"This is it, you're nervous?"
Michael nearly scoffed. He had fought Reapers, he had watched an entire galaxy die, he himself had died and been reborn, it would take more than a trial with political undercurrents to frighten him. In fact, given the delays with bringing forth evidence from what little remained of the Bahak system, Batarian evidence, Alliance intelligence that needed to be declassified to be used, the time needed to bring in Admirals that needed to be there for a trial of this magnitude, dealing with the press and not to mention the Batarian delegation's problem with contacting their government and Michael was sick and tired of waiting. "No, I want this over and done with."
With Eluni flanking him, they were walking the last few feet towards the courtroom, the reporters and photographers that hadn't managed to secure a spot in it barely held back by a contingent of marines as they shot pictures and questions at the pair at a dizzying pace. Michael ignored them though, he had answered enough questions already and was now set on getting on with the trial.
Eluni was right though, she had no way to control the politics behind the trial, and to be fair, Michael had very little power as well. Anderson and Hackett were firm supporters of him, they had been allies of his for a long time and given all that they had done with him, they believed in the existence of the Reapers, that the galaxy needed to prepare.
Unfortunately, that didn't count for much with the rest of the admiralty; sure, the two were highly respected, but the threat of the Reapers was much downplayed by the rest, not to mention by most elected officials. For one they still didn't want to believe in the danger being so great, for another they didn't want to cause a panic among the people by even looking into it. As such Michael's continued vocalising of the threat was not only annoying, but seen as a danger to public order.
Michael had known this, as had Anderson and Hackett, and they had in their many meetings agreed that Michael was the only one who should argue about this, he was already a rogue agent and a problem, but the others could be seriously compromised if they became too problematic to the rest of their colleagues. Still, everyone knew of Anderson's ties to Michael, and as such he had been forced to recuse himself from the board of Admirals and Generals set to preside over Michael's trial. Hackett on the other hand had been more quietly removed from the proceedings, with so many Admirals away from their jobs they had voted for him to be in charge of the fleets while the trial was under way, an obvious plot to remove any support for Michael when he presented his arguments about the Reapers.
For that was the cutting issue, the part that put Michael at a distance from every man and woman that would be on the board, judging him. For months he had argued with them, getting more and more frustrated by their refusal to admit any and all evidence he had for the Reapers, for demanding that he won't mention them or try to 'push his agenda' during the trial. Still, the Alliance was allied with Michael in one respect, that they wanted to prevent a war from breaking out with the Batarians, that they wanted the current diplomatic issue gone.
Their indoctrinated agents over in the Bahak system, now all dead, were an easy problem. None of them had been registered as Alliance soldiers, not even as citizens, as such there was room for denial. Even all the shipping of material to build the base and thrusters for the asteroid that had been sent into the mass Relay could be explained by referring to smuggling, much had been sent via Omega, after all...
That left Michael, but the Alliance was loathe to lose or further discredit their first human Spectre, especially after he had stopped the Collector attacks on the colonies and handed over both himself and the Normandy, all of which had raised his standing in the public's eye. As such, surrendering him to the Batarians would be a disaster in terms of public relations, something the Alliance after their inaction against the Collector attacks could ill afford.
Not that Michael could put too much faith into the Alliance wish to keep him around, if push came to shove, he fully expected them to sacrifice him to contain the situation. Not to mention that the financial backbone of the Alliance, the mega-corporations, were not too happy with him, he had damaged quite a few of them during his hunt for Saren three years ago. Exogeni in particular had suffered heavily, and while not directly responsible, they gladly blamed Michael for it all. Still, while the Alliance income depended on these mega-corporations, most Admirals were loathe to let them dictate Alliance politics in a direct matter.
All in all, his alliance with the Alliance was much like it was with Cerberus, uneasy at best.
Michael wasn't completely powerless though. While he had no backing from any financial muscles – the Illusive Man had been surprisingly quiet as of late – or political powers that hadn't been neutralized, he did have his name. Even when it was revealed he was working with Cerberus, people had still loved him for his actions during the battle for the Citadel, and when it was confirmed that his alliance with Cerberus was to actively combat the terrorising Collectors...then his popularity had soared.
With that in mind, Michael had managed to get large groups within the public to push for preparations against the Reapers – the Alliance might not like it, but they couldn't completely silence him – those groups might not do it out of a firm belief in it as much as due to hero-worship, but as long as they pushed for what was needed, Michael couldn't complain. He also had the ear of many journalists, and it was impossible for any government to completely silence the message he had them broadcasting. Not to mention that with Liara ideally placed as the Shadow Broker, the evidence the Alliance was refusing to admit into the trial had snuck its way into quite a few mediums that the governments of the galaxy had hoped to keep it out of.
He also had his Spectre position and was owed quite a few favours by various races and organisations, which he had chosen to remind the Alliance of by accepting Eluni, representing the mighty Asari, as his lawyer.
The mere thought of it made Michael smile. He might not have the support of those that he needed, or gotten the militaries of the galaxy mobilising, but for the first time in what felt like a lifetime he was being believed, he was making headway...it was a glimmer of hope that he clung to with the desperation of a drowning man.
Hell, Anderson and Hackett had even used the increased tensions with the Batarians to push for increasing the Alliance fleet, having managed to squeeze out the construction of a pair of cruisers despite others shouting about a poor budget...
The trial was just another step in his campaign to prepare the galaxy, it might be damage control for both him and the Alliance to stop a war with the Batarians, but it was also another avenue to forward the danger of the Reapers to the galaxy through those reporters that would have gained access to the trial.
It was a lot of work, and it was tiring. He missed Garrus, he missed Liara, Tali, all those he had grown to love and cherish...
But that was also what kept him going. For while his hatred of the Reapers was what drove him onwards to do all he did, it was his love for all those had come to know that rooted him into the world, who kept him focused and from being consumed by his hatred. Knowing they were out there, fighting the same fight, wanting to see him again, it gave him hope for a better tomorrow.
With all that mind, Michael's steps didn't betray a hint of his weariness as he marched through the large doors and into the courtroom.
It was an impressive sight. Large and oval in shape, its vaulted ceiling was high enough to make the crystal lamps above seem like twinkling stars, illuminating a ceiling that was one great painting with biblical undertones in its depiction of various historical figures. The walls were softly curved and a pale grey, most of them were covered by banners hanging from the ceiling, banners bearing the Alliance symbol, making it abundantly clear what law ruled in the chamber.
To his left and right, bleachers of dark wood rose up to envelope half the room's walls, the many available benches rising higher and higher to allow those at the back to look over those at those further up front.
Which was sorely needed, for every seat was taken. Looking around himself, Michael was not surprised to find dozens of hovering camcorders taking in his every movement as the journalists allowed into the trial struggled not to ask him questions they weren't allowed to ask now that he was in the courtroom. Michael smiled softly, well aware that the Alliance wouldn't let the recordings and notes the reporters made go uncensored, but also aware that they couldn't stop his message entirely.
Unfortunately, journalists were not the only ones who had managed to secure a spot within the trial. A large number were businessmen and high-ranking officers of the Alliance, neither group had much love for Michael. The businessmen were either vultures – hoping for a conviction so they could feel secure in suing him for whatever real or imagined thing he had done during his many missions to upset their business – or vengeful types who simply wanted to see him hang. Michael wasn't sure which type he hated more. As to the high-ranking officers Michael had found that while the majority of the Alliance military were vocal supporters of him, that majority resided among the lower ranks, those with any good number of stripes on their shoulders either remembered his despicable acts on Elysium, or simply embraced the culture the admiralty had grown, that he was a troublemaker.
Still, there were bright spots among all the self-interest, anger and tabloid-journalism.
To his right, Emily Wong sat, the dark haired woman smiling at him, eagerly awaiting the next exclusive interview he had promised her. Given how she was eager for more, she was also one of his closest allies among the journalists, one who dared pushing the envelope for what she was allowed to report. Michael offered her a friendly nod, making the nearest other reporter deflate, apparently seeing his ability to compete for ratings disappear.
To his left, Anderson sat, the dark-skinned man looking somewhat haggard. It was not surprising, between having to politically battle with the Council, Udina , the admiralty, Michael's trial and trying not to be overwhelmed by the fear of the Reapers and how inactive the rest of the galaxy was in preparing for it, the man was shouldering quite a burden. He still smiled as he and Michael exchanged a nod though, showing that he was far from done.
We can do this.
Feeling some of his tiredness lift Michael strode forward with growing confidence, he might be surrounded by mostly hostile or uncaring people, but a few bright spots right from the start was more than what he usually got to start with in a struggle...it gave him hope.
Ahead, a rectangular table with two uncomfortable-looking chairs – which they were, Michael recalled – stood in the centre of the chamber. All made of the same dark wood as the bleachers, the table and chairs looked painfully solitary surrounded by the far grander furniture around them, making it look as if the rest of the room was gazing down on them. As Michael approached them, he couldn't help but remember one of Harbinger's many taunts. "And now you stand alone..."
"Did you say something?" Eluni's question brought Michael out of his thoughts.
Not having realised he'd spoken the words aloud, Michael shook his head as he moved to grasp the back of one of the chairs, his eyes moving up to the imposing piece of furniture ahead. The dark desk at the far end of the room was curved inwards due to its width and high enough to make the four women and six men seated behind it loom over the chamber like the kings of old. All ten of them were Admirals or Generals of the Alliance, powerful men and women whose neutral looks hid a worry for what the result of the trial would be.
Behind the admirals, a large window covered most of the wall, showing an impressive view of the Vancouver harbour and the gardens the Alliance had nurtured with such care. Michael shot the view a glare, as he had the last time he'd been in the courtroom. The Alliance might have prettied up their corner of Earth, as had every major nation, but Michael knew his own birthplace was still a smog-filled dump, easily ignored by those with the means to live like one should in the twenty-second century...the mere thought of more people going through what he had gone through while others lived in luxury made him grit his teeth.
God, how I hate Earth... It wasn't so much the planet, or even the disproportion in wealth within it, but the memories of his life there, that haunted Michael and made him want to leave. I'll be glad once this is over.
Pushing aside his irrational anger, Michael sat down, his eyes instead moving towards the source of the worried air within the courtroom. To the left of the admiralty, sitting atop a desk that was far smaller, yet just as high as their seats, the Batarian diplomat sat.
Garat looked as brutal as any Batarian mercenary Michael had met, despite wearing an unadorned, yet still somewhat stylish, uniform of pale leather. With his hands placed on the desk before him, he was leaning ever so slightly forward, all four eyes unblinking as he fixed them on Michael, the hostility emanating from him clear as day. Michael felt a hint of fear under that gaze, not so much for the Batarian himself, Michael had faced enough of his kind, but because that angry Batarian was the one peace hung upon. If Garat gave the word, the Hegemony would attack the Alliance, something neither side would gain from once the Reapers appeared.
And he wants blood...not exactly the best way to start diplomatic manoeuvring. Michael sighed inwardly, he was tired of the diplomatic game, he was tired of having to compromise with the very people he was trying to save, yet what else could he do? At least his inability to get in contact with his government might work in our favour...
Michael wasn't actually sure of that, he didn't know exactly what instructions they had given Garat, but given that he wasn't shy of making aggressive claims, they weren't good from Michael's point of view. Would a lack of new instructions temper Garat and make him more cautious? Michael eyed the glaring Batarian a second time, his heart sinking. I doubt it...
"Order, order." The central Admiral, a man named Hood – who so far had dominated the previous court sessions – called out, gavel striking his desk, instantly silencing the soft murmur of conversations across the courtroom. "I hereby open the fourth session of the state versus Michael Shepard, accused of acts of terrorism on Batarian territory. We-"
"And what of the Hegemony versus Alliance? You feel like leaving it out of the trial?" Garat interrupted with a growl, earning him a near hundred glares from the people within the courtroom, glares he answered with a defiant one of his own, despite being alone in Alliance space, the Batarian diplomat had not once shown himself in any way intimidated. A shame he's an enemy...
Hood was a calm admiral though, and offered the Batarian an even look as he rested his elbows on his desk. "We closed that case, sir, if you remember? Amanda Kenson and her associates were not Alliance citizens and, their material was stolen goods. As such the Alliance can't be held responsible for their actions, nor punish them since they are dead. Or does the Hegemony offer new evidence?"
"You know fully well that we don't." Garat grumbled, four eyes narrowing in suspicion, apparently still thinking that the Alliance was responsible for his communication problems, which for all Michael knew, he might be right to. "Well, get on with it." Michael nearly blinked, surprised that Garat was willing to drop the subject so swiftly, he had struck Michael as more stubborn than that. Maybe he's intent on focusing on me, rather than the Alliance? That would be good. Michael ignored Eluni's worried look. He was set on his path; if Garat put all his efforts into nailing Michael to the wall, he would welcome it, anything that stopped weakening the galaxy with another war when the Reapers were coming was welcome.
However, Michael wasn't about to simply wait for the Batarian to make his move, he too had his agenda. "Amanda Kenson and her team were the ones preparing the asteroid and sent it towards the Relay." It was a lie, but if Michael was going to make the indoctrination defence and redirection of blame easier to swallow for Garat, he couldn't claim that they were trying to stop the destruction of the Bahak system. "As I've stated earlier, they were indoctrinated by the Reapers and their goal was to weaken one of the larger military powers in the galaxy. Sadly, they succeeded" Eluni patted his knee at the last words. To him it seemed a bit too obvious to cater to the Batarian pride like that, but Eluni knew what she was doing, so who was Michael to argue?
There was a murmur, not all pleased, behind him. The admirals still retained their neutral looks, but they were somewhat more strained. Garat, on the other hand, was more open in his irritation. "Again, you claim this madness! Indoctrination by some spaceships from beyond the galaxy? Pah!" The Batarian spat at the floor, making the Admiral closest to him cringe back in disgust. "And how convenient that the only people guilty in such a scenario are the dead who can't defend themselves! Just like my people couldn't defend themselves at the blast from the Relay!"
Michael couldn't help but flinch, remembering all too well how he had watched the fading dot of the Bahak system on the galaxy map, knowing he had just wiped out over three hundred thousand people. He had known it was worth it, he still did...but that didn't make the guilt of so many killed easier to bear. Eluni rose from her seat though, distracting the glaring Garat from Michael's guilty reaction. "What's convenient is hardly the topic so much as what's the truth. If the Batarian representative wishes to disprove our version of what's true or not, he's welcome to it, but I would be loathe to defend my client from accusations of conspiracies with no foundation in evidence nor witnesses."
There were a few applauds at that. Eluni had become somewhat popular in the courtroom, the fact that she was something as exotic as an Asari, as for the way she was defending Michael, a hero in the eyes of the public, from a Batarian – a villain – and his venomous words. Hood's gavel hit the desk, stopping the claps instantly as he sternly spoke to everyone. "I will not have this turn into a show, settle down." He turned his gaze upon Garat. "The defence attorney has a point though, do you have some sort of evidence for your claims?"
"You know fully well that I don't!" Garat hissed through his teeth, eyes blazing with fury. "Everyone but Shepard died in that system, how could I bring the testimony of the dead to bear on him?" His glare shot over the crowd, a hint of pain behind his eyes as he spoke. "And I swear, the Hegemony will have the next one clapping killed, you would never clap for someone defending a person who'd killed every person in a human system..."
Silence.
A few in the crowd shuffled where they sat, either frightened by the threat, or feeling guilty by Garat pointing out their hypocrisy. Hood, however, was ever the calm judge. "We do not allow threats in this courtroom, Mr Garat." He turned his gaze to the crowd. "That said, nor do we allow disrespectful behaviour toward the living or dead, I trust people will remember this."
Eluni looked less than intimidated though. "This does not change the fact that my client has no evidence levied against him, save a recording made by the Batarian Hegemony, can we hear it again?"
Whoever did the tech-work in another room instantly played the recording, making the words Michael remembered saying into the communicator as the asteroid hurtled for the Relay fill the room. "All inhabitants of the Bahak system, this is Michael Shepard, I implore you to leave the system this instant before it is destroyed, I repeat, this instance! It's a matter of life and death!"
The stress was clear in his voice, it was sincere, pressed and hurried...a few hushed conversations started in the wake of it, but quieted as Eluni confidently spoke up. "While the Hegemony has tried to show this as evidence of Shepard's guilt, I must state that what Shepard obviously is trying to do on the recording is trying to save people. Or is failing to save someone now a crime?"
Michael grimaced, Eluni's words making Saren's words back on Virmire echo within his mind. You have failed! You failed back on Earth! You failed on Elysium! You failed on Eden Prime! On Feros! You failed here! You have failed everyone that you've ever met! With a growl, Michael shook his head, hand coming up to rub his temple as he tried to focus on Garat's words. "But he was there!"
Part of Hood's neutral look faded as he sighed, hand coming up to rub his face. "Make your case Garat, today, please."
"Shepard's call came minutes after the asteroid began to accelerate towards the Relay, an obvious attempt to cover up his guilt, and he was the only one surviving the explosion. A human, associated with a pro-human terrorist organisation, is the one survivor of a blast wiping out a Batarian system!" Garat snapped, now rising in from his seat to better glare down at those surrounding him. "I will not pretend Batarians and humans get along! But humans pride themselves on their idea of justice! Of how you are morally superior to us! I see no justice here!" He pointed a shaking finger at Michael, making a few in the public jerk back in fright. "How can you protect him!"
Silence.
"Again, you are simply stating coincidences." Eluni calmly replied, her tone even. "Shepard's previous associations are not part of this hearing, and with no tangible proof of his actions, justice demands that you let him go."
"That is not acceptable!" Garat shouted, then stopped as Hood too rose, the Admiral glaring at the Batarian.
"Mr Garat, when I called for order, I meant that for all involved, sit down." The man spoke calmly, without anger, but it was abundantly clear that disobeying would have the diplomat thrown out, war or not.
With a grunt, the Batarian sat down, glaring at Michael as the court slowly settled down from his outburst.
"Shepard..."
Michael blinked at the whisper, turning his head to Eluni, wondering what she was planning this time. "Yes?"
The Asari blinked at him, looking bewildered as she quietly replied. "What?"
"You said my name."
The Asari arched a brow. "No, sorry, I didn't, now focus."
Irritated, Michael looked back to the Batarian, finding the diplomats four eyes narrowed as he looked down at his desk, thinking the situation over.
This is it...
"Shepard..."
What the...? Michael turned around, looking around himself in confusion, yet though many were looking at him, none could have been the one who had spoken. Someone trying to be funny? Michael found his eyes narrowing, surprised by the anger suddenly flooding his veins as he clenched his fists shut. I'm trying to save you all and someone thinks to play a prank on me...? A low growl escaped him.
Garat's voice pulled his attention back to what was going on though, the Batarian's voice a low, but threatening, rumble. "The Batarian Hegemony will not accept the Alliance washing their hands of this act of mass-murder, nor their continued attempts to protect the criminal in their midst." Looking up, Garat glared at Michael as he spoke. "If the Alliance does not give up this criminal to be tried and punished by the Batarian Hegemony, and gives up a system as compensation to the Hegemony, there will be war."
Instantly, the courtroom became filled with voices. Protests, whispers, curses and insults were flung about, the storm of emotions suddenly breaking free impossible to stop for Admiral Hood, no matter how many times he slammed his gavel into the desk.
Up ahead, Garat was still glaring at Michael, unheeding of the two Admirals who had taken it upon themselves to argue with him. The other Admirals had also risen, but to better shout at the crowd behind Michael to stay seated and quiet down. Next to him, Michael could hear Eluni trying to make her voice heard, still trying to protect her client through legal ways even as the politics of the Hegemony showed that that path was impossible.
Damn you, damn you all to hell. Michael's glare moved from Garat to all the foolish Admirals, none of them seeing further than the immediate interest of the Alliance... All of you. He rose to his feet, straightening his back, feeling oddly liberated as he was forced to forge his own path, to finally get rid of the pretences and foolish attempts at diplomacy. "I plead guilty."
He had spoken clearly but not loudly, yet with him being in the middle of the room, his words were amplified enough to carry above the din of useless chatter.
Instantly, everyone went quiet.
Letting his gaze move over the Admirals, Michael could see them resume their neutral looks, yet he could still sense that they were pleased with the result, him pleading guilty meant that they had done all they could to protect him, avoiding both a scandal with the public as well as war with the Batarians. Like with the Council, they were all too happy to do nothing while Michael did what was needed to be done. Pathetic, none of you are worth the uniform you wear.
Still silent, Michael let his gaze move over to Garat, calmly meeting the Batarian's glare. A mad dog, if I didn't need your kind and your fleet I'd rather do without your entire race... "I entered the asteroid in question, killed Amanda Kenson and her crew, powered the asteroid into the Relay, therefore killing every living thing there, before making my escape."
The hushed silence endured as Garat narrowed his eyes at Michael in suspicion, not sure how to respond as Michael continued. "I did this with Cerberus assistance to sabotage Alliance-Hegemony relations and start a war. Now, however, I have come to my senses and wish to confess to my glorious deed. I and Cerberus is your enemy, Batarian scum, not the meek Alliance."
The words sounded hollow, not in the least convincing, but they didn't have to, it was a confession, and it made targeting the Alliance as an enemy impossible for the Batarians.
And apparently, Garat found it good enough to be given Michael, his lips splitting to reveal a cruel grin as he held Michael's steady gaze.
"Well..." Hood muttered, trying to regain some of that order he and his pathetic ilk so desperately craved. "...I suppose that means-"
"Shepard." Eluni grabbed Michael's arm, making him tense up as the bubbling anger in his gut shot up through his body. "Don't do it, it's stupid to-"
"Shut up, you useless bitch!" Michael snarled and pulled his arm free, his words drawing a large gasp from the people around him. What did I just say...? Michael couldn't stop himself though, glaring at the Asari as more words poured out. "I have met exactly one useful person of your kind, and it isn't you!"
"Shepard that's quite enough-"
Anger.
"And you!" Michael spun round, pointing an accusing finger at Admiral Hood, stopping him mid sentence. "You and your precious ilk are another waste of space! Where was the Alliance when the Geth were pressing on your borders! Where was the Alliance when the Collectors emptied entire colonies! Where was the Alliance when I gathered trove after trove of evidence about the impending Reaper invasion! You've never been of any help and you expect me to throw myself on my sword to save you! Fine! But there will be a reckoning, I promise you that!"
Hate.
"And you!" Michael's finger flicked over the the chuckling Batarian, silencing the sound with a glare. "Your kind are nothing but bullies who shoot anyone in your path and even treat your own people like dirt! And then you expect us to respect you! To do anything but let you rot in your end of the galaxy! Go to hell! I predict nothing but the annihilation of the entire Batarian race when the Reapers arrive! And you know what? I think it'll be better for it!"
Rage!
"All of you!" Michael spun, accusing finger moving to point at everyone staring at him in shock, not really seeing anyone, just a blur of idiocy. "You are all narrow-minded fools! Unwilling to see the truth! Unwilling to act! Unwilling to open your eyes and try to do something about your fate!" Someone was shouting at him, but he couldn't make out the words. "Why do I even try to defend you all when you refuse to be helped! I hope you'll all burn when the Reapers come!"
Someone screamed.
Whirling about, Michael's hands flew up to his head even before he looked out the window, agony shooting through it, making his eyes open wide as a blaring resounded through his skull, a blaring he could understand. "Shepard, we have come..."
A Reaper, taller than the nearest skyscraper, landed in the harbour, one leg cleaving a ship in two.
In the distance, more of the giant ships were landing, monstrous vessels whose legs bore down buildings even as their energy weapons tore through streets and houses as if they were butter.
No...
Michael slowly lowered his hands, staring out the window like the rest of the people in the room.
In the harbour, the nearby Reaper turned, legs kicking ships in the water to pieces as it turned towards him, as if knowing he was there...
I just needed a little more time...
The hull of the Reaper moved, revealing a red orb of light within it, charging up. "You have failed."
No!
Suddenly animated, Michael kicked the table over and grabbed Eluni's hand as he dropped into a crouch. "Get down!" She tried to tug her hand away-
And then the world exploded.
Grip tightening on Eluni's hand, Michael kept his head down, eyes squeezing shut as the heat of the Reaper beam washed over him, accompanied by the clattering of glass hitting stone.
A moment later he opened his eyes, finding pieces of broken wood and pebbles of stone raining over him from the powerful blast.
As well as Eluni's hand, shorn off at the wrist, in his hands.
Throwing the limb aside, Michael tried to spot the Asari, but where she had stood nothing but a scorch mark remained, her side of the table completely annihilated by the blast.
Dead.
Michael risked a glance over the remains of his table, finding the massive desk of the admiralty shattered, what little remaining looking like the bones of a sunken ship. A few charred body parts lay here and there, what little remained of the Admirals themselves. Garat's desk had been toppled and was on fire, the Batarian himself gurgling as he vainly tried to pry a large piece of glass out of his chest while being pinned under the desk, its fire having already caught hold of his boots and now cooking his dying body.
Good as dead.
Snarling, Michael whipped his head around, his anger only mounting, now mixing with guilt, as he found the bleachers on fire. Many of the people there had survived, but most were wounded or pinned under debris, unable to escape the flames now making them cry out in terror and agony. And those who had escaped had already fled. Useless, just as I said. Michael shook his head, his sudden headache making him dizzy. Stop thinking like that, it's not helping anyone.
"Shepard!" Looking back up, Michael felt the anger and dizziness being pushed back as relief flooded him at the sight of Anderson limping towards him, the Admiral was covered in gore and his left leg was bleeding, but he was alive. Alive and angry. "We need to get to the Normandy, get weapons."
"Agreed." Michael snapped. "We should head outside, a Reaper ray can be dodged, but a falling building is more difficult." He nearly chuckled all of a sudden, remembering his final confrontation with Sovereign. Can't believe I'm speaking from experience there...
"Then let's go." Anderson reached back and whipped out a predator pistol, making Michael arch an eyebrow at him. To his surprise, the Admiral looked a bit embarrassed as he turned his head away and shrugged. "Considered breaking you out of the trial...for old times sake."
Grinning, Michael patted Anderson's shoulder before beginning to jog through the great hole where the window had once been. "Just like old times."
8
8
8
Thanks to the lovely Abydos for always taking the time for anything I throw at her.
