A/N: Some of the dialogue from the game is unchanged in this chapter, some is altered a little and some is what I imagine them saying. Bioware owns all. Even Kaidan. *sigh* Enjoy!

Chapter 2 Eden Prime

Shepard was increasingly annoyed. Ever since they had picked up Nihlus he was following her like a shadow. And being almost certain that both Anderson and Nihlus were holding back information concerning Normandy's shakedown run did nothing to improve her mood. Now, she finally had a few minutes to herself. The mess was blessedly empty. It was early and only the night shift was at their stations. She started rummaging for something to eat.

"G'morning, ma'am." Nick nearly jumped out of her skin when she unexpectedly heard the husky voice of Staff Lieutenant Alenko behind her. She turned around to look at the lieutenant. He was wearing Alliance issue sweat pants and T-shirt and had clearly just gotten up, his hair still tousled from sleeping. He had a towel over his shoulder and a shaving kit in one hand. Before she had answered he passed her heading for the showers.

"Good morning, Lieutenant," she said to empty space, shaking her head. She was surprised he had said anything at all. The crew had quickly learned that Kaidan showed a blatant disregard for his surroundings until after his first coffee and seldom said anything until after his second. Shepard had witnessed several close calls the past few days and Alenko seemed completely oblivious of the shear number of almost accidents on his behalf. She found it...cute. She also had suppress the butterflies that had started fluttering in her stomach as soon as she heard his voice. And she wasn't staring after him either, no way. She would have to deal with listening to his voice soon enough. They went through the crew roster and supply list together everyday. The past few days they had been coordinating combat sims. It wasn't that she didn't want to hear his voice. Quite the contrary. She took a deep breath and muttered, "You're not going there, Shepard!"

"Not going where, commander?" Anderson's voice startled her out of her reverie concerning the lieutenant.

She closed her eyes for a swift moment before turning around to face her CO.

"Good morning, sir. Just...thinking about things," she finished lamely. She felt like squirming under Anderson's scrutiny. Hopefully he just thought her mind had wandered to the Blitz. Or Akuze. Or anything other than her increasingly improper thoughts of the lieutenant.

"Have you eaten, Shepard?" he gave her a sharp look. "We will be reaching Eden Prime today and I want you fit for a long days work."

"Sir? What is it you haven't been telling me? I mean, a blind man can see that something is up." she ventured not answering his question.

"All in due time," was the cryptic response.

Nick felt her temper rising. She was sick and tired of being held out of the loop and she was absolutely sure that was the case. She was just about to give an angry remark when Alenko came back, now dressed properly in his ACUs, but obviously making a beeline for the coffee machine. As soon as he had his coffee Kaidan joined his commanding officers, datapad in hand.

"Lieutenant, Commander. I will leave you to coordinate todays routine. We should arrive at Eden Prime around 1100, so I suggest running at least two more sims. There is always room for improvement. Commander, you will chose the simulations and inform me as soon as we are ready to commence." With that Anderson nodded at them and headed to his office.

It was still surprisingly quiet. Several crew members passed them but they all either seemed to be heading straight to their duty stations or, as Kaidan had before, to the showers. They sat for a moment in silence before Kaidan cleared his throat.

"Uh, ma'am, I wanted to apologize to you yet."

She gave him a look of surprise. "Apologize? What for? The sims aren't perfect yet, but you've spent a lot of time on the diagnostics and results are improving. Everything is fine, Lieutenant."

"That's not what I meant, ma'am. I wanted to apologize for being so forward back on Arcturus." God, was he glad he had finally worked up the courage to say something about that.

"Refresh my memory, Lieutenant, but I am pretty sure I made the first move. Do you think I should apologize to you?" She gazed steadily at him.

"No, ma'am!" he shook his head.

"Well there you go, Alenko. You didn't do anything wrong." Actually, once the ball was in your court you played along pretty well, she thought. "There is one thing, though."

"Ma'am?" he sounded slightly worried.

"Please, please stop calling me ma'am. I always feel like my mother is standing behind me then. Commander is fine, or better yet just plain Shepard. But at any rate cut the ma'am crap. Got it?"

"Yes ma...Commander."

"That was close. I guess we should get to work soon otherwise the captain will have our hide."

"Sure thing, Commander. Can I just ask one more thing?"

"Shoot, Lieutenant."

"Back on Arcturus, uh, why did you sneak out through the kitchen like that?" Shepard remained silent for a minute and Kaidan feared he had crossed some sort of line. "Sorry, Commander, it's none of my business. Forget I said anything."

He felt relief washing over him when she laughed quietly.

"Relax! I don't know if you recall any of the people standing around the entrance, but at least two of them were press. One of them was Khalisah bint Sinan Al-Jilani, Westerlund news, my very personal friend." The emphasis put on the two last words indicated the exact opposite. " That bitch has been trying to drag my name through the mud since Akuze. I am highly allergic to the press and she tends to bring out the worst in me," she sheepishly admitted. "So, I decided to run for it."

"I figured it was someone you didn't like, I hadn't considered the press, though."

"They're a royal pain in the ass. Okay, Lieutenant, enough lollygagging. Let's get cracking."

Several hours later they had completed not two but three more sims. The first two had worked just fine - but the third? Kaidan had never worked through such a difficult simulation before and the way the crew was groaning neither had they. After the third sim had run the fourth time, ending again in the flashing red lights that indicated they were dead, Anderson finally called it quits and with a summoning wave of his hand towards the commander headed for his office. Joker had thrown his hands in the air with a clearly flustered "Goddamnit!" while Kaidan had felt more like banging his head on his console. That was now more than half an hour ago and they were only about forty minutes out from Eden Prime and neither the Captain nor the Commander had left the Captain's office. Oddly, Nihlus was also with them.

Ten minutes later the Turian entered the cockpit and took up his usual place before hitting a relay, followed shortly after by a solemn looking Lieutenant Commander.

"The Arcturus Prime Relay is in range." Joker punched in a command. "Initiating transmission sequence...We are connected, calculating transit mass and destination. The relay is hot, acquiring approach vector. All stations secure for transit...The board is green, approach run has begun. Hitting the relay in 3...2...1...Thrusters - check, navigation - check, Internal emission sink engaged. All systems online. Drift...just under 1500k." He leaned back slightly.

"1500 is good," Nihlus noted. "The captain will be pleased." The Spectre turned and left.

"I hate that guy!" Joker muttered annoyed.

Kaidan looked at him with a shake of his head. "Nihlus gave you a compliment so you hate him?"

"Remember to zip up your jump suit on your way out of the bathroom? That's good. I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy to hit a target the size of a pinhead - so that's incredible. Besides," Joker snorted, "Spectres are trouble. I don't like having 'em on board. Call me paranoid."

"You're paranoid." Kaidan looked over to his friend. "The Council helped fund this project. They have a right to send someone to keep an eye on their investment." At least, that was what Kaidan was trying to convince himself of. With little success. Deep down he was afraid Joker was actually right.

"Yeah, that's the official story, but only an idiot believes the official story," Joker shot back.

Shepard decided to interrupt. She would have liked to agree with Alenko but everything just felt...wrong. She had this niggling sensation she had had before that disastrous shore leave on Elysium and also before heading out to Akuze. Her gut told her something about this mission was about to go horribly sideways.

"You don't send Spectres on shakedown runs."

"So there's more going on here than the Captain's..." Joker's retort was cut short by Anderson over the com.

"Joker! Status report!"

Joker gave the Captain the update, not without mentioning Nihlus was on his way.

"He's already here, Lieutenant." Anderson did not sound amused. "Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the comm room for a debriefing."

"You get that, Commander?" Joker asked.

"Great." Nick rolled her eyes, "you piss the captain off and now I have to pay for it!" She turned and walked towards the CIC, making her way to the comm room. She heard Joker say "The Captain always sounds like that!" and Kaidan's response "Only when he's talking to you, Joker" and she almost felt like laughing.

In the CIC she overheard Pressley arguing with Adams about the mission. Pressley also felt like something was off-key. She couldn't help thinking it was more because of his xenophobic attitude than anything else, but maybe she was not being fair. Then she ran into Corporal Jenkins, a young marine itching for his first action, and Dr. Chakwas. She tried to convince the corporal that he should treat it like any other assignment, assuring him that as long as he followed her orders everything would be fine, but his only comment was, "We all know what you can do! You proved yourself twice, during the Blitz and on Akuze!"

Nick froze. She wasn't proud of Elysium, or much more the hype that had ensued afterwards, and she sure as heck wasn't proud about Akuze. That mission had been a TARFU if there ever was one. Something in her demeanor must have gotten through to him because he suddenly backpaddled, insisting he didn't mean to be disrespectful. Biting back a harsh reply she replied as calmly as she could muster, "I got lucky on Elysium and really lucky on Akuze. I try not thinking of either, especially Akuze. Fifty marines died there, Corporal, fifty."

Jenkins paled. Maybe her tone had been colder than anticipated. The doctor intervened and Shepard shot her a thankful glance. It gave her the time to regain her bearings.

"Jenkins, you are young and have plenty of time yet. Don't go looking for action, it might come back and bite you in the ass. You're a marine, action usually finds us. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about." She smiled at the corporal and then, snapping her fingers as if it had just crossed her mind, she added: "Oh, and when I say Don't go looking for action that also includes letting the Lieutenant biotically throw you through the room. Luckily, the Lieutenant has a solid control over his biotics. Otherwise that's an easy way to get injured. Doctor, Corporal."

She continued her way to the comm room only to find Nihlus there instead of Anderson. She frowned. Nihlus turns around to face her after she has barely taken two steps into the room. "Shepard. I hoped you'd get here first."

"Why's that? Where's Anderson? He said he wanted to meet me here," she asked warily.

"He's on his way. I wondered what you knew about Eden Prime. Humans consider it a paradise, I believe."

"I wouldn't know, never been there. And anyway, I'm a marine, not some tourist on vacation," she very nearly snapped at him.

"That may be. You can't deny it is special to human kind."

"If you've got something to say, say it. Or are you trying to scare me, Spectre?" Nick crossed her arms in front of her body, scowling at him. What was he getting at? She felt her always fiery temper rising.

Before he could answer the door slid open and Anderson entered the room. "Maybe we should tell the Commander what's going on."

"That would be fan-fuck-tastic. Sir." Shepard couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice, earning a silent reprimand from her captain. It was a stern glare she had known for many years, one she also knew from her parents, saying Watch your tone, young lady. She bit her tongue, listening as the Captain and the Spectre filled her in on the true mission objective. A covert pick-up. When they told her however that Nihlus was also there to evaluate her for the SPecTRes she couldn't hold her tongue any longer. "Guess that explains why he's there everytime I turn around."

Anderson closed his eyes, but Nihlus continued: "You showed resourcefulness on Elysium and the will to survive on Akuze, both extremely useful traits. They are part of the reason I put your name forward for the SPecTRes."

"Wait, you put my name forward?" she looked at the Turian, eyes widening. He just nodded. She shut her mouth again, processing the information. Her, a Spectre? Holy hell... She closed her eyes briefly and then focused on getting as much information as possible on the Prothean beacon.

"Sir, we got a problem. Incoming transmission from Eden Prime, you better see this!" Joker's voice interrupted them.

"Bring it up on the screen, Joker," Anderson commanded.

"Aye-aye."

What they saw now was nothing short of unexpected and shocking. Marines under attack and obviously not on the winning side. The short ack-ack-ack of assault rifles filling the air. The most disturbing thing was a...ship? of enormous size and unknown origin.

"Joker, what's our ETA?" Anderson inquired.

"Seventeen minutes out, sir," came the prompt reply.

"Take us in, fast and quiet. This mission just got a whole lot more complicated." Anderson turned to Nick, "Shepard, tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up. You're going in hot."

She saluted and went to ready her ground team. I knew it, she groaned inwardly, I just knew it. Just once I would like to go on a simple mission. Go in, complete mission, head out, done. Just once.

Jenkins was still standing in the CIC.

"Corporal, we're going ground-side. You have five minutes to get down to the cargo hold. And tell Alenko to suit up as well. Double-time it, marine!" she barked at him. Jenkins shot towards the cockpit, nearly stumbling over his own feet trying to obey his commanders orders as fast as possible. Meanwhile Nick headed to her locker.

Kaidan was surprised when Jenkins barged into the cockpit, breathless with excitement. "Lieutenant, we're going ground-side! The Commander said to be in the cargo hold in five minutes to suit up!"

Kaidan jumped up and rushed down towards the cargo deck with the Corporal. When they arrived there Shepard was already busy pulling on her underarmor. She filled them in quickly as they dressed down to their skivvies and started pulling on their underarmor.

"We'll be dropping in a hot zone. The colony is under attack by unknown, so keep your eyes peeled! Our mission objective is the covert pick-up of a Prothean beacon." She watched as Alenko checked Jenkins armor, adjusting something before giving him a pat on the shoulder for the all clear, before she signaled Kaidan to turn around so she could do the same for him. Only minus the adjusting. She frowned at the Alliance issue light armor he was wearing, though. She preferred the medium or even the heavy armor. Finally she turned around, signaling Kaidan to inspect her armor. He did so quickly and professionally, patting her shoulder when he was done.

"Thanks, Lieutenant."

"Anytime, Commander," came the instant reply.

They had just finished readying their weapons when Anderson and Nihlus strode in. The captain again stated the mission objective and to Kaidan's inquiry what they should do in case of survivors the captain said "Helping survivors is a secondary objective! The beacon is your top priority. Nihlus will scout ahead and feed you with intel. Good luck!"

They had no sooner touched down in the drop zone when the acrid stench of burning flesh assaulted their noses. The sky was red as the sun shone through smoke and fumes, giving the atmosphere an eerie touch. Her skin crawled with anticipation and she shot a glance at her squad mates. Alenko was sweeping the area with his omnitool, completely focused on the task and promptly stating: "The area is clear, no hostiles!"

Jenkins on the other hand she would have to deal with now.

"Oh my God," Jenkins whispered, looking around shocked. This was his home colony, even if it wasn't his home settlement. "What happened here?"

"Focus, Corporal! You won't help them by standing there, gawking." Shepard's tone was commanding, but when Jenkins turned to face her there was understanding in her eyes that took away some of the harshness.

"Aye-aye," he choked out.

"Do you know your way around here, Corporal? Any possible short cuts?" Kaidan asked quietly. Shepard threw him an appreciative look.

"No, sir. I grew up about forty clicks from here."

"Well, then we just stick to our HUDs. Move out and stay sharp!" she motioned them to get going as she readied her sniper rifle.

They carefully picked their way down a stony path, meeting no living creatures apart from the native gas bags that had startled the lieutenant, resulting in an almost childish yelp from his side. Shepard turned her head to look at him with raised eyebrows and saw him blushing with embarrassment. Jenkins even laughed a little before telling them the gas bags were harmless. Shortly afterwards the laughter died on his lips as they stumbled across the first scorched corpses.

Proceeding with caution they finally came to a sharp bend in the path. Shepard raised her fist in the universal mnemonic for halt and scanned the area with her eyes. She couldn't see anything but the bad feeling in her gut was constantly growing. She looked over to Kaidan whose omnitool was glowing and after a quiet "All clear!" as his tool showed no hostiles she waved them forward, indicating to Jenkins to take point.

Afterwards she would always admonish herself for that decision. Within seconds the mission went from SNAFU to FUBAR. Almost instantly she felt like recalling her command but it was too late. They had no sooner left cover when they heard a high whizzing sound and found themselves in the crosshairs of some sort of recon drones. She realized with dread that while she and the Lieutenant had instantly dodged for cover Jenkins had frozen, feet rooted to the ground. Sharp bursts tore the air asunder as the drones fired at the Corporal, finding their target. He dropped. Shepard aimed but before she could pull the trigger on her target it exploded in an Overload sent by Kaidan. She raised her eyebrows. Impressive. Focusing on a new target she said: "Lieutenant, you take the one on the right!"

As soon as the recon drones were down Alenko tore out of cover running to the still form of the corporal lying on the ground. Shepard got up just a second later knowing instinctively before the lieutenant had run his medical diagnostics program that the corporal was either dead or gravely injured at the very least.

"Ripped right through his shields. Never had a chance." Kaidan got up, looking a little pale. They had been friends, Shepard recalled, looking down at the young marine. She hadn't known him well. He had seemed nice enough, though a little to overenthusiastic for her taste. Nonetheless she had to make sure her lieutenant stayed focused.

"I know you two were friends, but there is nothing we can do for him now. We have to finish the mission. Once the beacon is secure we will return for him and see to it that he gets a proper service." She looked straight at Kaidan, pointing her finger at him, "But right now I need you to keep focused!"

"Aye-aye, ma'am." There was nothing but determination in his eyes as he returned her gaze. She nodded, satisfied. He was a professional, the time for grief would come later.

As they continued their way slowly they encountered several recon drones yet. They were taken care of rather quickly as Kaidan had changed some parameters on his omnitool and it now gave them ample warning before the drones were in sight.

"How come your omnitool didn't show those drones that got Jenkins?" she asked as they crouched together behind a fair sized boulder.

"The frequency setting was wrong. It didn't recognize the drones as tangos because the frequency the drones emit was to low. All I did was change the frequency setting on the tool and uploaded the new setting onto my HUD. So, now they show up. Simple, really." Kaidan shrugged and then leaned out sending an Overload at a drone that had come within view. It exploded.

"Can you update the HUD in my suit as well?" she asked.

"Sure."

She activated her own omnitool and held her arm out to him. Kaidan's fingers practically flew over her display and a minute later he looked at her.

"All set, Commander."

"Well, I see your tech skills are impressive, Alenko. Let's see if that goes for your biotics as well." Shepard checked her omnitool and the new readings on her HUD. Everything looked clear. "Any tangos on your display?"

"Negative, Commander."

She nodded at him and they moved out again.

Soon they heard the sound of an assault rifle and the screeching bursts of an unknown weapon. It sounded similar to the particle bursts the recon drones shot with, but not quite the same. As they came over the top of a small incline they saw a female marine in a Phoenix armor trying to outrun some synthetics that were hot on her heels. Shepard flinched as she saw the marine stumble and fall, but she rolled around quickly and took out the closest pursuer. Then she sprang to her feet and ran full speed until she could take cover behind large boulder.

Two more synthetics approached the lone marine. Shepard dropped to her knee, bringing up her sniper rifle in one smooth movement. Exhale. Hold. Shoot. One down. Alenko had continued running down the hill to a smaller rock. As he slid to a halt he had his omnitool out already and Sabotaged the remaining hostile. It didn't explode, unfortunately by staggered on yet. Kaidan whipped out his pistol and shot it in the head. This time it did explode.

The air was clear for now and they made their way over to the marine in the Phoenix armor.

"God, am I glad to see you!" the woman exclaimed. "I'm Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams from the 212. Are you in charge here, ma'am?"

Nick introduced herself. "I'm Commander Shepard and this is Lieutenant Alenko. Are you hurt, marine?"

"Just some scrapes and burns, ma'am. The others weren't so lucky."

"Let Alenko have a look at your injuries and give me a sitrep." Shepard waved Kaidan over and he started running his medical diagnostics program as Williams began her report.

The Chief slowly started speaking, telling them about guarding the scientists and the beacon and that everything had been quiet until the previous night. Nothing had prepared them for the attack and now her whole platoon was decimated.

"Could some of the scientists still be alive?" Shepard inquired.

Ashley ran her hand over her face. "I don't know, ma'am."

Shepard remained silent for a moment. "You're with us now, Chief. Let's head for the dig site!"

At the dig site they met more synthetics. The Chief was certain they were geth but the Lieutenant was hesitant to believe that. After all the geth hadn't been outside the Veil in over two centuries. Shepard could understand his skepticism and yet she believed Williams was right. Alenko went over to one of the synthetics and started prying it apart. Leave it to a tech, Shepard thought exchanging a short glance with Ashley. The Chief rolled her eyes when Kaidan exclaimed: "My god, they really are geth!"

"That's what I said, LT." Ashley quirked.

Shepard had her eyes pinned on the metal spikes with the impaled bodies of the geth's victims. Without taking her eyes off them she turned her head ever so slightly towards Williams. "Chief, do you have any idea what these spikes are for?"

"No, ma'am. I'm pretty sure I saw these damn synthetics impaling one of my platoon on one of these things while he was still alive."

"Psychological warfare." Kaidan piped in.

Shepard frowned. Those spikes made her uneasy. "Just keeps your eyes on those things. They make me feel ..." her voice trailed off. She shook her head and proceeded up the path. The further they went the slower they became.

"This is a good spot for an ambush," Kaidan ventured. "Keep your guard up!"

Nick wholeheartedly agreed with him. To top it off the were a number of those spikes yet, too. As they came closer the spikes suddenly pulled down, releasing their impaled victims.

"Oh my god, they're still alive!" Kaidan voiced the horror they all felt. Nick pulled out her Solokhov, her sniper rifle definitely not being the right weapon for this close range. Kaidan had his pistol and Ashley stuck to her assault rifle. Those...things...husks, whatever, were damn fast.

"Lieutenant, I think it's time for some biotic magic!" Shepard shouted as she retreated from two husks closing in on her from two sides. Kaidan reacted promptly. He glowed blue and threw the last husks back. When one got up again Nick took it out with her shotgun. She wiped her brow and then turned to Kaidan, a grim expression on her face. "Alenko, you can't tell me that's as far as you can throw those things. I certainly hope you aren't holding back on purpose because now is not the bloody time for that! I don't know what your issue is with your biotics. You have these powers, then you bloody damn well use them. And no more holding back, have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal, ma'am." He sounded almost ashamed.

She shot him a short look. "Good. Let's find this damn beacon and get off of this bloody planet."

One of the pre-fabs by the site of the ambush was locked and after hacking their way in they encountered two scientists hiding there, one of which told them the beacon had been moved to a spaceport and the other was obviously out of his mind. Nick frowned at him as he ramble on about the closing darkness. Blah, blah, blah. Before she got to annoyed and punched the poor guy she ordered Ashley to take them to the spaceport.

A little further they found another locked pre-fab...and more geth.

"These things are starting to get really annoying," Nick grumbled.

After the Geth were taken care of they found three farmers hiding in the pre-fab. One of them accidentally let something about a smuggling ring slip. Shepard was holding onto her patience by her teeth and when they didn't want to come clean she whipped out her pistol and snarled, "Would you rather be a snitch or a corpse?"

"Powell! His name is Powell!" the terrified farmer cried out.

"No honor among thieves," Ashley smirked.

"Let's go." Shepard turned her back on the farmers and headed in the direction of the spaceport, wondering what else could possibly go wrong. And where Nihlus was, come to think of it. It had been too long since his last status report. The answer to her question followed shortly afterwards. They saw a body lying on the ground and as they got closer Kaidan was the first to say it out loud.

"Commander, it's Nihlus."

"What a complete and utter clusterfuck!" Shepard stared at the Turian Spectre who had supposed to evaluate her. "Looks like he was shot in the back of his head from close range, do you agree Alenko?"

Just then there was a sound from behind some crates. The three marines had their pistols ready instantly. A man emerged from behind the crates, clearly shaken. The man - Powell - told them that Nihlus been shot by another Turian, called Saren. They had talked, Nihlus had let his guard down obviously not expecting anything bad and Saren had shot him in the back of his head. Shepard asked a few more questions concerning the beacon before harmlessly stating, "You run a smuggling ring."

Powell looked taken aback and tried to worm his way out but Nick's temper was blazing. "Those grenades and mods could have saved lives today! Good marines died defending your sorry ass and you have the balls to tell me it's not bad when things go missing from military requisitions? You had better find a way to make amends!"

"Yes, of course!" he spluttered.

Nick grabbed him by his collar and, holding her pistol in his face, said in an icy tone, "Don't. Piss. Me. Off. I've had enough of your jerking me around!"

She was aware Alenko and Williams were not seeing her best side but people like Powell made her blood boil. She shot the poor man a disgusted look before motioning to Kaidan and Ashley to head for the tram station. She desperately had to calm down again and find her cool. Her temper was starting to interfere with her judgment. It made her reckless, she knew that. And it was dangerous for a soldier to be reckless. It could cost more lives than her own. She drew a few deep breaths. During combat she was controlled and efficient but as soon as the immediate danger had passed? The adrenaline in her veins made it hard for her to keep her temper in check then.

As they carefully rounded the next corner only to be facing even more Geth she couldn't help sarcastically thinking how very thoughtful the Geth were to offer her such an opportunity to regain focus. Shepard grinned as she took out a Geth with her sniper rifle, before quickly switching to her shot gun to deal with the two geth that had rounded to corner of the stairs. They dropped before she brought her shot gun up. Turning her head she saw Alenko and Williams with their guns drawn. Creeping to the corner of the stairs she peeked around. More geth. A lot of them. Two of them were...big. There was not much cover on the stairs, but there were plenty of crates on the walkway. Nodding at at Kaidan and Ashley she left cover, racing down the steps. She felt energy bursts from the geth rifles closing in on her as she dived behind a crate. Alenko and Williams were both crouched behind another crate.

She ventured a quick glance over the top of her crate and immediately let herself drop again. A shot buzzed over her head. Too close. It was one of the big geth and it seemed to be training on her. Suddenly the air crackled with static and as she peeked again she saw the geth flying through the air, enveloped in wisps of blue energy. She looked over to where Alenko and Williams had taken cover and sure enough, the Lieutenant was also covered in the telltale wisps of blue. This time there was no way he had held back. She would have to acknowledge that later.

After killing a number more geth they finally made it to the tram.

"The spaceport is just over there." Williams pointed out.

As Shepard got off of the tram her eyes fell on a device. A demolition charge. Great. She stopped dead in her tracks and called Kaidan without turning her head. As soon as he was close behind her she stepped to the side.

"Lieutenant, this is your area of expertise. Williams and I will give you cover."

Kaidan went straight to work. Luckily it was fairly simple and took him at most ten seconds to disarm. There were three more demolition charges to go yet. They raced up a ramp and across a bridge to the position of the next bomb. There were considerably more geth closing in on them. Kaidan couldn't worry about the geth. The Commander and Gunnery Chief Williams would take care of them. His job was disarming the bomb. This demolition charge was rigged in a more complicated way. Thirty seconds later he got up and headed towards the third bomb, biotically throwing several geth with a flick of his wrist. When he reached the third bomb the geth resistance had increased even more and Shepard and Williams had plenty to do. It was rigged like the first one and he quickly had it done. He quickly noticed they were pinned down once he looked up from the bomb. Overloading one geth and sabotaging another he added his effort to Shepard's and William's. As soon as all hostiles were down he raced to the last demolition charge. He frowned. It was rigged differently again and a lot more complicated than the others. He glanced at the timer. 52 seconds. With a furrowed brow he began working.

"How's it going?" he heard Ashley ask Shepard after a short while. Another glance at the timer. 38 seconds.

"Alenko will get it done," Shepard answered confidently. She looked at the timer over his shoulder and ventured carefully, "Lieutenant?"

He grunted noncommittally. 25 seconds. Ashley's shadow fell over him from the other side and he gave her a short annoyed glance. She quickly backed off. Fifteen seconds. Okay, he thought. This has to be it. The timer stopped, eight seconds left on the clock. He rocked back on his heels and exhaled, wiping some perspiration off his brow.

"Cutting it a little close there, weren't you, LT?" Ashley wondered as she glanced at the timer.

"Nah. Beaucoup time yet." Shepard shrugged. "Worked out just fine. The Lieutenant did well. C'mon people, let's find that fucking beacon and get off this planet."

They went around another corner - and there it was. Together with a handful of husks and geth. They were quickly disposed of and Shepard radioed back to the Normandy. Kaidan and Ashley had gone closer to the beacon. She heard tidbits of their conversation.

"... Actual working Prothean technology!" Kaidan sounded awed. The geek in him was probably having a field day, Nick snickered to herself.

"Wasn't doing anything like that when they dug it up." Ashley didn't sound quite that enthusiastic. She turned her back on the beacon and joined the Commander. Kaidan took a step closer to the beacon.

"When is ETA, Commander?" Ashley asked as soon as she reached Shepard.

Shepard was just about to answer when she suddenly pushed Ashley to the side and started sprinting towards the beacon. Ashley whipped around to see the LT being dragged towards the beacon by some invisible force. Shepard raced towards him, jumped, grabbed him around the waist and somehow with a twist threw him out of harms way. Kaidan landed hard on his back, smacking the back of his head on the floor. He rolled over to see Shepard being dragged towards the beacon in his place. He wanted to rush to her help but Ashley held him back.

"No! Don't touch her. It's too dangerous!"

A/N: This chapter turned out to be a little longer than I had anticipated! Hope you liked it.