A/N: Awrighty then! So next up with Art and the gang, we get going with heading to Sur'Kesh to get that krogan princess back. Expect lots of crazy things to go down when the krogan princess gets in on the action. How crazy will it get?

Well...

You won't find out this chapter. Ha!

Seriously, though, this chapter of MV3 will do things a little differently. This will be what is known as the B Story of Mass Vexations 3, where we see what's going on with the galaxy outside of Art's experience. It will get particularly crazy there, but you'll see this every time we hit the conclusion of one of MV3's major arcs.

So... what's the basic gist of this?

Well... I'll just say this:

Don't you think it's about time we checked in on Shepard here?

Chapter 9: B Story: Defensive Maneuvers

I lean back at my desk, examining the multiple datapads in front of me. All office work... I'm going to need to get this sorted soon. Especially now that cases have been coming in slowly, I think I should have some time. Literally the only employee I have right now is a secretary, so...

Hard times have fallen on me indeed.

I shake my head, moving to pick up the first datapad that's on my desk. I glance at the information briefly as I stand up from my desk... Yes, this case. This one ended in disaster... I shouldn't have been so reckless. I underestimated the prosecution's case, I really did... Perhaps if I had been more careful, it would not have resulted in the prosecution of my defendant... Well, I learn, I guess...

I shake my head, opening a file and placing the datapad in its proper place. I also let out a soft sigh.

As soon as I walk back to my desk, I hear a ringing at my terminal, and then blink as I look at the terminal. I then look up, and... yes, there she is. My secretary Lalia stands at the door, leaning against it. She's asari, of course, and quite reserved for someone who's supposed to be in her maiden stage. I've seen people like her get into crazier situations, but she's helpful and dependable, so...

"It's for you, Will."

I nod, sitting back down and taking some datapads off of my desk. "Thank you, Lalia," I say.

Lalia leaves me there, and then I turn to the terminal. All right, let's see...

I accept the call, and then sit back. "Moskas and Lutherax, attorneys at law," I say. "How may I help you?"

"Is this Mr. William Moskas?"

The voice at the other end of the line is serene. And it's a woman, so... Hm...

"Yes, this is he," I reply, looking around my office again. "Do you need something, ma'am?"

I lean forward as the other voice responds. "Yes, we find ourselves in need of your services," says the woman on the other end of the line. "So you know, this will put you on the federal paycheck."

"Really?" I ask, getting out a blank datapad and beginning to type some things on it. "I assume the client can't afford an attorney?"

"No, but our family doesn't have an attorney at the moment," says the voice on the other line. "The nature of this case is very... strange, if you will. The prosecution has kept on holding off the trial for some reason, but..."

"Well, if the prosecution keeps on holding off the trial, then it's best to get a lawyer as soon as possible," I comment. "Even if they tell you not to, do it anyway, because it gives the client and the attorney time to formulate a defense."

"That's what some of my friends told me to do," replies the woman at the other end. "It is actually a very important case."

"What's the nature of the charge?" I ask.

"Treason."

I blink, stopping my typing momentarily. I... "I'm sorry, did you say 'treason'?" I ask.

"Yes, Mr. Moskas," replies the woman on the other end of the line.

... Well...

"Then this just got interesting," I say. "I've never taken on a treason case before. Who's the client?"

"Jocelyn Shepard."

... Wait, what?

I pause typing again, looking right at the terminal. "Wait," I say. "You don't mean... the Jocelyn Shepard, the hero of the Citadel?"

"I... I do..." says the other woman.

I shake my head. "Jesus," I say softly. I type more rapidly now. "I've been keeping up with that development ever since Shepard got arrested by C-Sec. I didn't know that she hadn't even gotten an attorney yet!"

"We've been waiting for word from the Council," says the woman. "They've been delaying the trial on the premise that they want the entire crew present when they try Shepard for treasons."

"I was wondering about that," I mention. "So you decided to get an attorney on the case. I must say, I've never defended anyone against treason before, miss..."

"Captain Hannah Shepard," she replies. "I'm Jocelyn's mother... and I know that my daughter didn't betray the Council."

"I don't think so either," I say. "I mean, it's Commander Shepard we're talking about here, I think you and I both know that she wouldn't do something unless she had a good reason to."

I can hear a grateful sigh. "That's good to hear from someone else," says Hannah. "All I've been hearing from the Alliance is how she betrayed their ideals and the Council. I need someone who can prove them wrong."

I blink, looking to my other case files. Well... I'm not sure what happens for a treason charge. I mean, how many lawyers get to defend someone from treason? And yet... this is Commander Shepard here. I don't think she did anything really all that wrong. And to get to defend her in court... Whether or not I lose, that's the opportunity of a lifetime. And I'm sure I'll be able to prove her innocense some way or another.

"Very well," I say. "I'll take the case."

"I... Truly?" she asks. "I didn't think you'd take the case."

"This is Commander Shepard we're talking about here," I reply. "It would be an honor to defend someone who saved the galaxy." I frown. "Just, one question: why didn't you get any military defense lawyers for your case?"

"None of them wanted to defend Shepard," she replies.

What? That... "They didn't want to defend one of their own?" I ask, leaning forward slightly. "How could people be so cold to one of their own?"

"I don't know," says Hannah. I can imagine that she is shaking her head right now. "I think there's been some stigma against her for 'abandoning the Alliance and becoming a Cerberus dog'. You were the last resort."

"I guess my history as a former military lawyer plays into it, I guess," I say. "I left the profession a while ago, Captain. Is it so hard to ask courts to show some respect for people who aren't afraid to give their lives for the safety of everyone else?"

"Perhaps it did," replies the Captain. "I only want a defense for my daughter. The Shepard clan is full of fighters, and I won't let my daughter be executed without the assurance that she fought to prove her innocence to the end."

I nod at this. Well, she is qutie dedicated to her daughter, so... "We'll see what happens with that, ma'am," I say. "I'd like to meet with your daughter whenever possible. Can I just pop in?"

"You'll have to make an appointment first," she says. "C-Sec can be pretty stringent about that..."

I frown. C-Sec, huh? Something seems off about all this... I'm not sure exactly what it is, but... This is not a usual case. I'll have to bring this up with Nad later today, see what he makes of this...

"This is a very odd case, Captain," I admit. "I'd expect your daughter to be in an Alliance brig or something..."

"Technically, she's under Council jurisdiction," she replies, as if she's anticipated that question. "So they're holding her on the Citadel until further notice. So far, though, she's shown no attempts to resist."

I blink, nodding soon after. "So she's cooperating with authorities," I say. "Well, apart from when she was first captured, anyway..."

"My daughter isn't stupid," replies Hannah. "But I trust you can visit her, formulate a strategy together..."

"Indeed," I reply. "Well... I'll take this case. I'll discuss pricing and further consultations after I have met with your daughter."

"Excellent," replies Hannah Shepard. "I can't thank you enough."

I nod. "The pleasure's all mine, Captain Shepard," I reply. "I'll do my best to help your daughter."

And with this, I end the call. Hm... Well, if we're going to build a case now... I nod, stepping out of my office.

"Lalia," I say. The asari turns to me, pausing in her movements as she looks. "Cancel my appointments for the rest of the day, and see if you can get me an appointment with my latest client."

"Yes, sir," she replies, her attention back on the terminal as she typed away on the holographic interface. "So... Commander Shepard?"

"You better believe it, Lalia," I reply.

"Nad will probably be pretty awestruck to hear it," she says. "I think he might not be entirely too happy at the fact that you may have bitten off more than you can chew here."

"He'll be fine," I reply, crossing my arms. "I'll admit, I never thought I'd be asked to defend Commander Shepard."

"Well, there we have it," Lalia replies. "Just so you know, sir, I'm behind you the entire way. You ask me to jump, I'll ask you 'how high', as the saying goes."

I smile. "That's appreciated Lalia," I say. "I'll be in my office, getting ready. Let me know when the appointment is scheduled."

Lalia simply nods, giving me a soft smile that I've come to know quite well over the years.

"Will do, Will."

About three hours later, I step out of the rapid transportation vehicle and am greeted by a small contingent of C-Sec officers. I blink, looking at a seemingly grizzled old human as he nods. He looks rather old, but he's in a C-Sec uniform, which means that he's probably in charge of one of the Wards. I don't know if he's in charge of Shepard, but from the look of this prison, I doubt it. I glance at the prison again, noticing how odd it feels situated in the Kithoi ward like this... Well, I might as well get used to it.

My attention is turned back to the man in front of me. "Mr. Moskas?" he asks.

"That would be me, sir," I say, extending my hand. "Please, call me Will."

The C-Sec returns the gesture, and we shake hands as he nods. "Captain Bailey," he replies. "I'm in charge of the Zakera Ward."

"A pleasure, Captain," I reply. "Are you in charge of Shepard?"

At this, he shakes his head, the two of us walking towards the prison. "No," Bailey replies. "But I am here in relation to her. She's got a visitor right now, and I'm technically supposed to be in charge of him."

I raise my eyebrows. "A visitor?" I ask. "Is it Kaidan Alenko?"

"No," says Bailey pointedly. "That man is way too busy with some kind of Alliance business right now." He holds his hands behind his back. "No, this is the son of someone who's still on the Normandy at the moment."

"Oh?" I say. "I see..." I then raise my hand as I walk along. "I wonder whose son it is..."

"Kid's got very few people right now," says Bailey. "His father's trying to do right by him, though I imagine that with an arrest warrant on his head that'll complicate things quite a bit. So in the meantime, she's the only form of support the kid has."

Wait... "So Shepard was seeing this boy's father," I finish.

"I think so," replies Bailey. "The kid asked me about what would happen if he thought his father was trying to replace his mother." He shakes his head. "Questions like that tend to leave very little room to interpret things."

"I'll say," I reply. "The Council seems to be getting very involved in this case."

Bailey shakes his head. "This is a big deal for them," he says. "Shepard saved their lives. I don't think the asari and salarian councillors have forgotten that, but the turian one seems to forget that fact a lot..."

"We'll think about the Council when we get there," I comment as we come up to security. "Uh... will I have to make appointments through such complicated channels in the future? It took my secretary a pretty long time to schedule this appointment."

"Usually, they get better about it if you schedule things in advance," says Bailey as he and I walk up to the security checkpoint. "Since you scheduled so unexpectedly, they were probably just caught off guard. Happens all the time."

"So I see," I say. "Security is probably more thorough here, so..."

"You won't have to worry about that, Mr. Moskas," replies Bailey. "Just cooperate, and you should be all right."

I nod, pulling out a spare datapad and waving it to the guards in charge of the prison as they direct me to a screening area. "I'll keep that in mind."

And with this, I'm ushered through security rather quickly.

After a while, we're moved through the prison. It's funny... I've been to many prisons on this station, but never a prison like this... The security checkpoint was absolutely rigorous, really. I'm surprised Bailey got through, but then, I guess I shouldn't be surprised seeing as how he's a C-Sec captain and all. I felt a little claustrophobic at the checkpoint to be honest.

Well, I'm in no position to complain, I guess. After all, they do what they must, since from what I hear, this place has some very dangerous criminals. And it shows, too, because I'm escorted to my cell by a group of about four C-Sec guards, though I guess it helps that Bailey is with us.

I turn to the captain again, looking at him nervously. "Do you come here often?" I ask.

"Not until recently," replies the captain. "The kid is trying to make sense of his relationship with Shepard."

"I can't say I blame him," I add. "He must be going through a lot, seeing his father be one of the most wanted men in Citadel space, and having someone he's afraid might replace his mother at the same time."

"Probably," says Bailey. "I give him some distance. Best thing to do at a time like this." He shrugs, even as the guards turn down a hallway. "I should probably get him out of there so you can talk to Shepard."

I nod. "That would be appreciated," I say. "Just... be careful with how you word it..."

"He's old enough that he can handle it," he replies, even as the guards train their eyes on one particular cell. "We're almost there, we'll worry about that then."

And with this, we walk right up to the cell. When we do, I see Shepard sitting against the cot, her back leaning against the wall as she silently looks at the other occupant. The other occupant... is a teal-colored drell who's standing at the other end of the cell. He has a very slight scowl on his face, but it is not terribly prominent, even as I see him wringing his hands together. From the looks of things, there has been an awkward silence between the two of them for some time.

...

So Commander Shepard is seeing a drell...

Huh. Nad would be quite pleased to see that, I think.

I hear one of the guards step forward. It's one of the turian guards, who hits his assault rifle against the floor. "Hey, kid, you need to get out of there," he says. "Shepard's attorney is here."

The drell frowns, looking at the guards, Bailey, and I, and then to Shepard. "You had hired an attorney already?" he asked.

Shepard shakes her head, standing up. "It must be my mother," she says. I... I can't believe it, I've heard Commander Shepard speak... "Kolyat... be careful out there."

He then turns to look outside of the cell, and notices Bailey. He gruffly nods as one of the guards takes a look at the mass effect field keeping Shepard and Kolyat caged inside the rather small cell. The guard nods, manipulating a control with his omni-tool that then causes the field to dissipate. Shepard sits there listlessly, even as Kolyat walks out.

"Yeah," he replies. "I'll be careful."

With this, I nod to Captain Bailey. "She's all yours, Mr. Moskas," he says.

I nod, smiling. "Thank you, Captain," I say, stepping within the cell. I turn to the guards as soon as I'm within the cell, holding my blank datapad as I gesture to them. "So I know, how long do I have to work something out with my client?"

"Half an hour," replies one of the guards.

I nod. "Thank you," I say.

With this, the mass effect field forms again, trapping myself and Shepard in the cell. I nod, as the guards walk away with the kid and Bailey walking with the guards soon after. All right... down to business.

I look to Shepard soon after, and it's then when I notice the confused look she's giving me. "You don't look like any military lawyer I know," she says.

I shake my head. "Well, I'm not exactly your average military lawyer," I reply. "I'm an ex-military lawyer, actually."

The Commander blinks at this. "Ex-military?" she asked.

"I retired after a bit," I reply. "It was getting a bit tiring on me. So I was discharged. Honorably, thankfully." I shift slightly. "Since then, I started a practice on the Citadel. I never thought I'd get into doing military law again, but apparently nobody else who's had that kind of experience wants in to defend you, so..."

Shepard scoffs at this, leaning back with an even more bitter expression on her face. "I'm not that surprised by this point," she admits. "I've had basically everyone important betray me... The Council, Anderson, the Alliance, Kaidan Alenko..." She shakes her head. "It's good to know that my mom at least hasn't turned her back on me yet, and managed to find someone who has experience with this kind of thing to boot." She shakes her head. "I find it a little hard to believe that nobody in the Alliance's employ wanted to defend me. I guess they abandoned me too, like all the others..."

I nod grimly. "You really don't deserve it," I say. "I mean... Christ, you saved the galaxy once! You'd think that there would be less of a backlash against you when something like this happens. I mean... I don't know if you want to hear it, but I don't think you'd have done something without a damn good reason to."

Shepard chuckles bitterly. "Well, it's nice to see my attorney isn't out for my blood too," she says.

I nod, smiling. "It's an honor to get the chance to defend you, Commander," I say. "I can't wait to go to court with something."

"Yeah, neither can I," says Shepard. I sense from her tone that there's something... sarcastic about how she's putting it.

I simply shrug, pulling my blank datapad to attention as I walk into the cell. "Do you mind if I sit?"

"No," she replies.

"Very well then," I say, taking my seat at the opposite end of the cot from her. "Now... We need to think up a legal strategy, and one that's going to work against the Council."

"So no mentioning the 'Reapers' then," she says bitterly.

Reapers? "I... don't even know what those are," I say. "Technically, this is about your supposed connections with Cerberus that were leaked to the mass media. So... let's dispell illusions right now. Did you work with Cerberus?"

Shepard smiles. "Yes," she says.

I blink, frowning. "Really?" I ask. "You worked with Cerberus."

The commander simply points at me. "'With', being the key word," she says. "I was not working 'for' Cerberus, as everybody else seems to think."

Wait... 'with', versus 'for'... 'For' implies that she had been made an underling of Cerberus, and that she was answering to somebody. 'With' implies that she was forming an alliance...

"That doesn't help that much," I admit. "That distinction isn't one that many people will be able to distinguish for what it is. I can see the difference of the wording, but..." Hm, if we go with this question, then we probably won't get far... Hm...

"Let me rephrase my question," I say, shifting in my seat. "What was the nature of your relationship with Cerberus?"

Shepard nods. "They provided me with funds, a crew, and a ship with which to stop the Collectors from abducting human colonies," she said. "I didn't like it, but I went with it because they were giving me the resources I needed. I spoke directly to the Illusive Man throughout the mission, and he made it clear when we started our little partnership that if I wasn't happy with the way the mission was going, I could leave his employ at any time."

I nod, typing this all down on the blank datapad. "That definitely doesn't sound like your average terrorist mission," I say. "Isn't the safety of the colonies the Alliance's responsibility?"

"But they weren't doing anything," replies Shepard. "Which means that Cerberus took matters into their own hands to look out for humanity."

Ah, there we go! I snap my fingers, pointing at Shepard while grinning. "Then there's our defense," I mention. "Yes, you worked with Cerberus, but you were doing so because they were providing the resources to help save the colonies, an action which should have been the responsibility of the Alliance and the Council. Therefore, your actions were still within your responsibilities as a Spectre. Admittedly not the best defense since it doesn't completely cover two years, but it's workable," I say. "Now... we've gotten that much out of the way. The next bit... that involves Tela Vasir, no?"

"Tela Vasir betrayed the Council herself," she says. "When I killed her, she was taking a job for the Shadow Broker."

I snort. "Well, that solves that," I say. "We just need to prove both of those things, and we should have a good defense." I type some more things on the datapad. "Though, it'll also help if we can get any witnesses not affected by the arrest warrant. Are there any that might come to the top of your head?"

"There might," says Shepard. "One of the dossiers sent to me was of a Justicar by the name of Samara. She swore an oath to help me in her mission, and when she broke it, I don't think she had a reason to go after me. She left the Normandy before Tela Vasir died, so she shouldn't be affected by the arrest warrant."

... Whoah, what?

"A justicar?" I ask, blinking. "Shepard, that..." I shake my head, frantically typing that information down. "That's going to help a lot, provided that she is able to come to the Citadel. It might be enough to win over any asari that preside over the case, and it'll definitely help against the asari councillor."

Shepard frowns. "And how do you know that?" she asks.

"My secretary and friend is an asari," I reply. "She talks about Thessia quite often, and even some tales of Justicar bravery. Anyway, not the point." I then look back to her. "So we have a strong witness, and hopefully one that can deflect the prosecution's questions. Now... we need evidence. From what I've noticed in the media coverage, the media is blaming the disappearances on the colonies on Cerberus. But if your mission is what you say it is, you'll have to prove that Cerberus was actually helping. Do you have any evidence of that?"

Shepard nods. "The colonists from Horizon that were on the Normandy can testify that it was the Collectors," she says.

"You mean the colonists that are still on the Citadel?" I ask. "I see... If we can bring them to the witness stand..." I nod, writing that down. "We'll also need some evidence to prove their assertions, though."

Shepard nods. "You know Freedom's Progress?" she asks. Freedom's Progress... Yes, that was one of the affected colonies. I nod at this, which Shepard takes as a tacit cue to continue. "That was the first colony Cerberus sent me to. Everyone had already been abducted by that point, but we managed to find a quarian on Pilgrimage who had evaded it all. He had recorded some surveillance footage on it..." She frowns. "I don't know where it is, but if we could find it..."

"...then that would be good evidence," I reply, typing that down. "I don't know if getting a quarian to testify on your behalf would be a good idea, though. The Migrant Fleet might not like the idea of releasing someone who went through that to testify."

Shepard shakes her head. "The poor kid went through a lot," she says. "He's still traumatized by it, I bet. Besides, I don't think there's anything he could say that the footage he got doesn't, so..."

"So it would be redundant anyway," I say. "That works. That doesn't explain the two year gap, though..."

"I was clinically dead during that two-year gap," says Shepard. "Cerberus spent those two years reviving me..."

I frown. I blink, then write that down. "And you've told them that," I say.

"They don't believe me," she says.

I shake my head. "Honestly, who would?" I ask. "I don't mean to be abrasive, Commander, but using that to justify your two-year gap is probably pushing our luck. We have a reasonably solid defense by this point, that's the one hole that the prosecutors would be all over if we can't prove it. And it might be the downfall of our whole defense if we can't explain to the jury and the judge why you were gone for two years without contacting anyone you knew." I shift slightly. "Do you have any information about how they revived you?"

"They called it the Lazarus Project," replies Shepard. "They also fitted me with a lot of cybernetics."

I blink. "Cybernetics?" I ask. "Cybernetics... would they theoretically show up on a bio-scan?"

"I don't know," says Shepard. "I wasn't around my XO long enough to find out."

I nod. "Then I guess now we'll have to find out for certain," I say. "But that won't be enough... We need to find evidence that this Lazarus Project ever existed. And I doubt we're going to get that evidence..." I shake my head. "The bio-scan will have to do for now. It's a very weak justification, though, and I imagine they'll think that some of the cybernetics might be control chips."

Shepard shakes her head. "Well, there go the prospects of getting me acquitted," she states plainly. "And that's not even bringing up the geth..."

"Geth?" I ask. "What have the geth got to do with it?"

"They're also accusing me of gathering a geth army," she says. "Technically, it is true as I had a geth on my ship at the time that the arrest warrant was issued, but..."

I frown. "But?" I ask. "You mean there's something about this geth that the Council doesn't realize?"

"It's... a long story," replied Shepard. "One I'm not sure I can tell here. But basically, the geth have had... something of a split occur. And the faction that wasn't behind the attack on the Citadel is allying with my crew as we speak."

"Commander, I think there's a certain limit to how much you can get away with telling without being able to prove it," I say. "I mean... geth being good? I don't believe it, and I'm sure the defense won't believe it. So... I don't know, we're going to have to wing that one. I have no idea how, though..."

"So we don't have a good defense, then," Shepard replies.

I shake my head. "Not quite, Commander," I say, leaning forward. "Already, we can prove that you were within your rights as a Spectre to stop a rogue Spectre with the death of Tela Vasir, and we can at least show that in your latest activity, you were still working towards the galaxy's best interests while still working with a known terrorist organization. We have something, and that something covers a large part of what the prosecution might poke. There's just the issue of the Lazarus project and the geth, and I'm sure we'll figure out the first one as we go." I give her a small smile as I shift my seat slightly. "That's a better start than I was expecting, honestly."

Shepard nods. "Well, that's good, I guess," she says. "So we've formed our legal strategy."

"Pretty much," I reply.

Shepard nods. "Well, we've got our strategy formed. How much time have we got left?"

I shrug. "A lot," I guess. "I guess we're in good hands here..." I shift, looking at her as I save the information on my datapad. "I think I should get to know my client a little better. So, how do you feel right now?"

"Betrayed." The word is almost spat out, and I blink as she shakes her head. She closes her eyes, shaking her head. "I feel betrayed and alone. The Council issued the arrest warrant, the Alliance isn't doing anything to help me, the one person on this damn rock I thought I could trust sold me out at the end, and the only people still loyal to me are unable to help me right now. My mother is literally the only person who's helped, but..." She shakes her head, leaning back against the wall of the cell we're both sitting in.

I nod uncertainly. I place my hand on her shoulder tentatively, and while I expect the flinch, I don't get the brushing away of the gesture I was expecting. I squeeze her shoulder slightly, which she responds to by looking at me.

"It'll be all right," I say. "With any luck, we'll at least show the Council that some of the charges against you are ridiculous. And at least we have a strategy at all." I shift slightly closer. "I tend to stay by my clients as much as I can. This won't be any different, Commander. Trust me on this."

Shepard nods. "It's good to know there are some people that haven't abandoned me yet," she comments.

"Indeed not," I say. "They've been waiting a while to put you on trial... Your mother already told me this, but I'm still wondering why they want the rest of your crew here as well."

"The warrant went out for them too," says Shepard. "And they escaped, so..." She shrugs, shifting her posture to look right at me. "I guess it makes sense, if they're going to let us use some of the crew as witnesses."

"Maybe," I supply. "Well... we've got some hope left for us yet. Let's just hope we're graced with good luck." I nod, stowing the datapad away as I look to her. "So... that kid who was hear earlier...?"

"Kolyat?" asked Shepard. "What about him?"

I nod, sitting back as I look at the commander. "I was just curious," I say. "What's you're relationship with him."

Shepard frowns. "How is this relevant to my defense?" she asks.

I shrug. "Well, it helps me if I get to know my clients better," I say. "You won't have to answer everything I talk about, but on the flip side, you get to ask things about me."

The Commander looks right at me. "Isn't that a bad idea?" she asks.

"If nothing else, it gives me extra incentive to defend you," I reply with a shrug. "So..."

"Yes, I see your point," says Shepard. "So... Kolyat..." She rubs her chin. "How do I explain this...?"

"Start at the beginning?" I offer.

I watch as Shepard mulls over this. She glances off to the side, rubbing her chin in thought. Finally, she turns to me, and nods.

"Yeah, I guess that would work," she says.

And so, we begin talking about things not pertaining to Shepard's defense.

Some time later, I'm escorted out of Shepard's cell. When I exit the facility, she seems to be in better spirits than she was before. Well... we have hope now, there's that at least. And now, I think we may be able to at least do something to ward off the allegations against her.

Well... when this trial ever gets off the ground, anyway.

As soon as I exit the facility, I see Captain Bailey there. Kolyat stands off to the side, looking on with a sulking expression on his face as Bailey acknowledges my presence.

I walk up to the C-Sec captain soon after. "Good to see you're still in one piece," he says. "How are you feeling?"

"A little nervous," I reply. "I think I've got something worked out, though. We just need some more evidence, but apart from that, we've got a workable defense, which is good."

"That's good to hear," says Bailey. "She's a damn hero. She's gotten me out of a few tight spots, and I'd hate to see her get done in by a bunch of Councillors who are too paranoid for their own good."

"I know," I reply. "And after the fact that two years ago, she saved their lives."

"That's also true," comments Bailey. "I called a cab in for you as soon as you were escorted out of Shepard's cell."

I raise my eyebrows. "Oh?" I ask. "Uh... thank you, captain."

"Consider it a thank you card for stepping in to defend Shepard," says Bailey. "So long as you do your best, you'll be all right by me."

I nod. "Good to know," I reply. "When should I expect the cab?"

I suddenly find my question answered by a soft hum from the distance. I look up, and sure enough I see a vehicle coming straight towards the two of us. I nod, looking to Bailey.

"Now, just about."

The cab lands, and the door opens.

"Well," I say, smirking at this. "That comes as a convenience. Thank you, Captain."

"Not a problem," he says. "Just stay out of trouble and defend Shepard!"

I nod, stepping into the cab soon after. "I'll see what I can do," I reply.

With this, I close the door, and then the cab driver rises from the ground. I spare a final glance at Captain Bailey as he nods, looking at the cab as it drives off. He must've programmed it to take me back to my office.

Hm... Well, I do have some things I need to take care of when I return to the office, so I think it's for the best anyhow. I lean back, glancing to the empty seats in the cab. I nod, bringing a finger up to the interface. Hm... Someone put this cab on autopilot. Works for me.

I look through the interfaces... Hm... Well, we have Emily Wong reporting on things right now on Citadel News Radio.

Now there's a trustworthy reporter, Emily Wong. Always getting at the truth, conducts great interviews, keeps a cool head even when she's talking to someone who's excitable, and best of all doesn't try to spin doctor anything. Eh, I'll listen to her talk a little bit about something the rest of the way there.

I manipulate the holographic interface, increasing the volume as Emily Wong's voice fills the cab. For a brief second, I wonder why I haven't heard anything from Khalisa Al'Jilani as of late. I don't miss her, but she's always good for a laugh or two, especially when the person she's interviewing punches her in the face. Now that is actually really funny when she fumes about it and pretends she can hurt their career or something.

I simply sit back, and listen as I hear her distinct voice talk a little bit about something.

"And now, an interview with the Council on the measures they have taken should the crew of Commander Shepard ever come into Citadel Space again..."

When I get home, I enter to find that the air smells really spicy. Well, I have never smelled such strong spice... except when Nad is cooking.

I set my briefcase down by the door, and enter into the apartment. I look into the kitchen area to see that indeed, Nad is busy cooking some food on the stove there. Probalby some traditional drell dish: it certainly sounds like it. The light seems to reflect off of his scales, and honestly, he's always looked like a god when he's at the kitchen.

I smile at this, watching as he goes to work. Ah, Nad... Why do you have to be such a good cook?

I walk forward, and I have my arms around him in a heartbeat. He doesn't flinch, but as my head comes to rest over his shoulder, I can feel him tilt his head towards me.

"Hey there, Nadeire," I say softly.

"Welcome home, Will," he says.

I plant a soft kiss on the drell's cheek, holding him there as he stirs something in a pot of spiced water. "How's your day been?" I ask.

"A little hectic, but I will be all right," he says. "Would you be so kind as to let go? I need to get this pot off the stove."

I nod, and then let him go. After getting some gloves on, he moves the pot off the stove, and peeks at it. He nods once again, giving that faint hint of a smile that shows me he's amused at something.

"There we go," he says. "Now we simply need to let it cool for a short period of time..."

"Indeed," I say. "I sometimes wonder how I got blessed with someone who could actually cook really well."

"I like to think Arashu looks kindly upon you," Nad replies as he steps back. "You protect people, so it is only fair that she blesses you."

"Well, when you put it like that, it actually makes me work harder..." I say, taking a step closer.

"That is the intent," he says jokingly, shrugging. "Speaking of which, actually... Lalia may have mentioned that you took on Commander Shepard's case."

I nod. Well, I suppose if someone would tell him before I got home, it would be Lalia. She knows the both of us too well, I swear to God... "That's right," I mention. "I was contacted by her mother. I'll admit, I never thought I would defend an Alliance commander in court again, let alone Commander Shepard..."

"Strange things can happen," says the drell. "After nearly twenty years, you return to defending someone in the military again..."

"After nearly twenty years, indeed," I reply, watching as Nadeire turns to get some bowls out for the rest of us. "And to think that I'll be returning to that defending the savior of the Citadel..."

"It certainly serves to make it surreal," Nadeire replies. "Whether or not you can maneuver through such legal work again will certainly be something to see." He places the bowls in question close to the pot he removed from the heat. "However, I worry that you may have bitten off more than you can chew, as your saying goes."

"I can't say I blame you," I reply. "I mean, this is treason we're talking about here..."

"That is perhaps what worries me." Nadeire takes a step towards me, so that we're quite close in the small space that is our kitchen. "You have had experience defending military men and women, William. But defending someone from a charge of treason? And one of the most famous women in the galaxy? I do hope you know what you have gotten yourself into..."

"I know," I reply, confirming his fears with a grim tilt of my head as I briefly glance to the side. "I'm afraid I may not be able to do this." I then look back at the drell. "But already we're off to a better start than you could have imagined. We have a workable angle, and one that may clear Shepard if we get the right evidence towards it. It just needs to be done, and some things need to reveal themselves." I blink, before shifting my weight on my feet. "You know how I am, Nadeire. Now, it's just a matter of doing."

Nadeire simply nods, stepping towards me. "Knowing you, I am certain you will find a way to succeed, even despite the odds," he says, his hand taking mine. "In many ways, you always have, through your victories and your losses." I then gaze down at the ring on one of his fingers, the simple band glinting in the light.

"I believe that is why we united under Arashu."

I smile at him, taking a final step towards him as we get quite close, so that our faces almost touch. "I believe it is too..."

I close my eyes, and then our lips touch. We're both smiling when we pull back a few seconds later, still holding hands as time stands still for only a moment. With a nod, my sweet Nad turns, taking a ladle from close by the stove, and nodding as he picks up a bowl.

"I think you will quite like what I've prepared for you tonight," he says, stirring the ladle through the stew-like substance one more time.

I simply nod, my smile staying constant as he then draws the ladle from the pot.

"Knowing you, Nad, I wouldn't expect any less."

He chuckles in response, and I see his teeth glint in the light as he goes about his business.