It didn't take long for the Hastings to arrive within Earth's vicinity. Shooting out from the wormhole beside the Charron Relay - which orbited the dwarf planet Pluto, it took just under an hour for the Alliance vessel to reach Luna base, and another fifteen minutes for the Hastings to dock.
Jason stepped out of the Hastings' airlock in line with David. Upon entering their designated hangar, the pair was met with a wave and buzz of activity; personnel and mechs moving around their assigned duties with haste and precision. Jason had to strain his ears to hear the XO over the sound of whirring hydraulics and machinery from overhead cranes.
"How was the ride, Jason?"
"I didn't think a ship could fly so fast," Jason said, his voice trailing off as his eyes were briefly averted to a dog-like robot as it lumbered by. Digger had been left in the eager care of Melissa and a couple of other crewmembers back on the Hastings.
"You'd be surprised to hear that we have faster ships, then," David said with a chuckle, though immediately regained posture with a few hand-strokes down his ironed officer's coat. Jason could have sworn he'd heard the XO mutter a dread-induced complaint under his breath. Stiffening his posture, David would absent-mindedly initiate a subtle finger-stroke down his ironed, navy-blue uniform.
Jason could swore he also heard the man utter a dread-induced mutter of complaint - just out of full earshot.
"Ah, executive officer Anderson." A formal-looking man with darkened facial features spoke up. Jason looked his way, spying another man behind the one addressing himself and David who looked… comically angry. "And this must be the young Jason Shepard you mentioned in your report, yes?"
"Jason, this is ambassador Udina," David informed, greeting the forward man with a firm handshake. "Udina, this is the young man I found trapped back on Mindoir."
"Hello, sir," Jason said in a quiet voice, slightly intimidated by the other man behind Udina. His face was bright red, as if it was about to burst. Truth be told, the young man was still baffled by the concept of starships that were faster than the Hastings.
"It's very nice to meet you, Jason," Udina nodded. "Yes, Ambassador is understated, but David failed to properly highlight my role. I'm actually the…"
"...Person who should be addressing the outrage, here!" The second man snapped out in an accent Jason thought possibly to be British. Interrupting the ambassador, the man's outburst had briefly drawn in the startled attention of nearby dock workers.
"It's an outrage!" The man continued. "He shouldn't have left his post in the Skyllian Verge to begin with! Now he's using a batarian invasion as an excuse for his leave of post? Even roping in some hapless child to play the part!"
"...And this is Rodrick Belliard," Udina sighed.
"Captain Rodrick Belliard," the man said through gritted teeth, flashing Udina the most evil eye Jason had ever seen. "Ambassador, I demand that you do something in retaliation to Anderson's misconduct!"
The ambassador sighed, again. And, as if to prove a point he placed an exaggerated hand just above his eyebrows.
"That will be addressed in due time, Captain, but I believe we have more pressing issues to deal with, if what David is saying is indeed true."
"With all due respect, ambassador," David interjected, disregarding Belliard's accusation. "I saw what happened on Mindoir. Everyone on the Hastings did. And I will not stand by while the possible threat that the batarians pose looms on the horizon. This boy was trapped under the remains of - what I assumed to be - his childhood home! How can we not ignore a threat like that?"
"Complete and utter nonsense!" Captain Belliard shrieked, suddenly going silent, his mouth agape in fury. The man's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "Are… are those… scorch marks on the hull of my ship?!"
"Captain Belliard, stand your ground, now!" Udina snapped, finally putting some space between the captain and Anderson. "Or it will not only be Anderson who gets a restraining order!"
Belliard let out an infuriated huff, and looked as though he was about to protest further. Instead, he simply glared at Jason and David, before turning and storming back into the rear of the hangar.
"I'm… terribly sorry about that, Anderson," Udina exhaled, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. David himself seemed to travel a little lighter. "Don't worry about Belliard, I'll try and explain the situation to the council back on Earth."
"I think Jason should be the one getting the apology," David responded sternly. The young man had barely uttered another word in all the commotion.
"H-he doesn't care," Jason stammered, his eyes flickering in the direction that the captain had left. The shouting had left him quite shaken. "Everyone is gone, and he doesn't care…"
"Belliard is just one man," David assured Jason, kneeling down so his eyes were level with the young man's. He placed a gentle hand on Jason's shoulder. "There will be a whole army and navy of people who will want to help you find your family and friends. Won't there be, Ambassador?"
"If not, then I'll have to start a new Alliance," Udina said, hoping the comment would shed a tone of lightheartedness on the matter, but couldn't help but feel it was a tad grim. "With Anderson at the helm."
"But we hope it won't come to that," David smiled tiredly at Jason. "I promise, we'll find everyone who the batarians took, Jason."
"I'll send word to Admiral Hackett," Udina nodded. "I'm… sorry, Jason, but I don't know how long it'll take to organise a squad."
A moment of silence passed between the three people. The sound of a military squad marching by drew in the young man's attention - which David saw with curiosity.
"So… what happens now?" Jason asked, glancing between the two men. "Do I stay here…?"
"I don't feel as though a naval frigate would be the preferred state of residence for you, Jason," Udina sighed, a look of thought crossing his face. "Especially not with the nonsense I have to sort out with Captain Belliard. Do you have any extended family?"
"I have an aunt," Jason muttered, his heart sinking at the thought of not staying with the crew of the Hastings. Despite the situation that had brought himself into their care, and the short time he'd been with them, Jason had taken quite a liking. Of course - Digger had, too. "Her name is Hannah. Aunt Hannah."
"Of course!" David exclaimed, raising a finger in realisation. "Shepard! I didn't make the connection at first, but you're related to Captain Shepard, aren't you?"
Jason nodded, still feeling uneasy. Despite having friendly relations with his aunt, and cousin - Sarah, the idea of living with them hadn't quite settled comfortably with him. After all, Jason had usually only seen the two over holidays such as Christmas and notable birthdays.
"Then it's settled," Udina stated. "Anderson, you make the call to the Captain. Sort out Jason's new home. Don't worry, I'll distract Belliard if you need to take the Hastings to rendezvous.
"Thank you, ambassador," David said, formally concluding the meeting. "And do keep me posted on the batarian scourge. I'm sure myself and the rest of the Hastings' crew would be more than eager to help."
"Of course. It was nice to meet you, Jason. I hope it won't be too much trouble settling into your new home. And once again, allow me to extend my utmost sympathies."
Jason barely registered the ambassador's send-off. As David turned to lead him back to the Hastings' airlock, he felt his eyes drift over once more to the fair left of the hangar - were lines of men and women standing at stiff attention to their squad leader. The manner of readiness and duty and honour sparked something within him, as a new idea and plan for justice came to life.
+
Bearing the same name as that of the famous mountain back on Earth, the SSV Kilimanjaro rivalled the landmark's prowess and size. Being classed as an Alliance dreadnought, it was one of the bigger vessels in Humanity's fleet. If Luna Base and the Hastings had made Jason feel small, his aunt's starship wasn't doing much to help.
"Jason!"
Jason flinched at the memorable voice of his aunt. Turning his gaze to meet hers, he could see that the confident facade Jason had always known Hannah Shepard to wear was slipping. Despite clear efforts, her usually-tidy brown hair showed loose strands of distress, and her uniform had the finest of creases. Even her light-tanned face looked smudged, as if she'd been crying.
The young man barely found the strength to lift his arms as he was enveloped into a tight embrace. Just the action started to bring tears welling in his eyes.
"Aunt Hannah…" he said quietly, leaning in close. "I… I'm sorry…"
"No," the woman said firmly, giving him another squeeze before stepping back with a stern look in his eyes. "Don't ever apologise for such an atrocity you didn't commit. It wasn't your fault, Jason. Do you understand?"
Jason nodded, his eyes drifting to his feet. He wondered if they'd ever feel the prickle of Mindoir's emerald-green grass again. The steel flooring he'd become accustomed to over the previous days hadn't felt the same.
"Those batarians will pay, Jace." A younger voice spoke up. Jason hadn't noticed that his aunt's daughter, Sarah, had also been present. Even now, her fiery attitude didn't simmer. "All of them."
"Sarah, now isn't the time," her mother said, narrowing her gaze in warning at the younger woman. Sarah was a year older than Jason was, and bore close resemblance to her mother. "Jason needs all the help he can get now, alright?"
"Yes, mother."
Even in her receding tone, Jason could still hear the grit in his cousin's voice. The incident at his home world had awakened something dark within… but had it done the same for Jason? He wasn't sure.
"Thank you for taking care of Jason, Captain," David Anderson said formally, standing a few metres back with Melissa at his side, and Digger at his feet. The dog's tail wagged in a steady flow.
"Don't mention it, Anderson," Hannah smiled, resting a comforting hand on Jason's shoulder as she stood up. "After all, what's family for?"
As if in response, the cavalier would utter a short yip of approval, sending a response of humour from most of the group. Jason would slowly walk over, kneeling down to give the dog a fond scratch behind its ear.
"What will happen to Digger?" He asked, glancing up at David. On his aunt's ship, even standard military protocol had to be followed. Which meant the dog couldn't stay. "Are you sure he can't live here?"
"Sorry, Jace," Hannah sighed, walking to join him while Sarah hung back. "Rules are rules… even for an adorable pooch."
"Hey, my brother owns a farm back on Earth," Melissa chimed in. "It's huge, with lots of open fields and animals. I'm sure Digger would love it there."
Jason wasn't sure, keeping to the silent promise he'd made to Talitha. His heart ached in sadness at the memory of her, but he wouldn't let the tears flood back. Not now.
"If Jason and Digger are both fine with it, I'm sure we could schedule in a few routine trips to Earth every year for a visit."
"Are you alright with this, Jason?" David asked. "Is there someplace else you'd like Digger to go?"
Jason paused, thinking over the options. Mindoir had been mostly farmland. It wouldn't be too different for the dog…
"Um… I think so," he nodded, giving the dog's head a final ruffle before getting back to his feet. "As long as we can visit."
"Great!" Hannah said, with a clap of her hands. "Sarah, why don't you give Jason a quick tour of the ship? Mr Anderson and I have to close off a few things…"