As always guys, I appreciate your support and I hope everyone likes this chapter. Sorry it has been taking me so long to put out chapters, but life has picked up. I have a lot going on in the next few months so my next chapter, may not come out till later in July. I'm sorry guys, just need to get stuff sorted. Anyways enjoy.
The Knife Unseen
Chapter 8
"The strong"
"So what's your answer?" Victor quietly sat in the chair across from the captain, lost in thought.
"If I say no, then what?" He was pretty sure he knew the answer, but knew better than to assume.
"You get locked up, for a very long time." The captain replied.
"Then I guess my choice is already made for me. I didn't think C-Sec had anything to do with the Spectres though?" He said, tilting his head in curiosity.
"I had to inform the council about you. You cause to many problems for it not to be brought to their attention and they said ' It'd be a waste of such a skill set to let you go to prison' was their words." Victor could hear disgust in the captains voice.
"Alright, then lets get this over with then." Victor could tell the man wasn't indifferent about the situation. The captain wanted him to rot in prison.
"You should be honored. They hardly accept straight and arrow Spectre candidates, let alone ones with such colorful records."
Nodding, Vallok tried quietly to accept his new position in his own mind. The council was very selective on who they picked for the Spectres. So it made him wonder "Why would they pick him?" He was nothing special, just some gun for hire that had a good record of causing bad things. Hardly Spectre material in his mind, but they wouldn't have asked if they didn't think he was somewhat useful.
"Why me?" Victor asked.
"I don't know, that's a question for the council. Why don't you ask them yourself? They wanted me to send you over to them, once you had made your decision."
"The council wants to see me?" He asked, a bit taken back.
"Yep, so get ready. One of my officers will escort you there." He said as he pointed at the door behind Victor.
Hearing the door open at the same moment Victor turned his head to find an officer waiting. Looking back at the captain once more, as the man nodded. Hesitantly getting up Victor made his way to the door as the officer moved aside, making Victor stay in front of him. As he walked down the hallways he could feel his stomach churn as he tried to process everything that was happening. He couldn't help, but wonder "How life turned on somebody, so quick?" All in a few days he had lost the closest thing he ever had to someone he loves and his life was turned upside down. Now he was to become a Spectre or rot in prison. Either he'd die as a Spectre or die in prison.
Stepping into the elevator at the end of the hallway, the officer behind him followed. Judging by the mans face he wasn't all to excited to escort Victor. Figuring he had been told about his supposed massacre of C-Sec officers, which never made anyone popular with C-Sec.
The hum of the elevator as it descended, let Victors mind slip into thought again. Thoughts about Larual. He should have never gotten involved with her and she paid the price for his life. It was his responsibility to protect her and make sure she was safe, especially from him. He let himself get to comfortable with his own reputation and supposed talent. It was rule number one in his line of work, don't get to comfortable.
"Come on!" The officer in front of him tugged on his arm.
Stepping out of the elevator they began walking to the front door to exit the building. As they walked Victor could once again feel eyes all over him. As if everyone knew who he was and what he was there for. It made him unsettled and feel even guiltier about Laural. So many people judging him at once for his crimes. As if being judged by the spirits themselves. Judging him as they tried to figure out why she was dead and he was allowed to still breathe. Every moment he spent under those eyes his chest felt as if it was being crushed. As if he couldn't breathe. He didn't deserve to in his mind.
Thankful to have left the building, they walked down the steps to a waiting car. Victor couldn't help, but to think about running. He could try and run, but how far would he get? Clients were tying to kill him and it's not like he had anything to live for. All he had left was revenge, someone needed to give a life for the life that had been taken. Even if he managed to use his Spectre position to find who got Laural killed, he knew it wouldn't end it. He just hoped it could be a start towards his redemption.
-21 Years ago
Palaven
"We have to go! Get your things together, our shuttle leaves soon!" Garren's voice echoed through the house from his office.
Victor stood in his mother's doorway watching her scramble around as she packed a bag with clothes and a few personal belongings. He had been told to do the same, but it didn't take long for him. Now he just stood in his parents room doorway gripping his bag tightly.
"Mom, what's happening? Why do we have to leave?" Victor's soft young voice made Peridus stop.
Turning to find the little turian standing in the opening to her room, she let out a sigh. "You all packed? Ready to go?"
"Yes." The little turian nodded, proud of himself as he showed her his bag.
"Good." Turning back to her own bag she began throwing a few more of her things, stopping once again as she looked at a photo.
Victor knew his mother well and he could tell when she was upset. As she stared at the picture he could see her demeanor drop as a tear rolled down her cheek plate. "Mom, why do we have to leave. Are you ok?" He asked.
Sniffling she glanced at him from the side of her eye trying to keep him from seeing her face. "Yes sweety, I'm alright. Go help your father load the car so we can leave alright?"
Hesitant to leave his mother, he took a few steps closer to her before turning back around and heading downstairs. Victor found his father sitting behind a holo console typing away. "Father?" Victor spoke timidly.
"Yes son." His deep double toned voice echoed back.
"Why are we leaving?" He asked.
Taking a deep breathe he made a few more movements on the holo console before closing it. Standing up from his desk he walked over to Victor, before crouching down in front of him. "Son, we have to go away for a bit. Things here on Palaven aren't safe for us anymore. You understand?"
Nodding his head eagerly, his father patted his shoulder before standing back up. "Good. Now you want to help me take this things to the car?" He asked.
"Yes, sir." The little turian accepted his father's answer, as he went to pick up one of the bags sitting in the office.
Garren grabbed a bag from beside his desk, before walking to the door stopping as he waited for his son. Rushing to the door holding his own bag and one of his father's, he rushed out the door as Garren opened it. Outside was Palaven at it's finest as the lights lite up the night sky, leaving a horizon of buildings instead of stars. Throwing everything into the back of the car, Victor heard the door to the house open and close again.
Turing to find his mother holding a bag, she slowly inched away from the house towards the car. Garren rushed to her side taking her bag. Victor opened the door to the car getting in and waiting quietly for his parents.
Victor watched his mother stagger away from the house as his father held her up. Finally reaching the car his father lowered his mother carefully into the car before rushing to get in himself. As soon as he sat down inside he put the bg in his hand next to him and closed the door. The car whined as the engines kicked on and lifted them into the Palaven night sky.
The trip was oddly quiet as Peridus sat quietly in the front seat, looking out the window watching Cipritine go by beneath them. Garren drove without saying a word to either his mate of his son, he just drove with haste. Nothing was clear to Victor, other than the fact they were leaving Palaven. It made him scared, but in his father's presence he never allowed him to show it. His father always told him "Never show anyone you're scared or else they'll take advantage of you." So he did his best to seem strong.
The car jolted to a stop as it landed. The pad they had landed on connected to a landing area for shuttles leaving the planet. Victor's father Garren opened the door and began to help his mate out of the car. Victor hopped out shortly after, grabbing his fathers bag and his own. Having everything they needed, they walked quickly for the landed shuttle as it prepared to take off.
Stepping inside of the shuttle, Victor was surprised that they were the only ones aboard. Looking around he took a seat next to his mother who was watching Garren carefully as he went to talk to the pilots. His father poked his head into the cockpit for a moment, before returning to the main cabin area. Sitting next to Peridus he took her hand and whispered into her ear, giving her a light kiss.
The shuttle lifted higher, before pointing the nose up and taking off towards the stars. Victor watched out his window mesmerized as the stars in the sky became brighter and the sky became darker. He had never left Palaven before, but he had always dreamed of doing it one day. He just thought he'd do it under different circumstances. The shuttle shook leaving the atmosphere of Palaven as it headed for a large cruiser waiting in orbit. Victor knew the ship type, he had seen it before as models and in his books. They were turian military cruisers that were sometimes used as transports, it was apparently easier to just use a cruiser as a transport than to make a whole new dedicated transport.
The shuttle hissed as it pressurized with the interior pressure of the cargo bay of the ship. Victor and his parents grabbed their bags as they got up. They all stood in front of the door of the shuttle waiting for it to open as it pressurized with the ship. Victor could feel anxiety come over him as they waited to step onto the unknown ship, but having his parents there gave him some comfort.
-Present
Citadel
"Victor Gallis. You are convicted of 30 counts of murder. How do you plead?" The asari councilor's voice rang throughout the Citadel Tower.
Taking a deep breathe before he stepped forward, taking the podium. "Guilty, councilor." He replied.
"Then this council without any evidence to prove otherwise, sentences you the accused to life in prison." All the councilors nodded in agreement, except for councilor Spartus. The turian raised his hand stopping everyone in the tower.
Spartus lowered his hand slowly as he stared down Victor, before he spoke. "There is one alternative. You could join the Spectres?"
Victor smiled to himself at the thought of how everything was so staged for the public when it came to the council. They made the decisions before they step up their high horses and judge the people below. "If I was to accept councilor?" Victor replied.
"Then you'd be offered Spectre status, but you'd be bound to the Spectres until this council is satisfied." The turian councilor continued to stare down Victor as he spoke.
A moment passed as Victor thought about his choice carefully. He'd have to be the hand of the council, probably for the rest of his life. Suddenly his thoughts shifted to Laural as her face filled his mind. She had died, because of his neglect. He needed this in order to find the one responsible. "I accept your offer Councilors and I'm honored."
"Then it's decided, you "Victor Gallis" are to be sentenced to service the council as a Spectre." The council looked at each other nodding in agreement, before stepping off their stage area.
Sighing in disgust, Victor stepped off the podium and walked slowly down the grand stairs. Stopped by a turian standing at the bottom of the stairs, he looked over the turian that stood in front of him. Victor could tell he was probably no older than 30 with a lite gray tint to his face and large fringes. His own stature no bigger than Victor's own.
"Can I help you?" Victor said sarcastically.
"Nope, I'm here to help you." The turian replied as he stood with his arms crossed.
"Oh? Who are you?" Victor scrunched his brow in curiosity before he spoke.
"My names Gavus, I'm a Spectre and you're my new partner." He said pointing his finger at Victor.
-21 Years ago
Turian Cruiser Transport
Victor sat close to his mother as she sat at the end of the bed, staring off into nothing. He was starting to worry about her, but didn't know what he could do. His father had left to go talk to the captain on the bridge, about something and Victor was told to stay with his mother. All he could do was wait until his father returned and hope everything was alright. He hoped that maybe his father knew what to do to help her.
His mind began to wonder, he looked around the room as he listened to the constant hum of the engines. Even with everything that was going on, he was still excited at the fact they were in space. Something he always wanted to do. He couldn't help the bit of excitement building up in him. Victor's attention was grabbed when the door to the room opened to his father as he entered.
Looking at Victor first he then looked at Peridus. His eyes softened as he sat down next to her and began whispering in her ear. Tenderly he put his arm around her and tucked her head into his shoulder as she began to start sobbing. Her faint hiccups for air made Garren hold her tighter as he comforted her.
Victor had seen his father do things that seemed unwarranted for his mother, but when he did it she seemed to have needed it. His father knew when something was wrong. Every time Victor would hide something from his father, he knew. Whenever his mother was upset, he'd bring her close to him and whisper in her ear. For a man that seemed emotionless, his father knew a lot about caring. He had never really personally had much of a relationship with his father, he was always away or just didn't seem to warm to him.
As Victor sat quietly next to them, his gaze met his father's. "Son, do you know why we'll be alright?" He spoke softly.
"No, sir." He said sheepishly.
"Because we are strong. Now I need you to promise me that if anything happens, you'll run. You understand?"
"Yes, sir."
Garren stared at Victor for a few moments in silence, before speaking again. "Victor, I know I don't say this enough, but I love you and I'm proud of you."
Sitting quietly in shock, he felt his heart leap. The first time he had heard anything so heartfelt come from his father. He didn't know how to react other than to say "I love you to si..."
Garren cut him off before he could finish. "I'm your father son, not a Commander."
Nodding his head, Victor choked a little as he spoke. "I love you dad."
Victor's heart felt like it was going to explode as tears began to fall down his cheek. Garren smiled back at his son and opened up one of his arms, gesturing for Victor to come close. Standing up Victor walked to his fathers side and sat down. The moment he sat, Garren put his arm around him giving him a hug.
For the first time in his life Victor felt close to his father. It felt strange to him, but good at the same time. All he wanted to do was rap his arms around his father and hoped it'd last.
