Agent Salya pushed the bruised and bloodied Human in to the C-Sec skycar. Can't say I blame the other human for beating him. He should have known better then to use the term Pure Blood... He thought as he closed the sky car's door and banged on it to let the crew know they could take off.
As he turned, he saw the C-Sec shuttle land in front of his target's party. The media was still too focused on the brawl that had taken place to notice. He saw the Soldiers pile out, and after a brief exchange with the party he saw his target leave with them, and the shuttle flew off in to the nights sky. The target had been taken with out a fight. He smiled thinly.
"This is Agent Salya. Target is acquired, repeat target is acquired."
A moment later the voice came back. "Good work Salya. Justice will be served. You have done good work. Now resume the surveillance of Subject Alpha." The voice ordered, and Agent Salya complied.
[][][][][]
Liara, Miranda, Kaidan, and Kolyat traveled back to the Ardennes. The flight back was silent.
Garrus had stayed behind to see if he could get any answers.
The group rushed in to the conference room.
"What the hell happened?!" Kolyat said. He slammed a fist on to the table.
"Was this trap all along?" Miranda said thinking out loud.
Liara shivered at the thought. The idea that the entire trip had been nothing just a lure for Shepard.
"There was no way we could have seen it coming Miri..." Kaidan offered.
Joker had since joined them. His face twisted with rage. "Not seen this coming?! Not the fact that Anderson wouldn't give Shepard any more information then what he did. Not the fact that we didn't know who you were picking up on New Celyon, but just two people of interest? Not the fact that we have Council Security Fighters locked weapons on to the Ardennes when we arrived? They treated the ship like it was a damn prisoner transport."
The chill around Liara's heart only grew colder.
"What were we supposed to do back there, just charge the four of them without weapons or amour?" Kaidan yelled back.
"No..." Miranda said in her cold detached manner.
"Then what do we do now? Chalkwas asked.
Liara stared at the table, then looked up. "We wait and see. There is nothing else we can do till then..."
The room was silent.
Liara started to slip back in to being the Shadow Broker again. Even though she had to wait, that didn't mean she wouldn't have an idea of what was going on.
"EDI.." She said
"Yes Dr. T'Soni?" EDI responded.
"Tap in to C-Sec's communication and information network, please let me know if you find anything dealing with Shepard's arrest.
"As you wish Dr. T'Soni." EDI replied obediently.
[][][][][][]
What the hell just happened? How didn't I know? Why didn't I see this coming! The thoughts rang through Garrus' mind. He saw the rest of the ground party leave and then he stalked up to a near by C-Sec officer who was finishing up taking some eye witness accounts of the brawl.
Garrus looked in to his visor and noted the time 8:28pm.
"Officer, I need your car for the evening. Executor Vakarian."
The Officer went rigid and saluted.
"Ye..Yes Sir! But how will I finish my patrol for the night?"
Garrus looked at the agent. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. As he got into the skycar he growled. "You have two legs don't you?"
"Ah..yes sir!" The officer replied.
"THEN USE THEM!" He roared as he closed the doors and went streaking in to the night sky.
He needed to think. He needed to calm down. But how could he. He had just seen his best friend arrested by four full combat ready Agents. And worst of all he didn't know anything about it! The old helpless feeling he had when she had died the last time started to creep back.
He zoomed by cars and swept by buildings as he raced to C-Sec headquarters.
"No! I'm not helpless. I'm not just going to let her go this time! I'm not going to be a coward this time!" He screamed.
He took a deep breath and then made the call.
"Lieutenant Varla, have any shuttles arrived back at headquarters yet? Were any dispatched tonight?" He asked.
There was a long pause. He quickly swerved around a skycar that was going far to slow.
"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.
"No Sir. No shuttles were dispatched tonight according to the reports I've seen."
Garrus' mandibles twitched. Not good. Only one other person had the authority to dispatch 'spook' shuttles.
"Where is Vice-Executor Sohmon?" He asked coolly over the comms.
He had a feeling in his gut that said that C-Sec wasn't how her knew it anymore...
"Unfortunately I can't reach him right now Executor Vakarian. "
Again not what I want to hear.
"Then find him! I'm going to be at the parking pad in fifteen minuets. I want ALL reports of any arrests this evening!" He commanded.
"Understood." She said.
He would be there in ten. 'IF' C-Sec had a...problem... he wouldn't allow himself to be caught by it. If C-Sec has a problem, I'll rip it's heart out. He thought.
Rain began to fall at the Capitol when he arrived at C-Sec Headquarters. He quickly got out of the skycar and passed through the main entrance. All around him was a buzz of activity, but nothing that was causing him any immediate concern. As he went through the myriad of hallways and elevators that led to his office, officers paid him either no heed or just a nod of acknowledgement.
He boarded an elevator that would take him to the hallway where his office was located. Sohmon better have a damn good reason for being unreachable tonight... He screamed in his head.
He peered out of the elevator's windows as it passed upwards and just on time with when he would have arrived he saw three security officers carrying assault rifles running towards the entrance in order to meet him. That wasn't completely out of the ordinary. Usually he had an armed escort where ever he went in Headquarters. It was a Turian tradition for 'Leaders' to have such an escort. But such a situation could be used against him too.
The doors opened from the elevator and he quickly stepped to his office. The hallway's decor was like the rest of the Headquarters, white ceiling with shined metallic floors and walls. Austere, cold, business and straight to the point. He marched down the hall way still fuming. But then as the office doors opened his eyes widened and his jaw went slack.
"Ah! Executor Vakarian! So nice of you to have arrived early so you could join us!"
Vice-Executor Themos Sohmon, like Garrus, was a Turian. His 'skin' pigment was nearly a charcoal. He was dressed in a white uniform, which contrasted harshly with Garrus' dark Navy. Unlike Garrus' how ever, he wore no face paint.
Garrus had never questioned him on it. Sohmon had a reputation of quickly accusing anyone of doing so of inciting and perpetuation racism, and supporting old archaic traditions. Yet he could help but heart the term 'bareface' ring in his mind whenever he saw him.
Sohmon had been appointed Garrus' 'XO' by the Council by a three to one vote. The council had been reluctant to have a human in command of C-Sec after Agent Bailey's tenure, and felt it was better to have the Turians represent C-Sec again. Anderson agreed with the Council on not having a human face for C-Sec, but he had a dislike of Sohmon.
"I don't know what it is, but he just rubs me the wrong way..." Anderson had told Garrus in private once.
Sohmon standing in front of four holo-projections. Councilor Tevos, who represented the Asari, Councilor Valern who represented the Salarians, Councilor Sparatus, who represented the Turians...and Ambassador Undina, Counselor Anderson's 'Advisor'.
Garrus' office was near the atrium of the Headquartes. The broad windowpanes giving him an outstanding view, but were designed to obscure any view into his office. It was useful in situations like this when he was meeting via holo-link with the Council.
Garrus stormed forward. He wanted to grab Sohmon and throw him across the room, but he wouldn't do that in front of the Council, or Udina. He wouldn't give them any ammunition.
He simply said with fire in hi eyes, "Sohmon, what is the meaning of this?!"
Sohmon's mandibles relaxed in to what could have been a quaint 'smile'.
"The Council called a meeting to discuss a matter of great importance. And since you were not at your post, I felt compelled to answer their call."
Sohmon's 'show' was starting to make Garrus sick.
"Indeed Executor Vakarian. Care to share with the rest of us where you have been this evening?" Inquired Councilor Tevos.
Garrus' attention quickly turned to the projections, and he straightened his posture while at the same time give an annoyed huff.
"I'm glad you asked Councilor, because I have a question pertaining to this evening as well." He shot back.
"I'm sure you do Executor, but please enlighten us to dereliction of duty, and lack of judgment." Stated Councilor Valern.
Garrus' eye's widened with rage. "Dereliction of duty? Lack of Judgment?!"
"Watch your tone Vakarian, you know your place." Councilor Sparatus came back chastising.
Garrus shot a withering glance to Sohmon, who stood at ease 'enjoying the show'.
Garrus took a deep breath rethinking his strategy. He wanted answers, information. And running at logger heads with the Council wasn't going to give it to him. So he might as well play along for a bit.
"I apologize Councilors. This evening has been...trying." He said playing off a tired expression. "I was with Sergeant Krios. We were meeting a ground party of the SSV Ardennes. An Alliance frigate that had arrived just today, as I am sure Ambassador Udina knows." He peered at Udina's holo-persona. "Speaking of which, where is Councilor Anderson?"
"Anderson has...been out of contact this evening. I will do my best of fill his role until he returns." Udina said with the smoothness only a political serpent could master.
"I see." Garrus voiced.
Things are getting bad real fast, he thought.
"Now Executor, as Councilor Valern had asked, could you explain your lack of Judgment this evening." Chided Sohmon.
Garrus sneered. "I am going to need some clarification on that. I don't know what your referring to..."
"You and Sergeant Krios were seen in the company of the ground crew of the Ardennes, specifically Captain Shepard. You were seen leaving the scene of a brawl that had broken out which she had incited between a person of the media and a private citizen. You failed to stop the ensuing brawl or apprehend Shepard who instigated it." Sparatus stated cruelly.
Garrus felt like the wind had been knocked right out of him. He had seen the whole thing! Fields had instigated it, and he had gotten what he deserved. Shepard had not a damn thing to do with it! He raged in his head.
"The Captain did not start that mess!" He shot back.
"So we have heard. One of the officers who did apprehend Shepard reported that you tried to stop them from making the 'necessary' arrest." Udina said coldly
"Your insane!" Garrus yelled.
"I don't think this is getting us anywhere." Councilor Tevos stated.
Garrus looked at the wall behind the projections. He felt he was in a nightmare. He tried with all of his might to contain himself. He needed to think!
"Wait. The News hasn't even reported on the brawl yet..." He said finally looking at all of them. "...What's going on here? You don't send in a full combat ready squad just to arrest brawlers, especially when your only targeting one person of an involved group..." He said. He turned instantly to a defensive posture and posed only a side profile to their view. The reason for Shepard's arrest that was forming in his mind horrified him...
The Councilors looked on, statuesque. Sohmon stood by, still enjoying the sight of Garrus roasting.
"Executor Vakarian. You had said during your induction that you were a champion of Justice. That you wanted to rebuild C-Sec and help enforce Council law." Valern said.
"Yet you failed to apprehend the worst war criminal in all of known history." Charged Sparatus.
"What?! That's not true!" Garrus shrieked.
"Shepard has been under investigation for some time and the Council felt it was the best opportunity to apprehend the Galaxy's most heinous criminal before she could act again." Udina recited. It sounded as if he had been practicing that statement for months...
Sohmon had drawn close to Garrus and spoke softly into his 'ear'. "Think carefully Garrus about what you do next. The Council is willing to forgive your transgressions of keeping company with this Murderer and her ilk; if you agree to discuss her past actions with the Council, and help with the trial."
Garrus felt like throwing up. They were going to put Shepard on trial. It wasn't the first time, but this was a game designed to humiliate and kill. Not just act as a cheap cover. Never before had he felt so trapped, so out flanked. Even on Omega he at least had a weapon and armor, right now he felt naked. He closed his eyes, still feeling the Council's icy gaze on him, and Sohmon's chafing presence.
"Remember Garrus who and what you are. Remember your place." Sparatus slinked.
Garrus opened his eyes. He knew who he was, and his place.
Faster then Sohmon could react. Garrus grabbed his 'XO's collar.
"Get away from me." He said coldly then had landed a solid strike across Sohmon's face sending him hurling across the room.
He then turned to the holo-projection's the Councilor's surprised but not shocked to see his reaction.
"Your going to regret what you have done. You have unleashed hell! I won't stop it, even if I could. I'm done." He pointed at the projections he took out his badge and struck it down on the desk.
"Good!" Sohmon sneered staggering to his feet, fire in his eyes.
Garrus wanted to take a flying leap at him, but his eye caught the office door snap open and three armed C-Sec agents poured in to the room. Instinctively Garrus dove behind his desk and heard the metallic clang and buzzing of tazers hitting the empty space where he been just a moment before.
They want me alive. No time! He thought as he grabbed his concealed pistol from under his desk.
He heard the footsteps of the Agent's drawing closer. He had to escape. He had to get back to the Ardennes, he had to find Shepard this time! Without thinking, he aimed his pistol at the broad windowpanes and fired. The hail of rounds pierced the panes and Garrus made a low running streak for it.
He rammed through it and it shattered. The shots of the Agent's tasers barely missing him as he fell through the window. As he cascaded down, he groped for one of the many banners lining the Atrium's walls.
The fabric continued to slip past his hand, deigning him of any salvation. his fall seemed like an eternity, yet the floor was coming up fast.
He kept grouping as he fell and finally right arm's claws finally caught hold, and the fabric tore as he tried to get a better grip. The banner was failing to stop his fall, but it was slowing him down. As he neared the floor he turned to brace for the impact as he came crashing down through the branches of the Whalla trees that grew around the perimeter of the Atrium. Glass rained down on and around him. He quickly struggled to his feet, much to the amazement and shock of the people around him. His body seared with pain, but he needed to get out.
He started making a limping run towards the entrance when he felt a pinch and then the overpowering, tearing pain of shock. He then crumpled to the floor, his vision fading to black and his hearing muffled as darkness claimed him.
The last thing he heard was an Asari speaking into her comm." This is Lieutenant Varla. He's down."
...I'm sorry...Shepard... were his last thoughts.