We're going to need a bigger boot.

After the confusing mess that had been the past couple of days, Kaidan was putting in his share of the work in bringing things back to normal. He'd neatly burned an egg on the stove, had a few sandwiches, then had a few more sandwiches - whoever he had been hadn't known how to eat according to a biotic's requirements - washed the dishes, picked up the accumulated trash and collapsed on the sofa with a datapad.

And when all those exciting chores were done with-- he decided to do something he'd been putting off for a couple of weeks now.

He called Joker.

The phone rang once. Then twice. Then thrice. Then--

"This number is no longer in use. Should you want to place another call, you may contact the Systems Alliance front desk by pressing..."

Wait, what? Did he have the wrong number? Kaidan rubbed at his brow and pressed the button in question, navigating through the call menu with the speed of a man who was familiar with it and had, in fact, done so many times over.

"Systems Alliance desk. How can I help you, Commander Alenko?"

"I'd like the number for Flight Lieutenant Moreau, please?" Kaidan said. "I seem to have the wrong one.

"Of course. Just a moment." There was a short silence. "I'm sorry," the man said, "Flight Lieutenant Moreau resigned from his position several days ago. He didn't leave a contact number behind."

... Joker had left the Alliance? That couldn't be right. "Wait, Joker quit?"

"Yes," the man replied. "His tour was over and he chose to resign. According to the file, he cited finding different employment. Can I help you with anything else?"

"No," Kaidan said slowly. "No, that was all. Thanks."

He hung up.

What the hell?

[[ open! la. setting up for some more canon later down the road, ftw. ]]