"Lieutenant Alenko, report to the Briefing Room immediately."
He got there as quickly as he could; he wondered why he was summoned here so abruptly. They were on shore leave, and weren't due to depart for at least another few hours. He couldn't quite understand why Anderson wanted to speak so urgently, or how the famed Captain knew he had already returned to the ship.
He entered the Briefing Room only to find two individuals talking at the far end, not aware or acknowledging his sudden arrival. One was Captain Anderson, in his navy blue officer uniform conversing with another he didn't recognise. As he drew closer, he noticed that he was talking to a young woman, roughly in her early twenties with scarlet hair cut short, the tips barely reaching her jawline, her eyes a bright, deep blue.
"Ah Lieutenant, thank you for coming." Anderson said calmly. The woman turned to face Kaidan, her expression unreadable yet polite.
"It's not a problem, Sir." Kaidan replied, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, it's nothing to worry about." Anderson replied, "Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, this is Lieutenant Commander Kacey Shepard. She's your new commanding officer and the new Executive Officer of the SSV Tokyo. You might have heard of her; she saved the colony of Elysium."
"Nice to meet you, Commander." Kaidan said, offering her his hand; she responded by shaking it, politely smiling.
"Likewise, Lieutenant." She replied.
"Commander, Lieutenant Alenko will be your second in command in the field." Anderson addressed Shepard, "And he will help you get settled here before we depart. Can you show her around, Lieutenant?"
"Of course, Captain."
Kaidan led Shepard out of the Briefing Room; as he led her towards the crew deck, he noticed the datapads held in her arms.
"Curious about these?" She asked, her confident voice broke Kaidan out of his daze.
"A little bit." Kaidan said. He hadn't expected her to be so perceptive.
"Well, at least you're honest." She joked, a smile on her face, "It's personnel files; of the new squad I'm in charge of."
Kaidan's expression faltered, "Ah, I see."
"So, you're a biotic, huh?" She continued, "With quite a varied repertoire I might add."
"Yeah, I can do quite a bit." Kaidan replied anxiously, "I can create barriers that protect me and the squad, I can lift and push back enemies from a 600 metre distance, probably more if I really put my mind to it."
"It says here you lock enemies in stasis." She mused, "That sounds useful for crowd control."
"It can be ver—wait." Kaidan stopped himself, "You…You're not..?"
"Not what?" She shot him a confused look.
"Not…bothered by the fact I'm a biotic?"
"Why would that bother me?" She asked before the realisation dawned on her, "Oh right. A lot of people don't trust biotics."
"Nope."
"Well, I'm not one of them." She replied; it was Kaidan's turn to shoot her a confused look, "I'm only asking because I need to know what you're capable of before we leave on a mission. I don't know about you, but someone who is good with tech and has biotic abilities like yours would be a real asset to any squad. Not to mention, I'm not shallow-minded enough to distrust someone based on something so…superficial."
"You did not just say that biotics are superficial."
"They kinda are when you're judging a whole person." She replied, "There's more to a person than what you see on the surface."
"Yeah." Kaidan nodded, "I can believe that."
…
"There's more to a person than what you see on the surface."
He awoke to hear the sound of the shower and Kacey missing from the bed. He sighed as he forced himself to sit up and get out of the bed. A lot was discussed the previous night; enough to make his head spin. He couldn't believe how clear it was from the start.
He thought back to Horizon; had he heard her out and considered the idea, maybe he could've helped. It was clear that being there may have helped Kacey handle this better, but at the same time, seeing something like that…maybe it was better he wasn't there to see it. She had been put through the ringer, and she was still trying to hold things together.
Kaidan was so lost in thought that he didn't hear the shower turn off, or that Kacey had reappeared from the bathroom, dressed in her uniform and looking as she usually did. Almost as if last night didn't happen.
"Kaidan?" Kacey said, snapping him back to reality, "You okay?"
"Me? I'm fine." Kaidan replied, "You?"
It took a minute for Kacey to respond, "I…I feel a bit better. It was nice to let it all out like that."
"You definitely look better." Kaidan said.
"Yeah, I…uh…I really needed that last night. Thank you."
"It's fine. I'm always willing to listen when you want to talk."
Kacey looked lost in thought, her gaze drifting to her desk. In a moment, she turned and walked over to it, opening a drawer and taking out a single datapad. She looked at it, conflicted. Kaidan walked over, worry etched on his face.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I…I want you to read this." Kacey said hesitantly, "You remember that call you overheard the other night?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"It was about this." Kacey said, looking at the datapad, "It's…it's a closely guarded secret and…I trust you to keep it. And that's not an easy thing to do."
"I understand." He said as Kacey gave him the datapad. Upon reading its contents, he finally understood why she was so hesitant:
CLASSIFIED* Systems Alliance Navy: Medical Form.
Full Name: Kacey Hannah Shepard.
Date of Birth: 26/04/2154
Medical History: *CLASSIFIED INFORMATION BELOW*
Kacey Shepard was born with abnormal genetic defects in key parts of the DNA structure. Further tests indicate that these abnormalities are the direct result of the element zero/nitroarene-pendyrochloride exposure in vitro during mother's mission on [REDACTED]. Results of chemical explosion affected HS with minor abnormalities, with them all being present and at a higher degree with KS. Due to element zero exposure, biotic testing was performed; results were negative. No biotic potential.
Further testing shows that KS is substantially stronger and faster than most humans, as well as heighted endurance and higher regenerative abilities. However, the abnormalities resulted in discolouration of hair and eye colour away from natural colours.
At age two genetic abnormalities resulted in instability that was diagnosed as 95% fatal. Genetic modification was recommended (Alliance Medical Chief Doctor Garett McKnight.) Genetic modification was limited to re-stabilizing genetic structure to allow for KS survival. No further modification necessary.
Development of management drug: Hydroploxin. Created during the [REDACTED, the drug was developed exclusively for HS and KS. Two every four hours for five days after serious injury/accident to promote regenerative healing as these incidents can affect the body's capability to heal and can cause KS to experience nausea, exhaustion, difficulty moving, fainting and potential loss of life.
[LEVELS OF ELEMENT ZERO/NITROARENE-PENDRYOCHOLRIDE MUST REMAIN AT 95% LEVEL. IF THIS DROPS BELOW 85% INFORM ALLIANCE NAVY ADMIRAL STEVEN HACKETT AND AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.]
[Alliance Medical Chief Doctor Garett McKnight]
[External Notes: Professor Mordin Solus]
Further testing indicates that the resulting compound was designed specifically to cause abnormalities in whoever was exposed. Element Zero acts as the catalyst for infection; it bonds the entire compound into the genetic code and nervous system of the subject. The nitroarene-pendyrochloride heightens already existing attributes and allows for levels to be higher than average. Compound levels must remain consistent; should levels drop results could be fatal.
Cerberus implants have no effect on abnormalities or compound's levels in the body.
Genetic abnormalities cannot be effectively transferred or replicated in another subject: reproduction of the compound exists within the body but it is still unclear how or which part of the body replicates it. Levels in new subjects will be substantially lower, although superficial changes to physical appearance will remain. It is unclear if other subjects would survive under the 85% threshold.
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION TO FOLLOW*
KS medical history is to remain confidential and should not be discussed with unauthorised personnel. KS medical needs will be met with one designated medical officer stationed on the same vessel. No outside medical officers will treat KS without proper approval from Admiral Steven Hackett.
Authorised personnel include:
Lieutenant Commander Kacey Shepard (SSV Normandy)
Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard (SSV Kilimanjaro)
Fleet Admiral Steven Hackett (Arcturus Station)
Admiral David Anderson (SSV Normandy)
Medical Officer Doctor Karin Chakwas (SSV Normandy)
Alliance Medical Chief Doctor Garret McKnight (SSV Washington)
Professor Mordin Solus (SSV Normandy/STG)
[FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDER WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM SYSTEMS ALLIANCE NAVY. COURT MARTIAL MAY BE ENFORCED.]
Kaidan re-read the information at least four times: It was a lot to take in and, after last night, this made Kacey's statements from then and before, make so much more sense.
Wouldn't you feel like the world is on your shoulders with abilities like that?
Kacey looked nervous: he needed to say something before she got even more stressed out. But he was still trying to process the new influx of information.
"I can see why you didn't want me to treat your hand." Kaidan mused, "And why this was kept a secret; Cerberus would have a field day if they had this."
"Definitely." Kacey mused, "Miranda had a very vague idea of what it was and aside from you the only other person I told was Mordin."
"Looks like he uncovered a lot."
"He did. I asked him to look into it for me, to see if he could uncover anything new." Kacey continued, "And he did."
"So, your hair…it isn't..?"
"Well it's not supposed to be so vibrantly red but there isn't much I can do about that." Kacey laughed, "Funny enough, when I started high school, I asked my mom for a wig. I didn't want to be seen with it."
"You were embarrassed?" Kaidan asked.
"More like I didn't want to be picked on." Kacey replied, "In the end, I took it off, pretending I dyed my hair. It made things a little easier doing it that way."
"I can imagine." Kaidan replied, "Teenagers can be so cruel."
"Definitely." Kacey replied, her tone growing more serious, "I'm still going to Sanctuary, Kaidan. I have to, you know that."
"I think you should hold off until everyone's recovered." Kaidan said, putting the datapad back in the drawer, "You took a bad hit in the shoulder and you've just busted up your hand by punching that terminal…I don't think it's a good idea, Kacey."
"I'm not saying any of you have to come with me." Kacey replied, refusing to relent, "This is personal and I wouldn't ask any of you to get involved. I'm sorry, I have to go. And nothing you say is going to change my mind."
Kaidan sighed as Kacey left the Captain's Cabin. As if he was going to let her go off on her own. He quickly typed a message to Garrus as he waited for the elevator to come back up; Kacey might be stubborn, but was just as stubborn as her.
…
Kaidan went down to the shuttle bay with Garrus; both of them refused to let the irate Commander Kacey Shepard go down to Horizon on her own. While Kaidan had managed to delay Kacey's departure by a few hours, he still wasn't able to convince her to change course or inform Alliance Command.
Once the doors opened, Kaidan and Garrus could see Kacey in her armour, fixing on the arm latches as they approached. She didn't look at either of them as she fixed the latches on.
"You don't have to come with me, you know." Kacey said as she grabbed her weapons from her locker.
"Yeah, like I'm going to let you go down there by yourself." Kaidan said as he put on his armour, "If Cerberus is down there, you won't stand a chance by yourself."
"Who says I can't?"
Kaidan grabbed her handgun and lowered it with her hand, catching her full attention, "Who says you can? I've got your back, as does Garrus. We're not doing this to spite you, we're doing it because we want to help."
"You've helped us both, so now let us help you." Garrus replied, "After all, someone has to pull your ass out of the fire."
"Or the seventeen plus explosions you'll cause within the first ten minutes." Kaidan quipped.
Kacey smirked, "Fine, fine. You win. Let's go."
The trio hopped into the shuttle as Cortez flew it towards the planet of Horizon. The pilot remained silent as the trio sat in the back, making sure their weapons were ready to go.
"Please tell me we have some intel on this place?" Garrus said as Kacey stood up.
"EDI?" Kacey said.
"The Sanctuary facility is devoted to aiding refugees from Reaper-controlled systems." EDI said, "The facility went offline recently, and no communications have come or gone since. It is unclear why Kai Leng or Cerberus have an interest in Sanctuary."
"That's why we're here." Kacey mused.
"Commander, I'm picking up a signal from the facility." Cortez said, "It's weak, but I'll try to boost it."
"This is Oriana Lawson. Stay away from Sanctuary. It's not what it seems. Please, you must listen to me! They're using—" The audio was reduced to static; Cortez cut it off.
"Oriana? That's Miranda's sister." Kacey mused, "If she's here, Miranda can't be far away."
"That has to be our link to Cerberus." Garrus added.
"Set us down, Cortez." Kacey said, "Let's find her before Leng does."
"Aye, aye Commander." Cortez confirmed, "I'm seeing some damage but no activity."
"Just means we have to keep our guard up." Kacey said, "Cerberus does not get the jump on us this time!"
Kaidan shot Garrus a worried look; it was clear that Kacey wasn't backing down and that the mission was going to get a lot more interesting.