Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chapter 16

----xxx----

Kaidan made his way down the strip towards the nearest rapid transit terminal. If not for Mason's slip, he hadn't thought about the geth attack in months. Sadness tugged at his thoughts as he waited for his taxi, but was relieved it no longer overwhelmed him.

What with Anderson's support and encouragement, combined with his training and his squad, he'd begun to see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. It wasn't near as bright as it had been after the Battle of the Citadel, but it was more than he believed possible.

"Lieutenant Alenko." Anderson beamed as he entered the Councillor's office. "Just the man I wanted to see."

"Councillor." Kaidan said, taking Anderson's hand.

"Please, have a seat." Anderson said, moving to his desk. "I hear you and your squad have been breaking a few records in the simulator."

"Yes sir. We have."

"Excellent. I knew you would."

"Thank you sir."

"Alenko, how many times do I have to tell you not to thank me?" Anderson admonished. "This is all to your credit. I just gave you direction. It was you who did all the work."

"That's not entirely true sir." Kaidan argued. "If you hadn't..."

"Alenko." Anderson interrupted, frowning. "I meant what I said. You've worked very hard against forces that would have broken any other man. I'm proud of you and what you and your squad have accomplished. Take the compliment."

"Sorry sir, and... thank you."

"Don't mention it." Anderson said, easing back in his chair. "That being said, your progress is part of the reason I've called you here today. I have a mission for you. In all that has happened since the attack on the Citadel, it's been non-stop damage control and repairs. What with the remaining geth outposts and cleaning up what's left of Sovereign, this intel got side-lined."

"Intel? I don't follow."

"Regarding that rogue terrorist group you and the Normandy crew were investigating during your pursuit of Saren, the group called Cerberus."

"Cerberus." Kaidan repeated. Of all the things Anderson could have said, that wasn't what he'd expected. "Right, I remember."

"Good. Well in any case, I want you and your team to follow up on some new information that's been brought to my attention. You'll be given a ship, the SSV Nomad. Dlaney will serve as your pilot. I doubt she's mentioned that she has flight training, but she's well qualified for the job."

"Where are we going?" Kaidan asked, his interest piqued.

"That's the thing Lieutenant. There are countless locations scattered across the Attican Traverse that I want investigated."

"The Traverse?" Kaidan repeated, surprised. Taking any ship, small or otherwise into that area of space was a dangerous prospect.

"Yes. Unfortunately, there are no leads within Citadel or Alliance space worth pursuing, but the Nomad is equipped with stealth technology. Nothing on the scale of the Normandy's tech but it'll do."

"Oh. Well that's good. I guess."

"Don't worry Alenko, you'll be fine. Here," Anderson said, activating his omni-tool. "I've forwarded you a list of locations and persons of interest I want you and your team to investigate. Also, there's no order of priority on. I trust your instincts Lieutenant, go where your gut leads you. I'll forward you any new intel your way as it comes up."

"Thank you sir." Kaidan said. "Again, I don't know what to say. I know I keep saying that, but I appreciate everything you've done for me."

"You're like a son to me Lieutenant." Anderson admitted. "You're a loyal officer to the Alliance and a good man. People like you are a rare gift and having you on our side within the Alliance is a benefit to humanity as a whole. It's my job and privilege to see good soldiers rewarded and recognized for their service."

"I'm humbled sir. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't. Your ship will be prepped and ready to go in 24 hours. Until then, you and your team are on shore-leave. Be sure to check in with them before then, I'm sure they're as anxious to get off the Citadel as you are."

Kaidan smiled. "That's putting it mildly."

Anderson laughed. "No doubt Lieutenant. Take care of yourself out there."

"I will."

----xxx----

"We're going where?" Dlaney asked, settling into the pilot's chair aboard the SSV Nomad.

"Grissom Academy." Kaidan repeated.

"Grissom Academy? What the hell are we going there for? It's just a bunch of biotic students and their teachers out there. We're not going to be arresting a kid are we?"

Kaidan frowned. "Of course not Corporal. Anderson wants me to speak with one of their teachers, a Ms. Kahlee Sanders."

"She's just pissed we're not flying straight into a combat mission filled with hostile geth. All those kills in the simulator gave her an inflated view of her abilities." Zima teased from the rear of the bridge.

"I am not." Dlaney protested, though her tone was subdued. "I just don't get it."

"Anderson thinks it's important." Kaidan continued, ignoring them both. "She might have a lead on Cerberus that she didn't list in her reports."

"Well if that's true, shouldn't he be the one asking her?" Dlaney pressed, still annoyed she wouldn't be seeing combat. "I mean, he is humanity's representative on the Council. He could get this done faster than we can."

"Dlaney, I know you're frustrated and I sympathize. But Anderson has his reasons and I got the distinct impression that this mission is personal. Maybe he could have got it done faster, but because he's now part of the Council he can't leave the Citadel without someone noticing."

"Personal?" Tanner smiled, her interest piqued. "You're not implying Anderson knows this Sanders woman personally are you? Not straight-laced, mission comes first Anderson?"

"Actually, that's exactly what I'm saying." Kaidan grinned.

"No way!" She laughed. "That just made this assignment much more interesting. Thank you sir, you do know how to perk a girl up."

"I have my moments. At any rate, whatever Ms. Sanders has to tell us shouldn't take more than a day."

"Sounds good to me." Mason quipped from the rear of the bridge where he was tinkering with something. "I'm looking forward to seeing this Academy. Heard some good things about the place."

"Same here Private." Dlaney agreed. "A school for biotically gifted kids sounds cool to me. Wish I could have enrolled there."

"You and me both Corporal." Kaidan said, thinking about his time at Jump Zero and BAat.

"I thought you went to a school like that Lieutenant." Mason said, joining them on the bridge.

"I did." Kaidan said, wishing he'd kept his mouth shut.

"So then why....?"

"Grissom Academy, this is the SSV Nomad, requesting permission to dock." Dlaney said loudly, cutting Mason off.

"Permission granted Nomad. Welcome to Grissom Academy. Please proceed to docking tube B5." Said a female voice through the comm.

"Aye, aye ma'am." Tanner replied, following the indicators on her console.

Kaidan knew she'd interrupted Mason on purpose. She constantly tried to hide her concern for his triggers, but over the weeks he'd noticed she was always stopping Mason from going too far with his questions. He appreciated her efforts, while at the same time he wished it wasn't necessary.