan. "Where'd you find the guard dog?" She asked, her tone dripped with disdain for the biotic who had showed her up in front of her cackling students. Jack paid them no mind, her eyes were locked on Kaidan, and he would be lying if he said it wasn't unnerving.
"Spectre Kaidan Alenko," he introduced himself, as his eyes moved over her. If she could look him over like a specimen on display, so could he. She didn't seem bothered by it; she was gorgeous, and she knew it. Her confidence rolled off her, and Kaidan imagined it would catch anyone's attention.
"Alenko..." He could tell she was trying to place him in her memory, and was unsure where she would know him from. Her eyes widened in realization, and Kaidan watched as Jack's large, emotive hot chocolate eyes moved between him and Shepard. When she looked back to him, some of the anger had slipped from her gaze and she glanced up at her students quickly before speaking again. "From Biotics Spec Ops, whatever, bullshit," Jack said stepping closer to him. Her eyes moved over him again, this time she was looking at him as an equal instead of an attacker.
"That's right. I've recruited from here, are your kids alright?" Kaidan asked as he glanced up to the group of teenagers who had already seen too much in their short lives, and had no idea what was really out there.
"For now," Jack answered. "You took Kelly, Smith, Reed, Thomas, and Watkins from me. How are they?" She asked, and Kaidan was slightly surprised by the concern in her voice. She clearly cared for her students, and Kaidan wished he had better news for her.
"They're on Earth. I haven't heard from them, but that doesn't mean worst case scenario," he answered and Jack nodded. It was that thought which got him through his doubts, but he could tell Jack knew, just like he did, that it was simply a platitude until their worst thoughts were confirmed. He needed to make more of an effort to find them. Shepard stepped up to them, and Kaidan glanced at her before his eyes darted to Garrus who took up a watch position at the door.
"We need to get moving; we can catch up once we're back on the Normandy. Are your kids ready to move?" Shepard asked, grabbing her rifle from her back.
"Ready as they'll ever be," Jack answered simply. "I fuckin hate this. I hate Cerberus. If I'm ever in the same room as that stupid mother fucker, I will rip him apart with my bare hands and I'll smile while I do it." Kaidan could feel her anger in her biotics. She felt different than any other biotic he'd experienced. She was strong, stronger than him and possibly even Shepard. If it wasn't for his own control, he'd never been able to hold her in the Lift. She would have broken out of it, but her power was erratic and obviously fueled by her emotions. Still, she was impressive, and it seemed as if working with the students was a good fit for her. She would learn from them, as they learned from her. "Alright, get ready to move!" She yelled to her kids as she ascended the stairs to them.
Shepard turned back to Kaidan and opened the comm to talk to Kahlee. Kahlee directed them to grant her access to the video surveillance, which allowed her to lead them through the station in the quickest way possible. Though, the quickest way was still overrun by Cerberus troopers. She turned to Jack and announced her plan. "I want you up there with the students. Follow our path from the upper level. I want your focus on your own defense. I'm not going to lie to you, they're here for you. They want to leave with you alive, because they want to make you tools." Kaidan watched as the students reacted to the news. They were clearly proud of themselves, that the great Commander Shepard was being honest with them, and letting them in on the plan. It was also obvious that they were scared, which was good. "They want you to be weapons. They want to warp your minds and take over control of everything you are. We're not going to let that happen, but you are your best protectors right now. Work together, stay with Jack, and we'll get you out of here. Am I clear?" She asked.
There was a mixed response, and Kaidan smirked as some students said yes, others yes, ma'am, and there were a few aye, aye's thrown in. Shepard turned towards him and Garrus and gave the signal to move out. The way they had come was blocked, and Kahlee was already on her way to the opposite end to meet at the new extraction point. Cerberus had other things in mind.
It seemed to take hours, to move room to room and each room they entered seemed to have more troopers than the last. Kaidan found himself distracted, more than once, by the power that was stemming from the upper level. His eyes flicked to the students and Jack. If only to make sure their barrier was still up, but he needn't be worried. These kids were talented, powerful, and with a few more years he felt sure he'd have more than a handful of recruits.
They didn't have a few more years.
By the time they reached the final room, the kids were exhausted. Kaidan could tell as their barrier wavered with each attack. "Keep them off us!" Jack's voice bellowed from above. Kaidan's omni'tool was overheating from use against the onslaught of engineers and turrets. His amp buzzed pleasantly at the base of his skull as he Threw or Lifted the oncoming troopers making them easy targets for Garrus to snipe them. There were a handful of troopers left when Shepard gave the signal to move to the next room.
Kaidan felt the rush of power as the students released their barrier and ran through the doors. Cerberus instantly turned their weapons on the defenseless students. It was a race: outrun the ammo. Thankfully, Cortez was waiting with Kahlee and a handful of students who had made it to her without joining the fight. Jack and Shepard fell back to the doors and waited for the last of the students to pass through into the safety of the bay. Once on the shuttle, and the headcount complete, Shepard ordered Cortez to leave. Her voice was loud, and strong. Some of the students flinched. Cortez eased them out of the station and towards the Normandy.
The silence was deafening and the air was thick with anticipation. The adrenaline was still racing through Kaidan's veins and he knew the students would feel the same.
There was a gasp behind Kaidan and he turned and watched as Rodriguez, one of the students, slid from her seat and landed hard on the floor. Blood bloomed on her abdomen and Kaidan cursed. Jack dove towards her, but Shepard and Garrus were too fast and grabbed her arms. They held her back even though she fought to get to her fallen student. "He's our medic. Give him room," Shepard whispered as Kaidan dropped to his knees next to Rodriguez.
He ignored the gasps, and rumblings of the soldiers – no, students, no, kids – the kids around him as he removed his gloves and placed a hand over the wound to stop the bleeding. He used his free hand to tilt her head towards him so he could get her to focus on him. "You're okay. You're going to be okay," He spoke the words, not sure if they were true, but her fear would make it worse. "You," He said, looking up and meeting the eyes of the young man in front of him. The boy was pale, but paying attention. "What's your name, soldier?" He asked.
"Prangley," He choked out, and Kaidan reached out and took Prangley's shaking hands. Kaidan tugged and Prangley slid onto his knees opposite Kaidan. Kaidan watched his face as he pressed Prangley's hands to the wound, giving him something to do.
"Keep the pressure on," Kaidan ordered, and Prangley nodded. Kaidan sat back on his heels and opened his omni'tool. It was still warm from battle, but the back up power kicked on when he opened the medic program and ran the scan over her. "The bullet is still inside," He announced, "Thankfully, it's a regular round. Anything else, and, well," Kaidan didn't finish the thought. He reached beneath the seat and pulled out a bag. Inside was an IV, oxygen, medigel, and bandages. Kaidan pushed the gel aside and started the IV. He could feel the eyes on him like pinpricks on the back of his neck. He ignored it and focused on the task at hand as he hooked up the oxygen and covered her face with the mask.
"Let Chakwas know we're coming in with a GSW to the abdomen," Kaidan asked before he realized Garrus was already on the comm with the doctor. Kaidan applied a pressure wrap to her abdomen. He didn't want to close the wound, not yet, which is why he bypassed the medigel. Chakwas would just have to open it again once she was in the med bay. Prangley sat back, his hands red with her blood and his face gray. "Good work, son," Kaidan complimented as he monitored her vitals as Cortez eased them into the Normandy's bay. Prangley smiled and some of the color returned to his face as Kaidan grabbed two towels from beneath the seat and passed one to Prangley to wipe their hands.
The shuttle doors opened and they were greeted by Chakwas and James. Kahlee and Prangley lifted Rodriguez onto the cot and followed Chakwas to the elevator. Garrus was the first off the shuttle, he motioned for the students to follow. James and he gave a brief overview of the layout of the ship and the places that were off limits. Kaidan sighed as the adrenaline left him. He lifted his head and found Shepard and Jack watching him.
Jack looked grateful, which, Kaidan guessed, was not common.
"I am so turned on right now," Shepard's voice was low, and Kaidan couldn't help the chuckle as Jack pushed herself away from Shepard and stepped off the shuttle muttering something neither could make out. Shepard extended a hand to him, which he accepted. She pulled him to his feet. "Is she going to be okay?"
"From what I could see, yeah, but I couldn't tell if the bullet had hit any internal organs. If it had, there would have been more blood, but we can't be sure until Chakwas looks around. The Doc will know more soon," He answered, and Shepard nodded.
"Go get cleaned up," She said, glancing down at his blood stained armor. He nodded and she turned and stepped off the shuttle moving to Jack and the students. He watched her for a moment. He watched as the kids turned their eyes to the Great Commander Shepard. Just her presence seemed to calm them. Kaidan recognized that feeling.
He also recognized the prickling in his throat, and the faint taste of copper in his mouth.