Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chapter 91

Milky Way/Omega System/Sahrabarik/Omega

Earth year: 2186 CE --- March

After leaving the docks, Kaidan headed back to Eternity. He didn't know why, but he was certain the dark-clothed man had headed there. The exterior of the club looked like it always did but Kaidan kept moving. Wherever the stranger had gone, he hadn't used the front door.

Slipping down the ally, he made steady progress keeping to the shadows, his senses alert. He'd just turned the corner of the building when he heard the soft whoosh of a door closing. As quiet as he could, he opened it and seeing no one, slipped inside. He let his eyes adjust to the dim light of the hall he before following a flight of steps down.

In the distance he could hear voices and the angry protests of a woman. Hurrying forward, he reached another doorway where the voices were clearer.

"You're making a mistake." He heard a familiar voice say. "He's not stable. You're going to get your people killed Aria."

Aria? Kaidan frowned. And why did that other woman sound familiar?

"Don't assume you know me." He heard Aria sneer. "He killed my daughter. He doesn't get to live."

"But..."

"Take her to the meeting place." Aria ordered. "Post extra lookouts. I don't want him getting away. Is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am." He heard a batarian answer.

Tensing, he backed away from the door, expecting them to come out the same way he'd entered. After five minutes when no one appeared, he kicked himself. Of course Aria had another way out of here, he grumbled.

Sighing, he headed back to the room, his mind racing over what he'd overheard. As the pieces fell into place, his anger surged and he burst into the room startling Aria who was in there alone.

"Alenko? You better have a damn good reason for being here." She snarled, covering her surprise.

"Did I hear you right?" He challenged. "You've tricked Grayson into coming here didn't you? I thought you understood he had nothing to do with the death of your daughter. That it was the Illusive Man."

"I never said that." Aria snapped. "Even if he didn't kill her, Grayson's the reason she's dead."

Kaidan was pissed. He'd known Aria was cold, but this time she'd gone to far. "How did you even get him here? Who was that woman?"

"An old friend of his." She replied coolly. "What's it to you?"

Realization dawned as Kaidan recalled his conversations with Kahlee. "Are you insane?" He snarled. "You kidnapped Kahlee Sanders?"

"I thought that might be who your friend was." She said coolly.

"Goddammit Aria! If Cerberus had Grayson the whole time he's been missing, there's no telling what they've done to him."

"What the hell are you talking about?"
Swallowing his anger with great effort, he forced himself to focus on Kahlee. He didn't have time for this. "Just tell me where they took her."

"What? So you can fuck this up? I don't think so."

Kaidan's biotics flared over his skin, his patience gone. "Dammit Aria, this is serious! You're going to get your people killed!"

Shocked by the change in him, Aria ran out of protests as a tingle of doubt ran up her spine. "Fine. They're in a warehouse three blocks from here. But if you screw this up, I'll kill you."

"If Grayson doesn't kill me first, you're welcome to try." He snapped, storming from the room and out to the alley.

Milky Way/Sol System/SSV Normandy SR-2