A/N: Ch. 7... meeting with the Council... yay...
Ch. 7
In politics stupidity is not a handicap.
Author: Napoleon I. Bonaparte
Well after I woke up from my nap, I found out we were very near to docking with the Citadel. I sprint up to the CIC, Shepard's already there in full armor.
"I was just about to hunt you down," Shepard says slightly relieved. "We're about to dock with the Citadel, and I want you there with me."
"Got it boss," I smile. I turn and head for the armory. "Gettin' my guns." I head into the room and notice all my guns, my two Phalanx pistols, two Locust SMGs and Incisor sniper rifle were all lined up on the table nearest the door. "Jacob's not here," I remark to myself seeing the unoccupied room. I holster the pistols and SMGs around my waist, and slip the sniper rifle on my back.
I walk back out to the CIC, Shepard still standing there waiting for me.
"Will," Shepard gets my attention, "let's move." I fall into step behind her.
"Roger that," I say seriously. I spot her glance over her shoulder at me. I can't read her expression though. We cycle through the airlock and catch a ride. We're in line for customs.
"Sucks that with your death you lost your Spectre status," I sigh looking ahead of the line.
"Just bear with it," Shepard sighs along side me, her arms are crossed and she's tapping her finger. The line crawls forward, I swear it's so slow I nearly fall asleep standing up... Finally we reach the front desk.
Shepard flies through, I come up next. "Name," the human customs agent asks.
"Will Doe," I answer.
He writes it down, "Reason for your visit?"
"Business," I answer yawning.
"Go on through."
I'm standing in the scan room. "How are you today sir," the turian behind the controls asks.
"Fine," I reply.
"You wouldn't believe who just passed through," he says in a slightly quieter tone.
"Really," I grin. Wow a gossipy agent.
"Commander Shepard," he says smug in the awesomeness of his knowledge.
"Wasn't she dead," I play along.
"Yeah... no its gotta be a glitch," he starts talking into his comm, "not twice in a... got it." "Please go through sir," he gestures the door opens.
I walk through Shepard is standing there tapping her foot waiting. "This one of your men Shepard," the C-sec captain... I think his name was Bailey...
"Yes."
"Did you know he was dead?"
No one was more surprised than me. "What," I shout speeding over to his desk. "I haven't even heard that."
"About a year back," he says reading it off his holo screen.
I was captured by the Owner nearly a year back... "How?"
"Your body was discovered in a warehouse," he answers, "you were identified by a girlfriend..."
Shepard glances over at me, I try to hide my face. "Name," Shepard asks.
"Liana," he answers, "didn't give a last name..."
"Don't need it," I interrupt, "I know her." "Can you fix this," I ask.
"Since you're with Shepard I could give you the same deal," he says hitting a button on his console. "There you go you're alive again." It's weird to be told that... even weirder that the whole time I've been dead... "you'd better report to the Council," Bailey advises us.
"It's why we're here," Shepard says heading for the rapid transit station. A cab ride later we're in Anderson's office.
"You'd think the revival of the savior of the galaxy would warrant the big room," I mutter.
Shepard doesn't answer, but Anderson greets us.
"Commander," he says holding his hand out, Shepard shakes it. "Doe," he extends his right hand. I flinch a bit.
"No offense," I say unveiling my right arm momentarily. His eyes widen microscopically.
"I see," his hand drops to his side.
"Now that the pleasantries are done with," the asari councillor makes herself known, "the matter at hand."
"Yes, many rumors surround your return," the salarian councillor adds, "some of them are... unsettling."
"Which one of us are you talking to," I ask to clarify.
"Both of you," the turian councillor deadpans.
"I feel all warm and fuzzy the almighty Council pays attention to me..." I mutter.
"We called this meeting so you could explain your actions," the asari councillor ignores me, "both of you, we owe you that much." "After all you," she looks Shepard in the eye, "saved our lives in the battle against Saren and his geth."
"Soveriegn," I cut in, "and his geth." They always seem to mistake that little detail.
They continue to ignore me, "The Collectors are abducting human colonist in the Terminus Systems, worse," oh god even Shepard makes dramatic pauses, "we think they're working for the Reapers."
"The Terminus systesm are beyond our jurisdiction," the turian councillor replies, "your colonists knew this when they left Council space."
"You're missing the important part," Anderson points out, "the Reapers are involved."
"Ah yes..." oh no it's air quotes time, " 'Reapers'," God I wish he was coporeal so I could punch him, "the race of sentient machines alledgedly waiting in dark space." "We have dismissed those claims," he waves it off as if swatting at an annoying bug.
"Shepard, no one else has encountered the hologram on Ilos that told you the turht about the Reapers," Anderson explains to a simmering Shepard. "Only you and your crew ever spoke with Sovereign," he adds placatingly. "I believe you," he adds quickly, "but without evidence from another source, the others think that Saren was behind the geth attacks."
"I kept Saren from conquering the Citadel," Shepard says calmly... but if you know her you know she's really pissed, "I sacrificed human lives to save this Council."
"Apparently that's where we went wrong," I mumble.
"We are in a difficutlt posisition Shepard," the asari councillor explains, "you're working for Cerberus, an avowed enemy of the Council." She gets a sad tone in her voice, "This is treason, a capital offense."
I was about to jump so far down her throat I'd... I'm gonna stop that analogy there... Anderson get's there first, "That's too far," he says with a hard edge, "Shepard is a hero." "I'm on this Council too and I won't let this whitewash continue."
"Maybe there is a compromise," the asari councillor placates, "not a public acknowledgment, given your ties, but something to show peripheral support."
"Shepard if you keep a low profile and restrict your operations to the Terminus Systems, the Council is willing to offer you reinstatement as a Spectre."
"What does that mean," Shepard asks, "will I need to start filing reports?"
"That won't be necessary," the salarian councillor answers, either missing or ignoring the sarcasm in Shepard's voice. "This is merely a show of good faith on our part."
"We cannot directly get involved in an instigation regarding the missing colonies in the Terminus Systems." "Your Spectre reinstatement shows our support for you personally," the asari councillor finishes.
"I accept your offer," Shepard says.
"Good luck with your investigation Shepard." "We hope for a quick resolution," the asari councillor adds, "and a quick end to your relationship with Cerberus."
"Now," the turian councillor draws attention to himself, "Mr. Doe."
"Now I'm in the hotseat," I say not all that nervous. If they try anything I'll just disapear. Reapear on the Normandy and never see the Citadel again... that would actually make me sad. Asshole politicians aside it's one of my favorite places.
"Due to your assitance in the Saren matter we felt it would be faster to explain yourself alongside your Commander," the asari councillor responds.
"I feel all warm and fuzzy," I reiterate my comment from before.
"Why are you working for Cerberus."
"I really don't see a point to this," I scoff, Shepard wasn't gonna be an ass to these people I'll just have to. Though I've gotta admit my hearts hammering, not that it's showing on my face.
"We are extending a courtesy..." the turian councillor begins.
"Really, I'm so sorry, were you capture for near on half a year experimented on then freed yourself, then forced to work for an organization that violates your basic moral beliefs and lose your right arm?" "Then been treated like a criminal?" Everyone in the room stares at me stunned by my outburst. "No, then fuck off." I don't know where all that came from...
I actually managed to get them to shut up... I feel increasingly nervous now... "It seems there are... extenuating circumstances," the salarian councillor the first to speak. They wink out. I don't think they've been told that since they became the Council. I nearly collapse.
"I was so scared there for a minute," I say breathing heavily. I lie down, "Can I nap here?"
Everyone just moves on from my episode, "Well that went better than I expected," he glances over at me, "almost."
"I'm very sorry," I say from my position on the floor.
"You realize the Council's offer is purely symbolic," Anderson points out, "they won't actually do anything."
"Not that they've done anything for us before," I don't know when to shut up.
"Will," Shepard says. Though I swear she's laughing somewhere on the inside. "Even if they don't help I might as well stay on good terms," she says turning to Anderson.
"Ture enough, don't worry about the Council or the Alliance," Anderson says, "I'll find some way to keep them off your back." "Shouldn't be too hard as long as you keep to the Terminus Systems."
I've realized Shepard saying my name was an order to shut up so all I can do is think my comments to myself, but she couldn't have forseen the person who just walked in... I could though.
"Anderson we need to talk about..." he notices the Councillor has company, "Shepard what are you doing here." Introducing the biggest jackass in Mass Effect. Donnel Udina...
"Planning your demise," I mutter. Shepard looks at me stern look on her face but a laugh in her eyes.
"Not used to seeing ghosts," Shepard asks, "Udina," I swear she spits his name out. A woman after my own... and here I was doing so well having casual thoughts about Shepard...
"I'd heard you were alive... both of you," he shoots a glare in my direction, I return it sincerely. "But I didn't expect to see you back on the Citadel."
I jump to my feet, "I'm out of here."
"Will," Shepard asks.
"I perfer my company to be less back stabby," I answer. I'm still pissed whenever I see his face. He nearly caused the end of the galaxy to further his own career.
"The negative feelings are mutual," he responds. "Anderson we're going to talk about this," he says with a tone of command.
"No we're not," Anderson deadpans somehow straightening his ramrod straight posture more. "I'm in charge here not you," Udina looks on the verge of screaming, "maybe you should go to your office and think about that."
Udina grumbles something and leaves.
"Ok it was worth staying in the same room just to see that," I grin.
Shepard and Anderson move over to the balcony to continue talking, meanwhile I just take a seat. I brood over my utter loss of control, I'm gonna be assassinated I just know it... I couldn't help it being treated like a criminal after all the shit I've gone through, it got to me...
"...If you ever want to talk I'll be here," I hear Anderson say. Shepard turns towards me motions and heads for the door. I stand up from a seated position.
"Later Councillor," I say following Shepard out. We can look around the Presidium now! I mean you don't know how I missed being able to do that... it's strange but I loved being able to go to all the different places. Of course since Shepard's steering I still don't get to see any other places...
Shepard leads me around until finally we stop in front of an advertisement with Kasumi's face on it. "Commander Shepard enter the enter the password and receive a free gift."
"Silence is golden," Shepard says clearly.
"But duck tape is silver," I mumble... a reflex ever since I got a T shirt with that saying on it.
"Good to finally meet you Commander Shepard," Kasumi replies. "Kasumi Goto," she introduces herself. "I'm a big fan."
"You know what you're getting yourself into, right," Shepard asks.
"I do, and I'm surprised I wasn't approached sooner," Kasumi says almost indignantly. "My fault for being hard to find I guess..."
Ok time for fame check, "Do you know me," I ask pulling my hood down.
"Will Doe?"
"So knowing Shepard does make you famous," I laugh pulling my hood back up.
"No not too many people wear hoods any more," she laughs.
"Surprised I haven't heard of you," Shepard interupts the small and completly innocent conversation... I don't know I just didn't feel anything talking to Kasumi.
"I'm the best thief in the business, not the most famous," Kasumi responds, "need to watch my step to keep it that way."
"Why all the cloak and dagger?"
"I wanted to make sure you were legit," Kasumi answers Shepard, "now I'm certain you're the real Commander Shepard."
"I wasn't enough of a clue," I ask with a small laugh.
"Bad rumors," was her only answer. Rumors?
"So you're in," Shepard preempts our conversation.
"Of course," Kasumi answers. I glance up to the point I know she's hiding at. I tap my chest and vanish. "You do know about the mission right?"
I leap up and catch hold of the ledge, I silently pull myself up. I sneak up behind Kasumi. "...won't even have to draw your gun."
"That's always nice," I say from behind her.
She turns suddenly, "Not bad."
"Thanks." I grin.
"Back to the ship." "Will down... now," Shepard orders pointing at the ground to emphasize her point.
"Woof." "Time to go," I add to Kasumi jumping down from the scaffolding. One down... nine to go...
A/N: 9 crew if you were wondering... I want to write more action! Writing action is fun, because I get to visualize this... it's not too fun visualizing people talking... It was fun visualizing the shower part... wait I didn't say that!
