(A/N): At this point, I'm happy for any idea of whether or not this story is coming out well or not. I'm using this as a project for college, so I like to have this work not seem amateurish when I do have to present it to anyone important. I might keep the pace up on the story, as I want to get this done hopefully within the confines of a reasonable schedule. Thanks guys, because I could use all the mental support now that finals week is closing in fast. I know I should probably pick up a copy of ME:Revelations and read the exact words and events, but time is of the essence right now. As this will include minor details from ME:Rev, I will repeat that I don't own Mass Effect, and that it belongs to Electronic Arts and Bioware.
Chapter 8: Regret
I can't help but wonder how events would've proceeded had I raised Saren in a better light. Would he still go on to suffer the fate he did? And why did it take me so long to realize the foul I had committed? Maybe I thought that having him follow my shadow would help put "me" on two fronts against the Harvesters.
Sept 20, 2165
15 hrs/13 min/01 sec
TMSD Persistence med bay, en route to the Citadel Station
Fredrick stood outside the med bay and stared at the most recent resident to the facility, Zaeed Massani. Only a few hours, he had received an anonymous tip that a deal was occurring at trade port deep into the Terminus system. He took the Persistence in to investigate, keeping a wary head about his environment, looking out for signs of a trap. When he finally arrived at the supposed site, all he found were an empty warehouse, monitors completely wiped of information, and a dying Massani lying in the middle of the warehouse and quickly bleeding out from a severe head wound.
He quickly had Massani retrieved and taken back to the Persistence for interrogation. Zaeed was lucky, and was only put into a coma from the injury, but would require some minor rehabilitation before he could make a full recovery. Fredrick gave him a small dose of nanites that were currently reconstructing damaged brain tissue, skull structure, and the forehead epidermis, but would need to take a break from physical strain before he could provide them any information about Blue Suns activity within their sector.
Fredrick walked into the med bay when he started to notice Massani slowly shift awake to see if Zaeed's condition was improving. Immediately, Zaeed's hand went to his bandaged head to take full account of his injury before grumbling, "ungh, what the bloody hell happened?"
Fredrick pulled up a swivel chair and sat beside the bed Zaeed resided in. "I was hoping you'd tell me, Massani. We'd received an anonymous tip about Blue Suns activity where we found you. When we did catch up, we found nothing but you, severely bleeding from the head, and stripped down to your undersuit. Is there anything you remember from before your injury?" he asked.
Leaning up in his bed, Massani looked at Fredrick with a mix of confusion and hesitation. "Wolf? Interesting. I didn't think we'd meet without at least one of us being in restraints or severely wounded."
Fredrick shrugged before answering, "you were dying and I figured that keeping you behind bars wouldn't be a good motivator for the interrogation. Regardless of your activities, Mr. Massani, I respect you and the tactics you deploy. It's refreshing to have an enemy that one must properly outwit, and I figured I should show some courtesy while you are aboard my ship. It'll help with the inevitable slew of questions I'll ask."
Massani simply chuckled, but was unable to hide a tingling annoyance at the back of his mind as his smile faded. "Well, sorry to disappoint, Wolf, but what you'd just arrived at was the aftermath of a betrayal. Santiago and I had a disagreement on matters, and like the wanker he is, paid a number of my own men to restrain me before finishing me of. He probably alerted you so that if the shot didn't finish me, you would. So, regardless of what you may think, I won't be much help. If the bastard is smart, he'll wipe all evidence of me from the Blue Suns records, deny any resources my name will get, and pay off any man that knew me with the organization into forgetting me like a sour Monday afternoon. If he really is smart, he'll start moving operations to places I don't know of."
Fredrick looked down with bitter disappointment. "What was the cause of the argument?" he asked.
"Hiring Batarian slavers, add them to the ranks. I'm not exactly big on slavery, and I'm fine with gunrunning, extortion, and security jobs enough, without toying with the big wigs," Massani said as he picked at his head bandage.
Fredrick made an angry growl at the back of his throat. "He decided to throw Pigheads into his ranks? The bastard has it coming. Well, seeing as I really have no reason to throw you into lock up, what should I do with you?"
Massani sighed sadly, starring blankly at the floor. "Just drop me off wherever you're heading with some creds, and I'll figure things out. Besides, I still owe you a beer, if I remember correctly."
"That's alright, Massani. No need to thank me just yet," Fredrick said as he turned to a medical officer. "Get Mr. Massani a spare change of cloths, and a mobile locker. He'll need it when we get to the Citadel."
"Yes sir, I'll be back in five minutes," the other doctor nodded before striding out of the med bay.
"Good, be sure it's according to his bodily proportions," Fredrick added.
"Wait wait wait wait, how is you speak German, he speaks Chinese, and you two can still understand each other perfectly?" Zaeed inquired curiously.
With the advent of the central neural hub that connected all the minds of the Terrans, each individual could understand languages they hadn't learned, and additionally had no troubles speaking and understanding non-Human languages. "Our neural network allows us to share knowledge and memories, such as languages. Allows us to surpass the need for translators. Anyways, we're on our way to the Citadel. No doubt you can make your way around from there. Bridge still needs me." Fredrick stood up, pushed the swivel chair back, and approached the med bay door when Zaeed called him to stop.
"Oi, Wolf! Thanks, you're not so bad after all," he complemented.
Fredrick grinned in return. "Likewise, Massani."
Nov 17, 2165
10 hrs/23 min/30 sec Local Time
TMSD Persistence bridge, on patrol in the Exodus Cluster
"Still nothing on the long range scanners, sir," the officer groaned.
"Well, there are still pirates and Pigheads still roaming this sector picking off Alliance ships that are heading out to the colonies, so keep your eyes on that monitor and finger on the intercom should someone show up," Fredrick insisted as he took another sip of his coffee. It was most certainly a relief to have someone else fend the archeological sites and trades for once, simply sitting around waiting for life to occur was too boring.
"Maybe they wouldn't have this problem if they didn't spread themselves so thin," the officer continued to complain.
Fredrick rolled his eyes at the comment. "I already told that to the Systems Alliance Parliament, and that got me another shit-talking I didn't need. If you feel you can present a better case, I can print my speech out for you to refine." He had no issues understanding why everyone had issues with Normal Humans. Not so much their "swift takeover" of the Galaxy, but how poorly they managed their resources on a vaster scale.
"Sir! I'm picking up a distress signal, it's an Alliance ship," another officer called over to Fredrick. Rising from his seat on the bridge, he walked over to the other station and looked at the screen, showing the frequency.
"How long ago was this sent, soldier?" he asked.
"A couple of hours ago, sir. It's from the Kite's Nest. Let me bring it up," the transmission officer informed as he tapped several other keys on the UI. A distorted, Human female voice came through, showing clear panic.
"Mayday! Mayday! This is Kahlee Sanders on the SSV Iwo Jima. We are under attack from Blue Suns forces, our ship is crippled in foreign territory, we've taken multiple casualties, and are requesting for assistance from anyone who can hear this transmission! Please, save us!" the voice called before the voice cut out.
"Soldier, find the system from where that transmission came from, and make it fast. We're diving into Pighead territory, and I don't think they'd like us to play in their backyard for very long." Fredrick turned to exit the bridge. "Just another day," he thought.
20 hrs/11 min/07 sec Local Time
Camala, Indris System, Kite's Nest
"What the hell is the Alliance doing this deep into Hegemony Territory anyways, Major Müller?" a marine asked him.
"It doesn't matter, they were being attacked by mercs, so we can blame it on that if the Hegemony finds us. If they don't believe us… well, it doesn't matter anyways. They hate us, and me especially regardless." While Batarians didn't live nearly as long as Asari, Krogan, or Terrans, he still left enough scars to warrant vengeance on his own head generations after the Invasion of Khar'Shan back in 2044.
"Understood, sir. What are the rules of engagement?" the marine continued to inquire.
"Keep things quite, remember that Pigheads hate me for a reason. The Persistence will be hanging back until we have rescued all survivors and potential captives. Pilot, do you have eyes on the Iwo Jima? What's her status?" Fredrick said, as he walked towards the cockpit of the dropship.
"Destroyed, sir. I'll give you another flyby, but I doubt anyone could've survived a mess like that." The pilot banked the dropship hard to the left to give a good overview of a flaming, smoldering Alliance ship, charred by HE anti-frigate rounds.
A beeping started coming from the gunship telecom, signifying an incoming message. Hello? Who is this? a dual toned voice said.
Fredrick reached for the receiver to respond. "Who is this?"
Fredrick? It's me, Saren. What are you doing here? Saren asked, with some surprise. I'm in an element zero refinery forty kilometers south of your location, picking up on a lead.
"I'm here in response to a distress call from an Alliance ship under attack from Blue Suns. Any idea why they were here?" he asked.
They were here to pick up some VIP, and here I am stuck helping Sergeant Anderson retrieve her. However, I'm more interested in some files some researchers had. I'm closing in, and I'll blow the plant once I've secured the documents. Anderson is going for someone named Sanders, you know her by any chance? Saren asked.
"No, why? What's going on?" Fredrick asked.
A wealthy Batarian had an Alliance researcher work on some rather interesting artifacts. Of course, both are now infected and they were showing some interest in Sanders for some reason. Now, I'll be honest with you, I lured the Batarian businessman Had'dah here by leaking Sanders' location. I know you'll probably tear me a new one for that, but I needed to close the distance and get those documents from Had'dah. If they are documents on the Harvesters, this could be the break we've been looking for, Saren stated. For now, get Sanders and Anderson out of here, if they really are as important as matters suggest them to be.
Fredrick sighed and continued, "Fine, I'll help clean up for you for old-times' sake. But don't expect me to do so again, Saren. I won't be helping to clean up relations with the Systems Alliance again, either."
Yeah, yeah, just hurry. I don't have much time to work with here, because I'll be setting the facility to detonate, Saren finished.
Fifteen minutes later, the dropship touched down near the refinery and exited the ship and attempted to contact Anderson in the facility via common Alliance frequencies. "Sergeant Anderson, can you hear me?"
Anderson's familiar voice returned, major, you're a bit late. I've secured a friend of mine, and I'm bringing her out of the facility. Where are you?
"Just touched down outside. You might want to hurry, Saren will be detonating the facility," Fredrick answered as he watched his men establish a perimeter.
What! Why? Anderson called with shock.
"Why not?" Fredrick responded. "It's a Pighead facility, and I see no reason why to do otherwise."
There are innocents in here, major! You have to stop that madman before he blows several hundred Batarian workers to dust! Anderson argued.
"You're really stretching the definition of 'innocent,' sergeant. Besides, the remains of a downed Alliance ship in Pighead territory are already bad enough, and your presence could easily be interpreted as an act of retaliation. This has to happen, Anderson," Fredrick countered.
Anderson sighed with contempt. I hope you are willing to answer should this outcome state otherwise. I'll be exiting the facility on the Northwest side to meet you.
"Copy that." Fredrick ended the call and took a small team of four with him to protect the Northeast entrance from security as Anderson exited. The few guards that stood by were picked off and dragged to the shadows, away from the security cameras. After cutting power to the cameras, Fredrick opened the door and let Sergeant Anderson and Kahlee Sanders out. The group of seven swiftly returned to the dropship and took off just as the facility behind them was consumed in an enormous fireball.
Returning to the cockpit, Fredrick opened coms with the Persistence,ordering, "Persistence, this is Major Müller. Survivors have been retrieved and we are ready for pick-up."
Nov 18, 2165
06 hrs/10 min/43 sec
Systems Alliance district, Citadel Station
"What I'm asking for is a game for my men to play that has an online community that is less… hostile." Fredrick was sick of the multiplayer games his men had purchased for the req room, and wanted something of a more gentle tone. He was looking through the catalogue of games to purchase, and he wasn't finding anything that remotely matched his criteria.
The shop owner shook his head and answered, "I dunno where you've been living, grandpa, but those sorts of games are few and far apart."
"Or, at least something that has plenty of replayability and some multiplayer components where the vast majority of the playerbase isn't composed of poorly parented children." Fredrick had taken note that the more toxic game communities had a tendency to retain a much younger demographic, or a demographic of adults who'd failed to exit their teen years.
"Well, then I'd recommend Civ: Galaxy. Just got onto the shelves, worth forty creds," the shopkeeper gestured to a game on display in the counter.
Fredrick walked out of the store with the game slipped into his backpack and made his way to the port when he encountered Anderson sitting on a bench. Anderson sure was becoming increasingly cranky in the hours after he returned to the Citadel. When he'd returned, Saren had came back with a report of his own, stating that the mission had failed because of a mistake on Anderson's accord. Since Saren had been sent along to evaluate Anderson as a Specter candidate, this had been costly to the Alliance's political movement towards a Human Specter, and much more.
Fredrick sat down next to Anderson, and asked, "Hello, Sergeant. How are you holding up?"
The sergeant simply shook his head somberly and continued to stare at the ground. "I don't know, I don't know how I could've horribly messed up this opportunity."
"Look, this wasn't your fault, the outcome wasn't entirely under your jurisdiction. There was no way you could've prevented the destruction of that refinery," Fredrick said, trying to comfort Anderson in his moment of defeat.
Anderson's attitude suddenly shifted, and his somber was swiftly replaced with anger. "You're right. That bastard Saren set me up, I knew he was an asshole the moment I met him!"
Agitating Anderson was not what he was hoping to achieve. "Woah! I understand that Saren may have bad attitude, but he's not that bad of an individual. He has some grudges, that's all."
Anderson was clearly not convinced by Fredrick's defense. "You obviously haven't seen him on the field, major. He's well trained, and uses his skills with ruthless efficiency, without wasting an ounce of energy. He has no problems going through civilians to get to his goal, and doesn't mind shooting those who have surrendered."
"Well, as a Specter, he's well trained and is obliged to do whatever it takes to finish the job. He isn't exactly expected to take responsibility of the damage he causes, and he most likely kills those who are responsible to some extent," Fredrick continued to try to defend, even feeling his own defense wear thin.
"Bullshit, and you know it. Those were civilians in that refinery. The Batarians may be assholes, but that doesn't detract from their status as people too, Müller. So why are you trying to defend Saren?" Anderson spat.
Fredrick genuinely cared for Saren. He felt the Turian was formed from his own flesh and blood from his training, but he couldn't pull that excuse due to it being considered "classified" Specter information. Had he really raised Saren to be the same, crooked, damaged, heartless bastard he was? At least he was willing to admit himself was a complete devil. "Alright, maybe I haven't known him for long enough. It's just… I heard better things about him. Anyways, I've got certain matters to attend. I'll see you again, sergeant."
Fredrick stood up and walked away from Anderson and back up to the Presidium. Before he left to return to the Persistence, he wanted to talk one more time with Saren. Maybe he could explain why he didn't want Anderson in the Specters. He thought the two had parted on generally good terms at the end of the First Contact War. After exiting the elevator, he gradually made his way to the Specter training center, hoping to catch Saren there when Saren suddenly approached him from the side half way there.
"Fredrick, good to know that you haven't left yet. I managed to get the files I mentioned. Or at least most of them," Saren greeted.
"What do you mean, 'most of them'? What happened? Did Dah'Har destroy some of the files?" Fredrick asked.
"I'm not sure. Physically, the datapads were untouched, but the files I managed to pick off his personal computer seemed to be altered. Files were missing, some lines of text were left unreadable, images deleted, and the UI was left unrecognizable. While most of the pieces are still here, it will take me time to rebuild their work. However, from what I can tell, it's research on a dreadnought predating the Protheans, the details are still sketchy and I can't even tell where they found it, but I believe this might give us the chance we need," Saren explained as he pulled out a datapad and showed Fredrick the information.
Fredrick handed back the datapad with a smile. "Good, remember to keep in contact unless it is absolutely necessary to keep to the shadows. I pray the council is infected, but the universe has shown me time and time again that it isn't prone to granting me any good fortune. Anyways, about the mission to Camala, I heard you put Sergeant Anderson in a rather unfair light," he returned, as his smile faded.
"Yes I did, but I believe it's for the best, and I know you will too. The Normal Humans are rapidly expanding into the Attican Traverse at an alarming speed, and to the point where they themselves are barely able to protect it all. Hopefully you understand that there is an issue to this matter," Saren explained.
Fredrick didn't know what to believe. After the diatribe he'd heard from Anderson, his standing with Saren faced two different directions. "So, how does using Anderson as a scapegoat fit into all of this?"
"They need to recognize that they are at great risk when all their assets are light-years apart. Up until about, what? Fifty years ago? They were still within their own system, whereas you and the Terran Republic had one hundred and thirty cycles to become accustomed to the new distance by the time they arrived. If they continue to strain themselves like this, the Harvesters will incinerate them without mercy and with great speed that will leave everyone else speechless. Simply put, they aren't ready for their seat in the Galactic community just yet. Besides, if it weren't for their foolish desire for more, you wouldn't have to be guarding their assets for them, would you?" Saren argued.
Fredrick sighed, recognizing some of the same rhetoric patters he would've used. Regardless of what Saren may have become, he would still be proud of him and everything he'd taught. "Yes, I do understand. Stay safe Saren, the Harvesters are watching our every step."
