Chapter 6

Cassandra groaned when the alarm went off. Her arm fumbled and misaimed for several seconds before finding the right button and shutting it off. It was 4 AM. Only 90 minutes earlier that she normally woke. Only 90 minutes. Liara moaned next to her.

"I'm sorry, love." She whispered and kissed Liara's cheek.

"Good luck." Liara said, half alseep. And just as quickly she fell back asleep.

Reluctantly she ambled out of bed. Her shower did little to wake her up. In her soldiering days, waking up at 4 AM in a comfortable bed was a luxury to be treasured. She changed into civilian clothes, she wore gym pants and a hoodie sweatshirt. She put the hoodie over her head to conceal her face. She left her cabin and broke out in a jog. The hallways were largely empty and it didn't seem anyone was following her. She jogged down various hallways, heading towards the nearest elevator. The elevator was empty.

She had to take two other elevators before she found herself in Cargo Hold Zulu. She activated her Omni-Tool to scramble the internal security devices. She ceased her charade of being out for a morning jog by removing her hoodie. It made her feel like a gang member. The hold was half filled with various crates, most with varying degrees of rust, a deactivated power loader mech was resting by the opposite wall. It was dry but grimy, the smell of lubricating oil heavy in the air. Distantly she heard an elevator door open. She turned around and a few moments later saw a disguised salarian walking towards her.

"Thank you for coming." Cassandra said quietly.

"Your message said it was urgent we meet in such a way. What is it you want?" The robed salarian asked. Direct and to the point.

"We need to talk about Tevos. She's conspiring against me."

"A very serious charge. Do you have proof?"

"Yes." Cassandra played the message.

"Most serious but I fail to see how this concerns me."

"You will convince Tevos that it is time for her to resign or risk the humiliation of being expelled."

"This is most alarming but I will do no such thing. The Council must appear united, any signs of instability or uncertainty may have crippling repercussions." The salarian said.

"What do you think would cause more instability? A councillor retiring for health reasons or one being charged with war crimes? So, yes, you will do this." Cassandra said forcefully. "Otherwise your dealings with Fabrisa Holdings will be made public. You and a dozen other prominent political figures of every council race will be publicly disgraced and forced to resign."

The salarian said nothing for a time. "Very well. I will reluctantly support you in this. But if the galactic economy stumbles of the Council suffers some setback in the future as a result of this, know I will hold you responsible."

"Tevos is the one responsible. In our session two days from now I will bring forth a motion. You will support me."

"Very well, Shepard." Valern said. He turned around as if to leave, then stopped in his tracks. "You're a quick learner at this game, Shepard. You'll do well." She didn't know whether to be offended or flattered.

She went back to their apartment and slid into bed and slept lightly before rising again for her regular work day. She noticed a dull throbbing behind her temple, she felt drowsier than normal, and the coffee she made for herself before leaving the cabin did little to wake her up. She grabbed a second cup from the office when she arrived, Stravowsky was there as usual. She nodded to her and she followed Cassandra into her office. They sat down opposite another. Cassandra searched in her desk and found a bottle of headache pills. She poured herself several pills and swallowed them dry. The bottle was nearly empty.

"What's up?" Stravowsky asked.

"There's something going on you should know about. This is top secret. Tell no one."

"Not even my hubbie?" She asked with a grin.

"You could but then you'd have to kill him."

"I can't do that. Who'd clean our apartment then?" She answered dryly. Cassandra chuckled briefly but her seriousness returned quickly. She spoke calmly.

"I have proof Tevos is conspiring against me. She's hacked my psychiatric records. She's using Atherton to outreach to Balak and organize a peace conference. He's then going to demand I make a public confession and then Tevos will charge me with war crimes. So, I'm moving against her. I've got Valern and Sparatus' support to force her to resign. Aethyta's getting enough matriarch's onside to force her as well, that should take a couple more days to organize."

Stravowsky said nothing, her eyes betrayed complete shock and surprise.

"I can't believe she'd do that... is doing that... Are you okay?"

Cassandra shrugged. "I'll be okay when this is over. Just a couple more days. I'm more worried about acting normally around her. We have a session today. That won't be fun."

"You sure you can handle it?" Her eyes brimmed with such genuine concern it was truly touching.

"I'll be okay, doc. It helps I have a good #2 by my side." Stravowsky smiled with gratitude and nodded.

"So, what's on the agenda, doc?"

They convened an hour later. They sat in their usual places, each Councillor with an aide by their side. Tevos was to her left, Valern to her right and Sparatus in front of her.

"Good morning, Shepard." Tevos said with uncharacteristic warmth. "Did you sleep well?"

I'll sleep well when I never have to see you again, you petty bitch. "Yes I slept very well, thank you." She replied pleasantly. Wait a minute. Was her comment about sleep a jibe relating to her psych record, or to the morning's activities? Had she erred in her plan? Had something, or someone, tipped Tevos off? Tevos' face was as emotionless as always. She'd have an easier time reading ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics than the asari councillor's face.

"Before we begin, I have an important announcement to make." Tevos said. "Through my own initiative, I sent an envoy to Balak in the hopes of bringing about a peaceful end to the batarian civil war. I have just received word that Balak has accepted. It would be best if the Council chaired this peace conference on the Citadel. Perhaps as early as next week."

"It would have been preferable you'd discussed this initiative in council." Valern began. "If Balak discovers we've been covertly aiding his enemy, he will react most negatively. Any hope of obtaining a favorable outcome will be lost."

"Why haven't you discussed this before?" Cassandra asked pointedly.

"I assumed the probability of success was low and thus not worthy of the Council's time." She said, feigning contrition.

"We had not seriously considered the possibility of a peaceful end to this conflict." Sparatus said. "It is most unlike the batarians to do so. Perhaps the Reaper war had affected them more than we'd assumed. I endorse this plan. It will be an auspicious event with which to re-open the Citadel. The steps we've taken to conceal our hand is sufficient to keep Balak and his forces unawares."

"Agreed." Valern said. "Since this is your initiative, you should plan the specifics. Shepard, I believe it would be in everyone's best interests to endorse this."

That was his way of saying she could go along with this, and continue her ruse. "I endorse this. How long will it take to plan the specifics?" Cassandra asked.

"It should take no more than a few days, most of these can be handled by my chargé d'affaires. Thank you for your support, Shepard. My instincts told me you would supportive."

Your instincts or the psych reports you hacked? I'm going to enjoy watching you burn. She nodded politely and managed a warm smile in her direction. The meeting went on, following the day's agenda. Cassandra did her best to be engaged in involved, though she couldn't stop worrying that maybe Tevos was aware of what she was up to.

"Shepard? Will you wait for a moment?" Tevos harangued her after the meeting was over. The others were in various states of leaving the room. Sorry. Too busy planning your downfall.

"What is it?" She made little attempt to hide her exasperation. The meeting had lasted for five hours. She was hungry and her headache hadn't lessened.

"Aren't you curious to know who my envoy was?" The slightest hint of a smile in her voice.

"No." Cassandra replied with disinterest, she gathered the last of her things and left as nonchalantly as she could manage. She didn't want to give Tevos a chance to mention who her envoy was. Cassandra didn't think she'd be able to feign surprise. She noted with satisfaction Tevos' hinted smile vanish from the corners of her mouth.

Cassandra was happy to meet Aethyta and Liara for dinner at a restaurant. It was a nice break from eating in the cabin. Despite how large the ship was, she was getting stir crazy. Having spent a fair amount of time on spaceships, it wasn't something she was used to feeling. The all-too short respite on Elyssia had affected her more than she knew. She missed it, the waves, the beach, the peace. She wanted so very much to spend more time there, but there was never enough time. A few short weekends had been all they'd managed. There was always business. The reason why she and Liara hadn't had a honeymoon, why they hadn't had a bonding ceremony. Spending her whole life in retreat on Elyssia sounded nice in the abstract, but she needed something to do, something meaningful. This was a demanding job but it was fulfilling, and it was safer than being a soldier. There was still much work to do, much that needed to be fixed. The galaxy needed her still and how could she refuse the call after all she'd done? She thought killing the Reapers would allow her and Liara to live a quiet life together raising family. How wrong she'd been. But she wouldn't do this long. A few more years, just until everyone was on their feet again.

"Good to see ya, Shep." Aethyta greeted her. Cassanda gave Liara a quick kiss and sat down between them. A waiter quickly came over to them and they ordered drinks. She did get quick service here. Being an interstellar VIP has its advantages.

"Is everything sorted?" Cassandra asked.

"This time tomorrow, that bitch is going to get one hell of a nasty surprise. And an even nastier one the next morning!" Aethyta said with relish. "Nobody messes with my girl's girl!"

"I think she might be onto me." Cassandra said.

"Why?" Liara asked, almost jumping out of her hoverchair with concern. Cassandra told her about the meeting.

"I think you're safe, Shep." Aethyta said. "She underestimates you. She was just pushing your buttons. If something had tipped her off I'd have heard about it."

"Are you worried her removal might jeopardize the peace conference? It's already been announced." Liara asked.

"Balak isn't going to the conference for her. He's going for me. I'll be ready for him and Atherton. Which reminds me..." She fiddled with her Omni-Tool as drinks arrived. She gave herself a reminder to contact Major Kirrahee in a few hours. For now, she wanted to relax and enjoy herself.

"So," Cassandra said after sipping from her wine. "What's going to happen once she gets the boot?"

"The assembly matriarchs will hold an election. Whoever they nominate will be confirmed by the Council. That should take a few weeks." Aethyta said matter of factly.

"Any ideas who might replace her?" Cassandra asked.

"It'll be someone friendlier to you." Aethyta said. "I've made sure of that."

"Why not you?" Cassandra asked.

Aethyta choked on her brandy. It took a few moments for her to recover.

"Are you kidding? No, you're not kidding." Aethyta snorted. "I'm too old. I don't want to spend my last decades dealing with political catastrophes... I'd rather spend it with my family." She said the last sentence quietly, her tone completely soft. She rubbed her watery eyes. Cassandra realized how much it had taken for her to say that.

"And we're honoured that you're a part of it." Liara said.

"Thanks, kid." Aethyta said, struggling to retain her demeanor.

"Same here." Cassandra added, truly honoured and happy.

"Look, don't get all mushy on me, okay?" Aethyta said, imbibing her brandy and turning her attention to the menu. The rest of the dinner went well with casual conversation.

After dinner she went to the communications room. She activated the QEC, inputting a few encryption protocols Liara had given her. His blurred image appeared on the screen in front of her after a few minutes.

"Good to hear from you, Shepard. What can I do for you?" He asked.

"I want an update on the batarian situation."

"Balak's agreed to a peace conference. A general ceasefire has been declared. A few skirmishes have broken out here and there but the ceasefire seems to be holding. It seems Balak will include that preacher in his entourage along with a few bodyguards and lieutenants, including Charn." That was good news. She'd talked him out of supporting Balak once, she could probably do it again.

"What's his strategic situation?"

"The mercs Prazness hired have done wonders. They've captured more ships, space stations and cities than they would've otherwise. With the victories more forces have defected to his side, his popular support's increased even more. I'd say Prazness has the upper hand. Balak will be negotiating from a position of weakness."

"What about the orbital mirror they're working on?"

"I still haven't found it. I've sent out hundreds of recon drones, none of them have found anything. Wherever it is, I don't think it's being built in batarian space. I'm afraid the trail's gone cold."

"What about the Reaper tech they were working on?"

"We found the station where the work was taking place. The station was destroyed along with any trace of what was happening there."

"Good job. One more thing. I'm expecting Balak to try something against me when the peace conference takes place. If you could send an STG team you trust to the Citadel, I'd appreciate it."

"I'll send the 2nd Protection Platoon right away."

"Thanks, Major. Keep holding the line out there."

"Will do, Shepard. Kirahee out." The salarian saluted her before his image faded.

36 hours. She told herself. In 36 hours this terrible situation would be largely over. Roughly 24 hours from now Tevos would receive the ultimatum from the assembly of asari matriarchs; either she will resign from the Council or risk the publication of her illegal dealings over the years and open herself to criminal prosecution. Roughly 12 hours after that, she would present Tevos with her ultimatum.

A few days earlier she'd struggled with conceptualizing this. Now she realized it was all too similar to battlefield tactics. Tevos was an entrenched enemy, so she was attacking her from two fronts, outflanking her. Unless Tevos knew what she was up to. She knew Aethyta had tried to reassure her, but the reassurance had the opposite effect. Maybe this was another part of Tevos' ruse. Maybe Tevos had anticipated these moves, and this was part of even greater plan, something she couldn't see. Plots within plots. Traps within traps. Plans within plans.

This is it. Cassandra thought to herself, walking to the Council chambers with Stravowsky at her side. Valern and Sparatus were already there. They nodded to another as she sat down. Tevos was late. Understandably so. They sat tensely together, quietly waiting for the tarry asari councillor to arrive. Stravowsky's legs were trembling, her feet nervously tapping on the floor. Cassandra tapped her shoulder. Stravowsky apologized, and then just as quickly resumed her nervous tapping. She herself was nervous. She'd awoken in a cold sweat at three in the morning. She hadn't been able to get back to sleep, not even cuddling with Liara could calm her down. She'd gone to the gym and worked out for a few hours, that drained most of the tension from her. But as soon as she put her formal wear back on, the tension, the nervousness and headaches returned with a vengeance. Tevos arrived 30 minutes later, appearing haggard, dark circles around her eyes, her shoulder slumped forward, her robes wrinkled.

"I apologize for my tardiness." She said briskly, hurriedly sitting down at her chair. "Urgent matters on Thessia require my attention." All noted her usage of the present tense of the verb.

"Sleep well?" Cassandra asked, unable to resist a light jab

Tevos fixed her with a dark, angry glare. Behind that anger was a tiny bit of worry, suspicion. Cassandra smiled pleasantly, feigning that the comment was meant in anything but good taste. There wasn't any point in keeping the charade much longer.

"Councillor Shepard has an emergency motion that needs to be presented." Sparatus said, nodding towards her.

"It isn't on the agenda that we agreed to in our last meeting!" Tevos objected. "Therefore it should be postponed."

Cassandra grabbed a datapad in front of her. She'd anticipated Tevos would try some procedural gambit to gain time.

"According to rule of procedure 13.2 sub section e, emergency motions may be tabulated after the submission of the agenda should special circumstances arise."

"Which are?" Tevos asked, her voice racked by nervous trembling.

"The knowledge and proof that you're conspiring against me." She said icily, staring hard at the asari before her. A tremor went through Tevos' body.

"That's nonsense!" She objected. Cassandra played the message Feron had intercepted. A look of slowly growing horror appeared on her face, also understanding.

"You've doctored that message!" She parried. Cassandra showed Tevos the authentication.

"You!" She shot, the searing epiphany melting away her cool facade. Her body tensed. "You're behind the matriarchs moving against me."

"Yes." Cassandra said icily. "You're guilty of a dozen conspiracy charges, another dozen relating to breaching intergalactic privacy laws, a trail five centuries long of bribery, cover-ups, influence peddling, corruption, extortion and one matriarch's daughter. You'll be publicly expelled, only the second time it has ever happened in the Council's history. Your name will be dragged through the mud, you'll be prosecuted and convicted in a court of law, spend the rest of your life in custody, your assets and holdings will be confiscated and distributed to various charities. Valern and Sparatus support me. Make no mistake. I will bury you so deeply that the vestiges of your corpse will not be found for another billion years." She softened her voice to deliver the alternative. "Or you can resign, citing health concerns. The choice is yours."

"I advise you to take the easy way out." Sparatus began. "For you to conspire against another Councillor out of some petty, emotional grudge is shameful and conduct unbecoming. You would endanger everything this Council stands for owing to petty emotional disturbances. Even if I did not owe Shepard a debt of honour she would have my support."

"It is best for all concerned for you to resign." Valern added.

Tevos slammed her fist on the table. "You vile creature!" She snapped. "Have you not seen Thessia! Seen sacred relics and icons older than your species' pathetic existence reduced to rubble? Do you know what it's like to bury three generations of your own family? To know your family will die with you? You failed us on Thessia! And you have the gall to accept acclaim for... for... making us your sacrificial lambs. A weak apology may appease your own compromised conscience, but it cannot atone for the evisceration of my people. You have no idea how unbearable it is, to see you standing before me everyday knowing that I'll never see my family again, that millions of my people will never... "

She broke down, burying her head in the palms of her hands. She wept quietly. Tevos' aide sat aback, shocked by what had just happened. Sparatus nodded to her. "Let's adjourn for the day." He said quietly. The turian, salarian and human entourages rose and left. Cassandra was the last to leave. She looked behind her. Tevos was being inadequately consoled by her aide. She felt no sense of accomplishment, no thrill of victory, only sympathy. And her headache had gotten worse.

"Anyone on this frequency? This is Lieutenant Kurin. My squad is trapped!"

"This is Shepard. Give me your location!"

"I repeat: Is anyone on this frequency!"

Don't they hear me?

"We read you! Give me your location!"

Why don't they hear me?

"The Lieutenant's down! Our whole zone is collapsing! What happened to Shepard? Did they make it to the temple? I saw them...Wait! I've got a Reaper inbound! Please. Is anybody there? I... Oh Goddess! No!"

In the distance a Reaper descended from the sky. Joining it's kin in laying waste to the asari homeworld. It wasn't your typical Reaper destroyer or dreadnaught. It was Harbinger. It flew towards her. She was unable to move, frozen by some unknowable force. She was faintly aware of Jaavik trying to pull her away, of Liara screaming desperately. She wanted to yell in defiance, to fire her gun. But she couldn't move, much less shout words of defiance.

Shepard! You have failed! You struggle vainly against your inevitable destiny. I am the harbinger of your perfection. I am the way. Prepare for ascendancy, your salvation. We are creation through destruction. Your destiny lies not with these inadequate constructions of flesh and bone but with my kin. Once you join us, your mind will be opened to such monumentally edifying vistas of reality and knowledge that you will not comprehend your previous existence.

Harbinger flew towards her and then landed on the steps of the temple. The ground shook violently, as if the ancient creature was summoning an earthquake by his very presence. She felt his pitiless eyes staring down at her. For the first time, face to face with the personification of evil, the avatar of destruction and chaos.

Embrace your transcendental ascendancy.

Cassandra then found her voice. She shouted at the top of her lungs, but her voice sounded like the plaintive mewling of a wounded child.

"I'll never surrender to you! I'd rather die than give up!"

Harbinger stared at her for a few seconds that seemed to last a year, she could feel his eyes not just seeing her, but through her, into her, dissecting her like a scalpel. He knew everything about her. Her fears, her hopes, her dreams, her nightmares. Her past, her present, future.

Nihil Verum Nisi Mors.

Thus Harbinger spake. He activated his beam and instead of shooting her, shot the roof of the temple. She looked above to see dozens of unavoidable slabs of concrete falling towards her. She leapt to her left but it was a futile gesture. She was crushed underneath thousands of pounds of rubble, it felt like she'd fallen, it felt like...

"Cass! Wake up! Are you okay?"

She screamed and jumped as she opened her eyes. Liara was hovering above her, shaking her shoulders. She looked around, trying to orient herself. No. She wasn't on Thessia. No. She was on the floor of their cabin. Liara was in the bed, leaning over, her insistent arms bringing her to the waking world.

"I'm... here." She managed to say. Liara bent down and kissed her forehead.

"Are you okay?" She asked. Cassandra stood up. Her back ached, a result of falling out of bed. Her knees felt weak and she stumbled into bed. She sat up, facing Liara who struggled to stand up. Despite her dazed state, Cassandra arranged the pillows to better support her back.

"I...I...never had this one before." She said, her voice was empty and drained. She was sweating, her hands were pale. She felt dizzy and lightheaded.

"Tell me about it." Liara caressed her hair. Cassandra lazily touched Liara's legs, trying to ground herself in the real world. She was silent for a time, Liara remained as patiently attentive as ever. When she spoke, it was of the only thing she remembered from the dream. Words in Harbinger's unmistakable voice.

Nihil verum nisi mors.