Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chapter 90

Milky Way/Omega System/Sahrabarik/Omega

Earth year: 2186 CE --- February

Kaidan sipped absently at the beer he held while he watched Eternity's patrons mill about the club. He and his squad had been stuck on Omega for nearly a month now. There still had been no sign of Paul Grayson or anyone that looked even the tiniest bit like a Cerberus agent.

The previous day he'd spotted someone suspicious on the docks. Dressed in tight black pants and an open black jacket, he stuck out from the crowd of others who frequented the area. He hadn't got a good look at the man, but he could tell even from a distance that he was biotic. Unfortunately, he'd lost him, hadn't seen him again and had largely forgotten about it.

True to his word, Anderson had left the Citadel to meet with Kahlee Sanders. Whatever had Anderson so worried had to be serious and did nothing to ease Kaidan's tension. He'd told him to sit tight and he'd be in touch as soon as he could, but things on the Citadel were still unsettled. The Council and the Alliance were still in an uproar over the destruction of an entire star system.

With everyone pointing fingers and laying blame, most of it fell on Anderson's shoulders and humanity as a whole. There had been open threats, a few riots in the wards and some mild terrorist activity, but so far no one had been hurt or killed.

If anyone knew anything about what had happened, they weren't talking. Yet many more now believed Shepard was responsible. The rumours of her return, some convinced her death having been faked, combined with her association with Cerberus made it hard for her supporters to defend her.

Kaidan was beside himself with worry. He wanted to see her, talk to her and be there for her, but he couldn't leave Omega. She had replied to his message a few hours after receiving his own, but had made it clear she wasn't about to let him do anything to help.

"Kaidan,

I'm sorry I missed you on Liara's ship, Hackett needed me for something important. It's classified, but I'm sure you've since guessed the results.

We're making repairs to the Normandy now and then I'll be dropping off members of my crew before I return to Earth.

I'm going to be arrested. Hackett says it's protective custody, but he can only do so much.

Even so, I think it's best if you keep your distance. There's no reason for you to ruin your career over me. I care about you and I don't want your loyalty to the Allinace questioned.

Shepard"

He'd been so angry with her after reading it he'd been surprised he hadn't broken his omni-tool. He'd wanted to shake her, tell her how arrogant and selfish she was being, but he could do nothing.

That had been two weeks ago and there'd been nothing but silence since. He'd tried contacting her, but as he'd expected she'd blocked him. He knew she believed she was protecting him, but it still pissed him off. She didn't know how to let others help her or be there for her. She was constantly taking responsibility for things that weren't hers to carry.

She'd spent so much of her life protecting others she'd come to believe it was her job. She didn't understand that by doing what she did, she cut herself off from those who wanted to help. It was a wonder to him that she'd ever let him get close to her, or that she understood she too deserved to be happy.

Shaking off his foul mood, he downed the last of his beer and stood up. The club and Omega were starting to wear on him. He couldn't take being here much longer, but until he heard from Anderson, he didn't have much choice.