The door to the stuffy office opened with a creak and they walked in, quiet without sound of footfall. A dim light illuminated an elderly man behind a desk filled with folders and paperwork.
"So, that brat, is your grandson, Shepard?" A feminine voice called out through the silence.
The man looked up and let out a sigh. "Yes, Rochelle. That is the grandson I thought long dead," Shepard responded. There was a wry smile on his face as she walked in.
She walked closer shaking her head. "He seems to get into constant trouble. Three fights on the first day, then getting involved during the attack," she said and gestured with her hand at Shepard.
"Just like someone else, always causing trouble," she said. She pointed at Shepard, a sly grin on her face.
Shepard laughed warmly. "It is good to have you back at the academy Rochelle. Did Sam send you?" He placed the document he was reading down and gave his full attention to her.
She nodded and took a seat on the couch in front of his desk. Her black hair with red streaks tucked behind her ears, out of her face with a simple black bandana. "Yeah. After what happened he felt it would be better having someone here to watch your back. That, and with everything going on, you might not be thinking clearly," she said.
Shepard scoffed. "Who does that young pup think he is?" Shepard asked. "I am more than twice his age, if anything he's the one that needs watched."
Rochelle chuckled. "He argued the same point about you. As he said, he isn't the one that just found lost family out of nowhere."
Shepard glowered at her. "So, what is it you expect to help with then, Rochelle?" he asked her.
"Whatever you need. I'm an extra body around campus, security, teaching, training, you name it. My credentials are still valid in the system right?" She offered.
Shepard pursed his lips and pulled up her file on the computer. "Yeah, everything's still active in the system."
Shepard paused in thought and turned his gaze back to Rochelle after a moment. "But, I want you to access his abilities, push him to the limit as it were. I need to know exactly how far his skills extend." Shepard instructed.
"Couldn't you have Okeeba do something so trivial?" Rochelle retorted.
"Okeeba is strong, yes. Second only to me at this academy. But, he lacks your…. unique traits that would be beneficial to pushing Gavin, safely" Shepard responded.
Rochelle laughed darkly, a spark igniting in her brown eyes. "I won't guarantee he will walk away without injuries." Her eyes glowed a vibrant crimson.
Shepard waved his hand dismissively. "That's fine. So long as he survives. Once you test his abilities, begin his training immediately. If his mate or others wish to join, then go ahead and push them all to the limit. I fear," Shepard paused for a moment and ran his hand through his hair.
After a silent moment he continued. "I fear that this war is only just beginning and we will need the strength of the youngsters before they are ready and all this is done."
"The intel network wasn't able to pull much from the captured soldiers." Rochelle said and she walked over, placing a small storage drive on the table. "They all were rather mute on who their leadership consists of, and what their over all purpose was."
Shepard grabbed the drive and plugged it into his computer. After a moment of scanning through the limited files he sighed. "We figured as much. However, I have the names of two of their leaders. It was discovered, coincidentally, by that brat grandson of mine," Shepard grinned at her.
Rochelle's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
Shepard nodded. "Xenon and Cedrion Deluge," he replied and showed her the articles Gavin brought him earlier.
"Gavin claimed this one, with the scars down his face, was the one he fought with during the attack," Shepard pointed out.
Her brow knitted together as she read over the article and studied the faces. "Interesting. I've heard of the Deluge name. Wealthy, powerful. Owner of the largest shipping business in Allario."
"Yes, I've heard the name Xenon Deluge before. His staff all love and adore him. It's the perfect cover for his atrocities. His shipping company gives him the means to move people and arms all across Elyndra without raising suspicion or alarm." Shepard mused. To think, he has an entire shipping empire to move things around. This isn't going to be easy to take him down.
"Their attack failed, Shepard. But, don't believe for one minute that it won't be the last," Rochelle said, her voice a quit whisper. She leaned back on the couch, her brow furrowed.
Shepard reclined back in his chair. "No, my dear Rochelle. I believe it's just the start to something much, much worse. I only hope we can prepare the students and the others in time to rise to the occasion."