Ch. 8
The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly', meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks', meaning 'blood sucking parasites'.
Larry Hardiman
After the officers were made aware of the situation they left grumbling about false alarms. "Thanks," I say turning to Shepard. '...barley even human...' I don't know why such a short statement bothers me, but it does. Wait a minute, "Where's Liana," I say looking around.
"We actually were about to ask you that," Shepard says.
"She probably snuck off to talk to-," I stop almost said the Owner, "her contacts."
Shepard noticed the pause and most likely knows I'm lying, but she doesn't press me on it. "What about you," Shepard asks.
"I'm more of a pick up guy," I say, "I could find some leads but I don't really have contacts." A thought enters my mind, Fist, Tali, the data.
"We could use your testimony at the trial," Shepard says, "to confirm our stories."
"Uh are you sure," I say.
"Yes come with us," Shepard orders. I follow them into the elevator that goes to the presidium.
"Crazy huh," I say, I've always wanted to be in an elevator conversation, they were one of my favorite things in ME1.
"What," Kaiden answers, figures 3 people in the elevator and the one who answers is the guy.
"Geth following a rogue spectre, that massive dreadnaught, and Shepard's visions," I say. After the words come out I think, oh crap no one told me about the visions yet.
"Yeah," Kaiden answers. The elevator reaches the top floor and I get my first look at the presidium.
"Wow," I say.
"You get amazed by a lot of things," Ashley says.
"I can't help it this is my first time on the Citadel," I say then as a cover, "for obvious reasons."
"Yeah," Ash says.
I love the presidium is peaceful quiet, and if not for a certain politician it would be perfect, well and maybe a few more quarians, "Captain Anderson I see you brought half your crew," afore mentioned politician says. Ambassador Udina I've beaten ME1 dozens of times and every time I make Anderson go after Udina, oh and surprise he's no less of an ass in real life. "And who is this man," Udina says, great I get personal attention.
"This is Will Doe a mercenary who helped Shepard on Eden Prime," Captain Anderson answers.
I nod my head, "Sir," I say in greeting.
"His testimony will be useless," Udina says, stupid, self supporting, future back-
"I believe it would help and as he isn't Alliance he did not have to submit a report so his version of events could help," Anderson says, oh crap just remembered I'm horrible at public speaking I start mumbling and well I'm not good at it.
"I'll do my best," I say, a hundred times more worried than when I walked in.
Then Udina starts going off about the political implications, how Shepard messed up on Eden Prime, and pretty much being a general ass, now I'm fairly against bad language, but I can't think up another word that describes him better.
"Come with me captain I want to go over a few things before the hearing Shepard you and the others meet us at the citadel tower top level, I'll make sure you have clearance to get in," Udina says and with that he and Captain Anderson leave.
"And that's why I hate politicians" Ash says.
"I couldn't agree more," I say, "well just that one for now."
This gets a smirk out of Shepard, "Lets go to the Council Chambers."
I start taking slow deep breaths this draws looks from my companions, "Sorry I'm a little nervous."
"What's there to be nervous about," Shepard asks.
"Uh the fact that I'm going to be talking to the leaders of the most powerful government in the galaxy," I say, I should not have voiced that now I'm more nervous. I go back to my deep calming breaths. We reach the base of the tower, "Man that's tall."
We get into the elevator and I step far away from the glass, but curiosity gets the better of me I go over and look, ok now I'm a little light headed. "What's wrong," Shepard says.
I shake my head, "Nothing, just got a tiny problem with heights its nothing really," I answer.
We arrive at the top floor I see Garrus talking with another turian I think he's the Executor, or something like that. "Your investigations over Garrus." he says as he walks away. "Commander Shepard, Garrus Vakarian, I was the C-sec officer in charge of the investigation of Saren."
"Sounds like things didn't go too well on your end," I say.
"Saren's a spectre most of his activities are classified I couldn't get anything solid, but he's up to something, like you humans say I feel it in my gut," Garrus says. I begin thinking, even now you can see it him becoming archangel his distaste in the system.
"I think the council is ready for us commander," Kaiden says. We head up the stairs at a brisk pace.
"C'mon the hearing has already started," Captain Anderson says I follow Shepard and him up the stairs until I see them the councillors from each of the 3 most powerful races, the Asari, the Turians, and the Salarians. Next to them was a giant holographic representation of Saren.
"The geth attack on Eden Prime is a problem of some concern," the asari councillor says, "but there is nothing to indicate that Saren was involved in any way."
"The investigation by citadel security turned up no evidence to support your charge of treason," The turian councillor adds.
"An eye witness saw him kill Nihlus in cold blood," Udina argues.
"We've read the Eden Prime report ambassador, the testimony of a traumatized dockworker is hardly compelling proof," the salarian councillor shoots back.
"I resent these accusations Nihlus was a fellow spectre and a friend," Saren says.
"That just let you catch him off guard," Anderson shouts.
"Captain Anderson, you always seem to be involved when humanity makes false charges against me," Saren says almost smugly.
I put my hand up forget this "Excuse me."
I surprise everyone, including me, "Ambassador who is this," the asari councillor asks.
"This is Will Doe, he was on Eden Prime during the attack," Udina says.
"If I could make my report and leave I'd be much obliged," I say.
"Please enlighten us to your experience," Saren says mockingly.
I begin telling everything how it happened not leaving out any detail until the point where I reach my search for Liana. "That didn't tell us anything we didn't already know," The Turian councillor says.
I shrink back a bit, "I'm merely saying what the events were from my point of view," I say.
"An excellent representation of what the human race should be," Saren says laughing at my expense.
"You," I start to say but Shepard grabs my arm I turn to her she shakes her head. No.
"Do not insult Will," Shepard says with finality.
"Fine then shall I insult you," he says.
I mumble to myself, "Bigot."
Saren notices "What's that I can't hear you."
"I said you were a bigot," I say and turn to walk away.
"See the human run away," Saren says, I lose a small amount of control in the form of a 1 finger salute over my shoulder.
They start arguing about Shepard's spectre candidacy, but I know how it goes I keep walking after I pass Kaiden and Ashley.
"Hey whats-," They both say. I ignore them I'm takin' that bastard down now!
