Kaidan had never seen the Presidium so busy before. Crowds of people were rushing from one place to another, hushed voices in deep conversation. The news echoing in the background was becoming more and more bleak. More worlds falling, more people dying. No wonder the place was radianting a melancholy feeling.

Kacey had asked to meet near the entrance to Zakera Ward; she didn't necessarily explain why before leaving to meet with Tevos. Kaidan had no idea what the asari councillor wanted; even he knew that Tevos was not the most helpful person during this war. He had heard how she had dismissed the Crucible, refused to participate in the summit and only did the bare minimum after the attempted coup. Kacey certainly didn't seem happy about going when they had arrived at the Citadel but only went to keep up appearcenes.

He found Kacey by the entrance to the elevator down to the ward. She seemed to be fiddling around with her Omni-tool as he approached, clearly immersed in what she was doing.

"I still think you need a new one." Kaidan said as he approached.

Kacey smirked, putting her hands on her hips, "Yeah, yeah. I'm sure you and Tali are more than happy to help me with that."

"Well good thing I got here first." Kaidan smirked, "So, I assume you've got a place in mind?"

"Kind of." Kacey replied, "There's a lot of places in Zakera Ward that sell Omni-tools. Plus, I could use a distraction."

"Still thinking about those numbers, huh?" Kaidan asked as they entered the elevator.

"It's hard not to." Kacey replied in a melconic tone, "It's all anybody wants to talk to me about these days. Tch, I can't believe I actually miss people pestering me about the Blitz."

"You need to give yourself a break." Kaidan said.

"Yeah, tell that to the genocidal machines trying to kill us."

"I would, but I'm pretty sure you'd blow them up before I get the chance."

Kacey laughed, "That reminds me of when Joker said we should teach the Reapers to love."

Kaidan laughed as the elevator moved down towards the ward. The chirpy elevator music played as Kacey sighed.

"You should probably ask Hackett for some shore leave." Kaidan said calmly, "You look like you need it."

Kacey sighed, "Yeah, that would be nice, but…"

"But?"

"But we don't have time for that." Kacey replied, "Tevos wants me to go to Thessia."

Kaidan's eyes widened, "Thessia? Why?"

Kacey's expression grew grim, "Apparently the secrets of the Catalyst are locked up in a temple on Thessia. This entire time."

"You're joking."

"I wish I was." Kacey mused, "She basically just wasted time."

Kaidan could understand Kacey's frustration; he didn't know how to process it. It made him wonder why Tevos hadn't revealed this information sooner. The elevator promptly stopped and the bright, colourful lights poured into the elevator and the bustling sound of the ward echoed around the area.

They walked out of the elevator and walked down the ward, past bustling crowds towards the Sirta Foundation store. The conversation from earlier had trailed off and not another word was spoken on the matter. The store was quieter than Kaidan expected; only a handful of people were in the store, browsing on the nearby terminal.

"So…" Kacey mused as she looked at all of the options in front of her, "The question is; which one?"

"Depends on what you're looking for." Kaidan explained, "If I know you, and I think I do, you need something that can hack things quickly, and work with those modified weapons of yours. Am I right?"

Kacey smirked, "Very."

"So, you've got two options; the Logic Arrest X or the Nexus X." Kaidan said, "Or, you could get the Savant IX which also helps to boost your shields."

"So technically three options." Kacey mused, "The Savant seems like the best option, what do you think?"

"Honestly? Any of them would work." Kaidan mused, "I mean, I've got my preference for the Logic Arrest; fast hacking and makes my cryo blasts and overloads a lot more powerful. Savant is still pretty good."

"Not a fan of the Nexus?" Kacey smirked.

"Nope."

"Okay. You know I might get the Savant." Kacey mused, "At least that way, my shields are boosted. God knows I need that."

"Hey, it's a good choice." Kaidan replied, "Especially if another balcony collapses under you."

Kacey snickered, "Fair play, Alenko, fair play."

A beeping noise from Kaidan's Omni-tool interrupted the levity of the moment. A message had just come through and as Kaidan looked up, he could see a look of amusement from Kacey.

"Looks like someone is vying for your attention, Kaidan." Kacey smirked.

"It's Garrus, wanting to meet up."

"Figures. You two have quite the bromance going on."

"You did not just go there."

"I most certainly did." Kacey smirked, "Hey, we can catch up later. You go and see what he wants."

"Okay and what about you?" Kaidan asked as they left the store.

"I'm going to head to the Spectre office, see if I can get some more resources sorted out before we head to Thessia."

"You should try and get some time to relax, Kacey." Kaidan replied, "You deserve it as much as the rest of us."

"Okay, okay." Kacey relented as they got into the elevator, "I'll try. I promise."

…

Garrus' message was a little vague; he asked to meet Kaidan in the Dark Star Lounge. After spending some time finding the Lounge, he could see the turian sharpshooter waiting by the entrance, looking around the area almost as if he was looking for someone.

"Hey, Garrus." Kaidan said upon approach.

"Hey. Thanks for coming." Garrus replied before leading Kaidan into the lounge.

"Everything okay? You seem a bit…anxious."

"Yeah, yeah I just…" Garrus said as he took a seat at the table at the back of the lounge, "I just needed to talk to you, privately."

"You could've done that on the Normandy." Kaidan retorted, sitting opposite Garrus, "What's so important?"

Garrus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I should've asked earlier but…did you notice anything odd with Kacey during the last few missions?"

Kaidan's eyes widened, confused, "What do you mean odd?"

"Okay stick with me here. Do you remember the Cerberus troops we fought on Eden Prime?" Garrus said to which Kaidan nodded, "Notice anything odd about how Kacey was handling it?"

Kaidan thought back to the mission; the intense shootout with the Cerberus troops was taxing but pretty standard. He tried to think back to Kacey, and her taking out each of the enemies with pin point accurate headshots.

Then the pin dropped.

Memories of Mars came flooding back; the way she lifted that soldier and stabbed him with her Omni-Blade, the ruthless headshots through the mail-like slots on the shields, hunting the troops down as they retreated down the hall. Comparing the two battles side by side, the similarities were unmistakable. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it sooner.

Maybe he did; he thought something was wrong on Mars, but Kacey's charm and humour, her snarky remarks caused him to forget. After all, it seemed to him that Kacey was fine, a bit pissed off, but fine. She kept her cool, stayed focused and led the squad well through the Archives. But the more he thought about it, the more it became clear that her ruthlessness towards the Cerberus troops was there. Comparing it to fighting the Reaper troops and geth, This only happened with the Cerberus troops.

"I think I know what you're driving at." Kaidan replied, "You mean the fact that she's ruthlessly killing Cerberus troops and not Reaper troops."

"In a sense." Garrus replied, "Look, Kacey can take out husks and marauders like nobody's business, we both know that. It's just she's getting reckless in those fights. More so than fighting Reapers."

"Eden Prime wasn't the worst of it." Kaidan replied, "On Mars, she was kicking grenades at them, shooting them through the eye slots of the shields and she even stabbed one in the head after dragging them over a railing."

"Damn, I thought Sur'Kesh was bad."

"What happened on Sur'Kesh?"

"She shot a soldier after he died, cause he didn't tell her why Cerberus was at the base."

"That's not good." Kaidan replied concerned, "You remember what Kacey said when you went after Sidonis?"

"Which part? She said a lot of things." Garrus replied.

"About wanting revenge?" Kaidan asked to which Garrus nodded, "She told me she wanted revenge against one of Cerberus top operatives."

"Who?"

"Kai Leng."

"I knew there was history between them." Garrus mused, shaking his head, "When we ran into him during the coup, she did everything she could to take a shot at him. I've never seen her like that before."

"I can't say I have either." Kaidan mused, "She told me she didn't want revenge anymore, and I hope she means it."

"So do I." Garrus mused, "I'm getting worried about her."

"Likewise. I mean, it's clear she's not okay. She just doesn't want to talk about it. She keeps looking at those datapads, at the death tolls, and it's getting to her."

"I'm not surprised." Garrus replied, "I can't imagine the pressure she's under."

"Yeah, neither can—"

Kaidan was interrupted by his Omni-tool, yet again going off with a beeping sound. He tapped on the icon and found a message from Ken Donnelly:

'Kaidan you have to get down to Docking Bay E24, the refugee camp right now. A batarian has got the Commander held up at gunpoint on the far side of the camp.'

"Garrus, we have to go." Kaidan said, his tone serious, "Now."

Kaidan was already on his feet, running out of the lounge as Garrus followed suit, confused.

"Why? What's going on?"

"Kacey's in trouble in the refugee camp." Kaidan explained, "We have to get down there now."

…

Trying to navigate through the crowded refugee camp was easier said than done. The place seemed to have grown in size with each visit. Kaidan tried to make his way through the crowds. Garrus tried to keep pace with the biotic, but the moving crowds was making it even more difficult.

Kaidan didn't know what Kacey was thinking; she said she was going to the Spectre office. So her presence in the refugee camp was unexpected. But he decided to hold off on the questions for now until he got to her. He could see her at the far end of the camp, the barrel of a pistol pressed up against the back of her head, and a batarian holding the weapon.

"Don't move." A feminine voice said.

Kaidan turned and saw a human C-Sec officer, with short black hair. She gestured for him to stand near the side, within earshot of Kacey and the batarian.

"I'm Officer Noles. I asked the Commander to investigate the use of batarian access codes on the Citadel." Noles said, "Just give it a minute."

"That batarian is going to shoot her!" Kaidan said.

"Look up there." Noles said, pointing at the top of the storage crates, "He moves his finger, that sniper will kill him first."

"Okay. If you're sure." Kaidan replied, beginning to listen to the conversation.

"All I did was stop you at Terra Nova." Kaidan overheard Kacey say firmly.

"Yes. After you ruined my plans, my government accelerated research efforts on the Leviathan of Dis!" The batarian said, "Have you heard of it, Commander? The ancient organic dreadnought my people recovered from Jatar twenty years ago? Sound familiar?"

"That's Balak." Garrus mused.

"Well, that's just great." Kaidan mused.

"A Reaper. Your people were studying a Reaper corpse." Kacey said.

"Yes, looking for a way to reclaim our place as the true power of the galaxy." Balak continued, "Hundreds of our best scientists were enlisted…"

"And then they became indoctrinated." Kacey sighed, "What's this got to do with me?"

"When the Reapers reached Khar'Shan our own people betrayed us! Defence grids were deactivated. Ships fired on allied targets. We were destroyed from within…because of you."

Kacey took a deep breath, clearly agitated, "I didn't destroy your people, Balak. The Reapers did that."

"We were a proud race, a beautiful race! Have you seen what the Reapers have done to us?"

"Kinda hard not to." Kacey responded, resulting in the gun being pushed further against her skull.

"We need to step in." Kaidan said.

"Just hold on." Noles replied.

"I got trapped on the Citadel. Our warships only know the locations of Reaper forces because I've tapped Council transmissions. I am the highest ranking military officer left in the Hegemony. I can't save my people! But I can end you."

"Now you need to step in." Garrus said.

"Agreed." Noles said, "Let's—"

However before any of them could move, Kacey turned on her heel, facing Balak. She had a look of determination on her face, one that Kaidan was very familiar with.

"Balak, you sent that asteroid toward Terra Nova to help your people. But what does killing me accomplish?" Kacey retorted.

"Vengenece." Balak replied, "The Bahak system…"

"They would've died anyway when the Reapers showed up. You know that." Kacey responded firmly, "If I could've saved them, I would have. I've united the turians and the krogan, we're the best hope for this galaxy. So you can either shoot me now, or let me do my job and put an end to the Reapers."

"Argh!" Balak growled as he lowered his gun, "Our ships are yours."

He walked away, clearly pissed off. Kaidan bolted over with Garrus and Noles in tow. The officer seemed a little bit nervous as she approached.

"Commander, are you all right?" Noles asked

"Fine." Kacey replied, "You won't have any more trouble with those codes."

"Is that…Do you want me to arrest him?"

"I want you to put a bullet in his head…but we're all making some sacrifices today." Kacey mused, "Just let him go. Spectre authority."

"Understood, Commander. And thanks." Noles said before leaving.

"So, I assume Donnelly can't keep his mouth shut." Kacey mused, looking at Kaidan.

"Nope." Kaidan replied, "Speaking of, what the hell are you doing down here? I thought you were going to the Spectre office?"

"I was, but Noles called me over and asked for my help." Kacey replied, "I didn't know it was going to lead to me being held up at gunpoint."

"Fair."

"But still, letting Balak go?" Garrus added, "You sure that's a good idea?"

"Hey, I'm not happy about it either, but now is not the time for old grudges." Kacey replied to which Kaidan coughed, "And yes, I will take my own advice thanks."

"And if you don't, we are more than happy to remind you." Kaidan smirked as Garrus nodded.

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Kacey replied as they walked through the camp.

They laughed as they made their way through the refugee noted how Kacey seemed to be dismissive about what had just happened. Granted, stuff like that never seemed to have fazed Kacey before, but right now was different. Kaidan didn't have much time to dwell on it as the sounds of frantic shouting could be heard from one of the camps.

"What the hell is that about?" Kacey asked.

"It's coming from the camp's med-bay." Garrus mused as he rushed into the sea of containers.

Kaidan and Kacey followed suit; the sight in front of them was bleak. The small handful of doctors and medics were running around frantically as they tried to attend to each and every patient. Meanwhile the doctor in charge was shouting as he tried his best to treat a batarian, becoming more frustrated with each passing second.

"What's going on here?" Garrus asked.

"Somebody sabotaged the medi-gel dispensers and I've got some idiot preaching about Cerberus down here!" The doctor replied.

"Did you contact C-Sec?" Kaidan asked.

"I have. They said it's not a priority and it doesn't matter."

"We'll sort it out. Give us a few minutes." Kacey replied.

"Thank you." The doctor replied.

"Alright, let's fan out and fix those dispensers." Kacey said, "After we're done, we'll meet back here and try to find this lunatic."

"Sounds like a plan." Kaidan said.

…

Kaidan sighed as he fixed the last medi-gel dispenser in his area. Whoever had done this clearly knew what they were doing. The dispenser wouldn't dispense medi-gel and the gel itself was contaminated enough to kill anyone within minutes. Kaidan scanned the gel in an attempt to figure out exactly what he had on his hands. The readings seemed to be identical to the turian poisons that Kacey had picked up from a Cerberus base a while back.

Someone clearly intended to target the turians in the camp; the question was why. The common question that Kaidan found himself asking when it came to the terrorist group. He started to make his way back to the meeting point and found Kacey waiting.

"Everything okay?" She asked.

"It's all fixed on my end." Kaidan replied, "I scanned the contaminants in the gel; Cerberus made turian poisons."

"Shit." Kacey replied, "We better find that lunatic."

"I think I already have." Garrus said as he approached, "And you're not going to be happy, Kacey."

"Figures." Kacey said, "Alright, who is it?"

They followed Garrus as he led them towards the docking tube, where a human with silver-blonde hair was rambling away, trying to catch the attention of anyone nearby. Upon closer inspection of the individual, Kaidan could see why Garrus said that Kacey wouldn't be happy, and the Commander certainly wasn't impressed.

"Cerberus wants our help!" Conrad Verner preached as he paced back and forward, "And if Cerberus is good enough for Commander Shepard, it should be good enough for us!"

"So, does anyone by chance have a gun on them?" Kacey said, "Cause I think it's my turn to put a gun in his face."

"Kacey, I don't think that's going to help." Kaidan mused.

"Commander Shepard?" Conrad said as he noticed the trio's arrival, "It's me, Conrad Verner! Wow, it's great to see you again! I've joined Cerberus too!"

"Oh, for the love of…" Kacey facepalmed, "Conrad, Cerberus just tried to kill the Council, I'm not working for them."

Conrad's face fell upon hearing Kacey's words; a sudden realisation kicked in, "Oh no. I screwed up again, didn't I? Just…*sigh* I'm sorry for accusing you of putting a gun in my face. I was really stressed out."

"It's fine." Kacey replied, "So, what exactly are you doing for Cerberus?"

"Just helping them recruit people near the medical stations."

"Which was sabotaged when you had everyone distracted." Kaidan pointed out.

"Oh. Oh wait. Wait, wait, no."

"We've dealt with it. Just, don't go near them again." Kacey added.

"Okay! But I might be able to help you with…whatever you're doing now that isn't Cerberus." Conrad said.

"Conrad, I'm building an ancient, prothean, dark energy device to stop the Reapers." Kacey explained, "Can you help with that?"

"Well I did write my doctoral dissertation on xenobiology and dark energy integration." Conrad mused.

"Really?" Kacey's eyes widened.

"Well this is not where I thought this conversation was going." Garrus mused.

"Yes. In fact, I may be able to find some ancient tech schematics that could help with construction." Conrad said, "Hang on, I have an old contact. Aw come on, Hossle. Help me out! Sorry. The war has him scared."

"Hossle? Gavin Hossle, the tech researcher?" Kacey replied to which Conrad nodded, "I did him a favour once, on Feros. Tell him it's for me."

"I had no idea you two knew each other! Small universe!" Conrad replied, "Okay, he's forwarding the schematics over."

"Thanks." Kacey replied, "And please, just stay out of trouble."

"Will do, Commander!"

…

Kaidan watched as Kacey flopped down onto the bed, face buried in the pillow. He couldn't blame her for being tired. This war was certainly taking a lot out of them, more so than usual. He kicked his shoes off before sitting on the bed, carefully swinging his feet on top of the duvet covers.

"You okay?" He asked.

"I'll be fine. Just tired." Kacey's muffled voice came from the pillow.

"No doubt Thessia is going to wipe us out."

"It will. Especially now that you've jinxed it." Kacey said, rolling over, "You know, I just realised that I'm nearly done with the story."

"Are you?" Kaidan replied with a teasing smile, "I hope you don't keep me in suspense any longer."

"Maybe I will, just to tease you." Kacey said, quickly kissing Kaidan on the cheek, "After all, the next part is actually quite…suspenseful."

"I don't know if I'd call crawling around a dead Reaper suspenseful." Kaidan replied, "It sounds risky as hell."

"It was. But we went in and right back out." Kacey replied, "Though it certainly wasn't easy…"