Following Leads.

Commander Shepard's POV.

Once the elevator reached the docking bay, I found Ambassador Udina talking to Captain Anderson and... Sid? What is she doing here?

Ambassador Udina saw Garrus, Tali'Zorah and I arriving and turned to us, "I've got big news for you, Shepard. Captain Anderson is stepping down as commanding officer of the Normandy. The ship is yours now."

My eyes widen in shock, as I looked at Captain Anderson. Me? In charge of the Normandy? I can't accept this!

Captain Anderson folded his arms and nodded, "She's quick and quiet and you know the crew. Perfect ship for a Spectre. Treat her well, Commander."

Sid nodded in agreement, "I speak on behalf of the crew. They all agree that you should take charge, since Captain Anderson is stepping down."

I nodded in acceptance, "I'll take good care of her, sir."

Captain Anderson nodded, "I know you will, Commander."

"I want the truth." I told him, "Why are you stepping down, sir?"

"You needed your own ship." He explained, "A Spectre can't answer to anyone but the Council. And it's time for me to step down."

"Come clean with me, Captain." I insisted, "You owe me that much."

Captain Anderson sighed, then looked at me, "I was in your shoes twenty years ago, Shepard. They were considering me for the Spectres."

"What happened?" I asked.

"I failed. I couldn't make the cut. It's not something I'm proud of." Captain Anderson answered, lowering his head, "Ask me later and I'll tell you the whole story. For now, all you need to know is I was sent on a mission with Saren, and he made sure the Council rejected me." He nodded his head, "I had my shot. It came and went. Now you have a chance to make up for my mistakes."

I nodded, "I won't let you down, sir."

Captain Anderson nodded, then returned to the subject of Saren, "Saren's gone. Don't even try to find him. But we know what he's after: the Conduit. He's got his Geth scouring the Traverse looking for clues."

"We had reports of Geth in the Feros system shortly before our colony there dropped out of contact." Ambassador Udina informed me, "And there have been sightings around Noveria."

"Find out what Saren was after on Feros and Noveria." Captain Anderson told me, "Maybe you can figure out where the Conduit is before he does."

I shook my head, "The Reapers are the real threat."

Sid's eyes widen, "The Reapers? They're real?"

I nodded. "I'm with the Council on this one, Shepard." Ambassador Udina spoke up, "I'm not sure they even exist."

"But if they do exist, the Conduit is the key to bringing them back." Captain Anderson replied, then turned to me, "Stop Saren from getting the Conduit and we stop the Reapers from returning."

I nodded in agreement, "I'll stop him."

Captain Anderson nodded. Then Ambassador Udina spoke up, "We have one more lead. Matriarch Benezia, the other voice on that recording? She has a daughter, a scientist who specializes in the Protheans. We don't know if she's involved but it might be a good idea to try and find her. See what she knows. Her name's Liara. Dr. Liara T'Soni."

Sid took a step forward, "Liara T'Soni?"

I looked at the Turian medical professional, "You know her?"

Sid fiddled with her fingers, "We used to be pen-pals when we were young. Her fascination with the Protheans was very intriguing and it's all she spoke about."

"Well we have reports she was exploring an archaeological dig on one of the uncharted worlds in the Artemis Tau cluster." Udina continued.

"She must be on Therum." Sid spoke up, "There's a Prothean ruin under the planet's crust."

I nodded in agreement, "Sounds like we should head for the Artemis Tau cluster."

"It's your decision, Commander. You're a Spectre now. You don't answer to us." Captain Anderson reminded me.

"But your actions still reflect on Humanity as a whole." Udina told me, "You make a mess and I get stuck cleaning it up."

"I'll try not to make things any harder for you, Ambassador." I answered with a small smile.

Udina nodded, "Glad to hear it, Commander. Remember: you were a Human long before you were a Spectre." Then he turned to Captain Anderson, "I have a meeting to get to. Captain Anderson can answer any questions you might have."

With that, Ambassador Udina left the docking by, leaving Captain Anderson, Sid, Garrus, Tali'Zorah and I. I turned to Captain Anderson and asked, "How are you holding up, Captain?"

Captain Anderson sighed, "Honestly? This isn't how I pictured my career coming to an end. Pushing papers really isn't my thing." Then he looked at me, "But you're the one who can stop Saren. I believe in you, Shepard. If that means I have to step aside, so be it."

Sid nodded, "You will be missed, Captain Anderson."

I tilted my head, "Tell me what happened with you and Saren twenty years ago."

"It's close to twenty years ago now. Ambassador Goyle was our representative here on the Citadel. Like Udina, she wanted to get a Human into the Spectres. She chose me." He began his story, "The Council sent Saren to keep an eye on me and evaluate my performance. Just like they sent Nihlus to keep tabs on you."

I noticed Sid lower her head at the mention of her father's name.

"Why weren't you honest with me?" I asked.

"It's not something I'm proud of." He answered, "I had a chance to become the first Human Spectre and I failed. Saren made sure of that."

Sid nodded, "It makes sense, since Saren hates Humans." She waved her hands in defense, "No offence."

"None taken." I assured, then turned to Anderson and folded my arms, "I think I deserve the whole story."

Anderson nodded, then began his story, "We had intel on a rogue scientist being funded by Batarian interests. He was trying to set a facility to develop illegal AI technology out in the Verge. Alliance intel had done all the work, but the Council wanted a Spectre involved. We compromised: I was assigned to help Saren in his investigation. We tracked the scientist to a refining facility on Camala. He was hidden away somewhere inside, protected by an army of Batarian mercenaries. The plan was simple: sneak into the plant, capture the scientist, sneak back out. Quick, quiet, and a minimum of bloodshed."

"I'm guessing things didn't go as planned." I guessed.

Anderson shook his head, "Saren and I split up to cover more ground. Then, about halfway through the mission, there was a massive explosion in the refinery core. Officially, it was ruled an accident. But I think Saren detonated it on purpose to draw off the enemy guards."

"How many casualties?" I asked.

"The explosion tore the refinery to shred. The whole place was on fire. Black chemical clouds poured into the atmosphere. Nobody inside survived." Anderson answered grimly, "There was a camp for the workers and their families nearby. Between the fires and the toxic fumes, the final death count was over five hundred. Mostly civilians." He shook his head, "Saren didn't care. The target was eliminated. Mission accomplished. And I ended up taking the blame. That ended all talk of me joining the Spectres."

I shook my head, "Saren caused the explosion. How'd he pin it on you?"

"In his report, Saren accused me of blowing his cover." Anderson started pacing, "He said it was my fault the enemy guards were ready for us. He claimed that's why it turned into a massacre. Saren's report was all the proof the Council needed to kill my chances of becoming a Spectre."

"That's not fair!" Sid exclaimed, "Why'd you let him get away with it?"

I nodded, "I agree with Sid."

"Who do you think the Council was going to listen to? Me? Or their best agent?" Anderson asked, then he shook his head, "I had a bad feeling about him right from the start. I should've been more careful. I could have stopped things before they got out of hand."

"Don't blame yourself, Captain." I assured Anderson.

Anderson shook his head, "I don't. I blame Saren. I think he wanted to go bad. He was looking for an excuse to blow that refinery. Maybe he just likes the violence. Maybe he was just trying to make me look bad to keep Humans out of the Spectres. If so, he pulled it off."

I shrugged my shoulders, "The only thing I care about is stopping Saren."

Anderson nodded, "You're right, Commander. It's no good living in the past."

I nodded and dismissed, "I should go."

Anderson nodded again, "I'll be here if you need anything."