Well, this took forever and a day to write but it's finally here. I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and for sticking with my story even though my updates have been sporadic at best. This chapter is a lot meatier than the others so hopefully that will make up for the long waiting time.
On a side note, originally I wanted to add in the Consort and a version of Conrad Verner but I've decided to save Verner for later and not bother with the Consort at all.
Enjoy and as always please R&R.
Update: Seems I got Anders and Dryden mixed up. D'oh! Thanks to Rouge Wasteland Wanderer for pointing that out for me.
So just so there's no confusion, Anders is the new 'Admiral Hacket' and Dryden is the new 'Captain Anderson'.
Chapter 10
"Have I ever mentioned I hate the Citadel?" said Skyfall as he, Shepard, Dryden, Ash and Wisp disembarked from the Calen together.
"No, but I'm pretty sure you're going to be saying that a lot today." replied Wisp, dryly.
The Darkspawn had their own private docking bay on the Citadel which had been a 'gift' from the Council, although in truth it had been given to them out of necessity. The Blight disease that all Darkspawn carry is contagious and in order for any Darkspawn to be allowed onto the Citadel itself they had to go through this specific bay and the C-sec checkpoint at the end of it.
As the five Darkspawn approached the three guards, one Salarian and two Turians, stood to attention. All those present were wearing sealed armour with helmets either to keep from spreading the blight, or to keep them from catching it.
"I.D. please." said the Salarian.
Dryden waved his omni-tool over a small computer that stood just in front of the alien. He examined the screen for a second, then nodded as it gave an affirmative beeping noise.
"Everything seems to be in order. Please proceed into the elevator. A C-sec team will meet you and escort you to your embassy."
Shepard mumbled an 'Um hm' then he marched past the guards and into the cylindrical glass elevator behind them. Once he and the others were inside a large glass sheet rose up from the floor to cover the door and they began to descend at a annoyingly slow pace.
"I hate the Citadel." said Skyfall.
That was when music started playing over the elevators speakers.
"Couldn't agree more." muttered Shepard.
Sure enough the C-sec team was waiting for them, a bunch of Turian new recruits who'd never seen Darkspawn in their lives judging by their reactions. One threw up in his helmet, another dropped his gun and ran for it.
"Maybe today won't be so bad after all." said Skyfall as he put on his best mischievous grin. Another C-sec officer turned and bolted.
The Sergeant who'd been leading the team was holding his head in his hands muttering something about his 'career being in the toilet', then he pulled himself together. "Greetings...Darkspawn." he managed, doing a good job of pretending all had gone to plan. "If you'd please follow us and we'll take you to your Embassy. Please don't wander and refrain from going near the Presidium Lake."
The five of them were lead out by what was left of the C-sec team. The trip was uneventful but it did involve another blasted elevator ride. Along the way every alien they passed stopped what they were doing to stare or to whisper quietly to their friends. Darkspawn were a rare sight in public and because of the Blight disease they all carried their contact with other races was always kept to a minimum, which meant that most aliens only knew what they were told by the media, which didn't always paint the Darkspawn in the most sympathetic light. The only exception to this rule was the Volus who had to live in pressurised encounter suites when not on their home world, which came with the handy side benefit of protecting them from the Blight. Sure, other species had the technology to make encounter suits for themselves but they were a chore to put on, whereas the Volus wore them near constantly.
Soon the group made it to a small plaza, past a large desk with one Asari secretary too busy to even notice them, and up a set of stairs on the left. The Turians all stopped at the first door on the left and without so much as a word the Darkspawn walked past them as the door automatically opened revealing six foot by six metal box that served as a decontamination chamber. After an uncomfortable minute of being disinfected by a laser scanner the chamber's other door opened and the five Darkspawn were let into the embassy.
It was a decent space and pretty much identical to any other Citadel embassy, apart from the balcony area which was cut off from the rest of the world by a pane of thick glass. The Darkspawn's ambassador, The Messenger, was standing to the left of his desk addressing three holograms of the Citadel Council.
"I'm sure you'd be far more concerned if the Geth attacked a Turian colony."
"The Turians don't found colonies on the edge of the Terminus systems." Valern fired back.
"The Darkspawn were well aware of the risks when you settled the Traverse." added Tevos, with a little more tact.
Messenger fouled his arms "And what about Saren? Are you just going to ignore a rouge Spectre?"
"You'll have your chance to present you evidence at the hearing." said Sparatus, not even trying to hide the contempt in his voice.
The Messenger gave a quiet snarl of discontent, then he looked over his shoulder at the group waiting behind him. "About time." he shut off the council's communication. Shepard and co. had one last look at their projected indignant expressions before the three aliens vanished.
"Warden Captain Dryden. When I got your report on the Calen's shake down run I wasn't expecting to read about a Geth invasion, a rouge Spectre and an obo-wait. I nearly forgot." he paused mid rant and walked over to the far wall. The only thing of interest there was a large landscape painting depicting the Third Blight. The Messenger reached round behind the picture and seemingly removed something from the back, which he held cupped in both his hands. After a two second pause lifted whatever he was holding close to his mouth and yelled "GOOD NIGHT OFFICER!"
Somewhere else on the Citadel the STG agent who had been listening in suddenly fell back in pain, clutching at his ears.
"That's the fifth one this week." muttered the Messenger as he crushed the bug in his palm. "Sloppy work. I swear they're just doing it now for appearance sake."
"I think we should get back to the matter at hand Ambassador." said Dryden. "The Heretic assault has show just how much of a threat they've become now that they've separated from the main Geth. And of course...she has returned."
The Messenger hissed in irritation "Asha'bellanar. After all these centuries we all thought she was dead. As you can imagine our council went into something of a panic when they heard about her. It got even worse when they were told that Flemeth had disappeared again."
"You haven't found her!" blurted out an alarmed Skyfall.
"No. She's now the only 'human' left alive and is famous throughout Darkspawn space, yet she's still able to hide from us. I'm not sure if I should be impressed or terrified."
"Afraid." said Shepard "Be very afraid."
"Whatever her reappearance means there's not much we can do about it. We'll just have to wait and see. Now, about that obelisk you found on Cadash."
Shepard snarled at the memory of the accursed thing. "There was something inside. An orb. When I touched it it was like I was somewhere else, I heard voices. Something about a 'song'."
The Messenger walked back over to his desk and tapped a few keys on his computer. "Our archaeologists have started studying the artefacts we found. The ruin itself was Elven. We found a broken Eluvian in one of the chambers so it's likely the Elves used their magic to escape here during the last days of the war with Tevinter but there weren't enough of them to keep their population going. The obelisk is more of a mystery. It's Pre Blight Tevinter. That orb was most likely a Foci."
"Wait." everyone looked down at Skyfall "I thought that foci were Elven? And if this ruin was made by the Arlathan Elves how did a Tevinter rock get there?"
The Messenger nodded "We don't know how the obelisk got there or why. But as for the foci most of what Tevinter had was stolen or copied from the Elves so the orb is most likely a Tevinter reconstruction of an Elven foci."
"In Elven lore, foci were use as a channel for the power of their gods." explained Dryden "All the Tevinter Old Gods are dead so does that mean-"
"That Saren did all this for a doorstop?" interrupted Ash.
Messenger shrugged "We don't know. Like I said it's not a real foci, just a Tevinter re-creation. It might be useless, or it might be a storehouse of massive power."
Skyfall smirked "Ha! With any luck Saren will play about with it and blow himself sky high!"
Shepard wasn't comforted by any of this, he still remembered the voices he'd heard in that sphere. No, there was definitely something inside that thing, and now Saren had it. Or it had him. He was about to voice his feelings but then there was a chime from the Messenger's computer.
"The Council is ready for us." he announced with a tired voice. "Alright, let's not mention the obelisk, She of Many Years or the orb for now. We've already fed them a story about a Prpthean becon that was destroyed and they seem to be buying that for now. I'd rather avoid the long drawn out explanation and them not believing us."
Wisp gave an irritated snort "Like they'll believe that one of their top agents has gone rouge?"
"We don't have any real proof yet, or at least none we can use. I'm just hoping that we can buy time to get real evidence."
The six of them all put their helmets back on and left via the even more cramped decontamination chamber. As soon as the outer doors opened they were greeted by the sight of the Turian squad discussing something in a huddle, although they broke up quickly when they saw the Darkspawn coming.
The leading sergeant was about to speak but the Messenger beat him to it. "Take us to the Council Chambers. Double time Sergeant!"
The walk to the Council Chambers elevator was a quiet one. A lot of aliens had gathered in the presidium to see Darkspawn in the flesh. Apparently word about this particular Council meeting had spread. There was a lot of murmuring about how strange they looked and about how they were all supposed to be war mongers or war heroes and how they could all summon daemons with a snap of their fingers.
"They must think we're all deaf and blind." said Skyfall into his helmets communicator.
"Ignore them. Their opinions don't matter." said Dryden.
Soon they made it to the Council's elevator, after passing a Hannar preaching about the 'Enkindlers' and the C-sec officer trying to get said Hannar to leave. As the glass door of the elevator slid shut more of that gods damned music started to play. Skyfall tried to put his hands over his ears, but seeing as how he was wearing a helmet that didn't work too well. After a two minute ride that felt like two hours the Spawn and their Turian guards disembarked from the 'glass torture box' (as Skyfall called it) into the main Council chambers.
"Wait here." said Messenger to the guards.
The sergeant looked around nervously before trying to get the messenger's attention."Um, Sir..W-we're supposed to say in close prox-"
"I said stay here." The Messenger repeated. The Turians all looked pissed about being told what to do by a politician but they still complied.
As the five of them made their way past the row of pink leafed trees towards the Council their path was impeded by two arguing Turians.
"Saren's hiding something!" insisted the one on the left. "Just give me more time. Stall them."
The one on the right crossed his arms "Stall the council? Don't be ridiculous. Your investigation is over Garrus." then he walked away.
The other Turain, Garrus, shook his head, then he noticed the Darkspawn standing close by. "Alpha Shepard? Garrus Vakarian. I'm the C-sec officer in charge of the investigation into Saren."
"I doubt that went well."
Garrus sighed in resignation and nodded "Yeah. Everything Saren does is classified, all his mission reports look like bar codes. Maybe you'll have better luck convincing the council." There was a ping from Garrus' omni-tool and he made his excuses and left.
"And maybe Ogres will all sprout wings and fly." muttered Skyfall once he was sure Garrus was out of ear shot.
"Come on, the Council is waiting for us." at Dryden urging the group carried on and after ascending a flight of stairs they reached the petitioners stage. Standing on the platform across from them was the Council and to their right was a large orange hologram of Saren.
Tevos made an attempt to speak "Ambassador Messenger, we-"
"Why is he here!" the Messenger cut Tevos off and pointed at Saren's hologram.
"Saren is here by our request, seeing as how you have levelled charges against him, we though it only right that he should be able to defend himself." answered Sparatus with a smug smirk.
"In resent these accusations." said Saren in a slightly static tinged voice. "Nhilus was a fellow Spectre and a friend."
"That just let you catch him off guard!" Dryden shouted angrily.
Saren's hologram looked down at him "Captain Dryden. The one who executed the Batarian Government and plunged the Terminus systems into chaos. And this must be your protégé" now Saren was looking at the Shepard "Warden Shepard, who let the beacon be destroyed. But what can you expect, from a Darkspawn."
"You can expect me to kill you the next time we meet!" Shepard snarled.
Saren's hologram sneered while the Council gave Shepard displeased looks.
"This is a waste of our time." said Sparatus "The C-sec investigation-"
"Found nothing." the Messenger finished the Councillors sentence for him "Of course it did. Everything Saren does is classified. This is what happens when you give agents unlimited power and no accountability."
"Considering your races actions on Kar Shan you're hardly in a position to talk about accountability." Tevos pointed out.
"Let's just get this over with." groaned Sparatus "Messenger, do you have any evidence to support your claims."
The Messenger was silent for a few seconds before saying a quiet "No."
"This meeting is adjourned." announced Tevos.
"I'm glad to see justice was done." said Saren right before his hologram vanished.
The Darkspawn moved down from the petitioners stage and convened back at the artificial garden.
"Well, that went well." said Skyfall with as much contempt as he could muster.
"Gah! I hate those three." muttered Messenger
"Wasn't there a plan to replace them all with Envy daemons some time ago?" asked Dryden.
Messenger nodded slightly "Yes, but we were over budget that year. That and Envy daemons are terrible to work with."
"Um, Commander?" everyone looked down at Wisp. "What was the point of this trial anyway? Why couldn't we just go after Saren ourselves?"
"Because he's still a Citadel Spectre." replied Dryden "If we kill him then it could be taken as an act of war. Even if they don't, they could still bury us in burocracy and legal. We need proof so we can get him kicked out of the Spectres first. And I know where to get it."
The Council's private chambers.
"Did any of that seem strange to you?" asked Valern.
A curt "No." was Sparatus' response but Tevos looked more thoughtful. After a quick mental review of the trial she realised that there was something amiss.
"The Geth." she said as she put down her cup of Asari tea. "They didn't mention the Geth once."
Now Sparatus was paying attention. "That's...odd. We know for a fact that the Geth attacked that colony but the Darkspawn seem more interested in persecuting Saren."
Valern looked down at his omni-tool and read a report that had just been posted to him. "There's more. STG reports no unusual Darkspawn military activity. At all."
Tevos was stunned "What? That can't be. The Batarians launched one slave raid against them and in revenge they destroyed Kar Shan and broke their empire. The Geth invaded one of their worlds and now they're doing nothing?"
"It's highly out of character." agreed Valern. "I'm having STG increase their monitoring of Darkspawn space. Hopefully it will yield some clues."
Tevos nodded and added another headache tablet to her tea, just as she did after every meeting involving the Darkspawn.
The Presidium
"This is it." said Shepard as he, Wisp, Ash and Skyfall arrived in front of the unassuming office that belonged to a Volus named Barla Von. According to Dryden Von was some kind of financial genius who also dealt in information. He may not have anything on Saren but he could point them in the right direction.
The doors automatically opened and the four of them walked into a moderate sized square room that was utterly void of any decorations. Sitting at a desk opposite them was a normal looking Volus who didn't acknowledge their presence, preferring instead to continue staring at a small computers slightly to his left.
The Darkspawn approached his desk and stood facing him. When he still didn't notice them Shepard decided to speak up. "Barla Von?"
The Volus looked up quizzically as though he'd just seen them. "Ah, Alpha Shepard. Welcome. I take it you're here about that business on Cadash Prime?"
"How did you know that?" asked Skyfall.
"I like to keep up to date with what's going on in the galaxy. I'd be a poor information broker if I didn't."
"Then let's get to the point." said Shepard "Do you have any 'information' that proves Saren was involved?"
"I tend to...avoid secrets associated with the Spectres. The deeper into their world you go, the more dangerous life get's. I don't like danger Shepard. I leave that to those more suited."
"So you can't help."
"I didn't say that." Shepard got the distinct impression that Von was smiling under that exo-suit. "Saren has been involved in some unusual activities of late, even for a Spectre. In the wards you'll find a Turain named Tonn Actus. He runs a gentlemen's club call Chora's Den and he used to work for the Shadow Broker, until he went to work for Saren."
"I doubt the Broker was happy about that." said Wisp.
"No, he was not. Saren wouldn't have crossed the Broker unless something monumental was at stake."
Shepard nodded "So, it looks like we're going to the Wards."
"Two more things Alpha. Well, two more things. Firstly the Broker has already hired a Krogen mercenary to 'deal' with Actus. I believe he's currently being held by C-sec."
"And the other thing?" the Commander asked.
"Yes, there's a C-sec officer. Garrus Vakarian. He was in charge of the investigation in to Saren and he may be able to help you further. Unfortunately I don't have his ware abouts at the moment. Good bye and good luck."
One elevator ride to the Wards later.
"Why couldn't we just take the stairs?" groaned Skyfall.
"Sky, do you have any idea how big this station actually is?" asked Shepard. "Without the elevator it could take a day to move from one level to another!"
Skyfall grumbled something incoherent as the group stepped through a doorway and into part of the Zikara Ward. They were instantly assaulted by all the sounds and smells of the bustling alien crowd. Asari, Turians, Hannar, even a few Elcor all walking by, oblivious to anything going on around them. That didn't last long unfortunately and after a few seconds in the open the Darkspawn found themselves very much the centre of attention.
"Is this going to happen everywhere we go?" asked Ash.
"Yes." said Shepard "You've never met any aliens before today have you?" Ash shook his head. "Just ignore them and they'll get bored eventually. Come on, we need to find that Turian."
Wisp let out a tired sigh "There are millions of Turians on this station and they all look the same. How are we meant to find this Garrus?"
Suddenly three shots rang out from somewhere in the distance. People screamed and started running away, falling over each other in a desperate attempt to get out of danger.
"When in doubt, follow the screams." said Shepard as he and the others barged through the terrified crowd towards the sound of the gunfire.
Soon all the civilians were gone and the Darkspawn found themselves at the end of this level of the ward. The only place the shots could have come from was the very last door on the left, a medical clinic. Shepard could hear raised voices coming from within. He reached out and with his omni-tool he placed an 'override' virus in the doors control panel. With a quiet whoosh the doors opened and the team walked in on a frightened looking Asari and four armed goons, two Turians, one Salarian and a Vorcha.
The goons all turned in unison to look at the Darkspawn. There was a moment of silence then the lead goon, a Turian with red skull face paint, grabbed the Asari and pulled her in front of him, pressing a pistol up into her jaw.
"Who are you!?" he demanded.
Before Shepard could speak another Turain in C-sec armour popped up from behind a row of plants to the thugs right and shot the hostage taker in the head, only narrowly missing the terrified Asari. The rest of the thugs were caught unawares and while they were confused Shepard and Skyfall opened fire with their pistols while Ash fired off a few round from his rifle. The remaining Turian and Vorcha went down instantly, their kinetic barriers overwhelmed, the Salarian almost managed to dive for cover but he was caught by a fireball from Wisplight that blasted him into the back wall. A kinetic barrier can stop the impact of a projectile up to a point, but it can't stop heat. The unlucky Salarian was literally roasted in his own armour.
The Darkspawn squad walked further into the room, stepping over the now very dead thugs.
"Perfect timing Shepard." said the Turian that Shepard now recognised as Garrus Vakarian. "You gave me a clean shot at that basterd."
"I didn't even know you were there." replied Shepard, bluntly. "Good shot though. How did you get here so fast? I don't see any other C-sec officers?"
Garrus shifted a little and clicked his mandibles "Acctualy I'm sort of off duty here. I was following a lead on Saren and I saw these gentlemen breaking in. I snuck in just before you arrived."
"Didn't that 'Paladin' Turian tell you to stop investigating Saren?" asked Skyfall as he rifled through the dead Turian's pockets.
Now Garrus looked even more nervous "Yes he did. Hence the 'off duty' part." He looked over at the Asari, who was staring down at the charred Salarian corpse. "Doctor Holana, are you all right?"
The doctor snapped back to reality and looked away from the body at Garrus. "Y-yes. Yes I'm...fine. Thank you Garrus a-and to all of you. If you hadn't arrived when you did..." she trailed off momentarily.
"Kneel down please." The Asari looked down at Wisplight, who was standing in front of her
"What?"
"I can't examine you from up there." the Genlock gestured to point out their height difference. "I need you to kneel down." when the strange look she was giving him persisted he gave a huff and said "I'm the team healer, now please kneel or get me a step ladder."
Holana complied and after looking in bother her eyes, checking her pulse and casting a diagnostic spell Wisp gave his findings "Minor shock. Some bruising. Nothing serious. Now back to the matter at hand, why were these thugs here in the first place."
"They work for Ton Actus." said Holana as she got back up. "A few days ago a Quarian came into my clinic. She was malnourished and she had a bullet wound in her shoulder. When I asked her what happened she said that she'd been looking into Actus and his connection with a Spectre named Saren."
Did she tell you what she found?" asked Shepard, finally feeling as though he was getting somewhere.
He was slightly let down when the Asari shook her head "No. I patched her up as best I could then she left before I could question her. Nothing happened for a while then these men came, they threatened me. Told me to keep my mouth shut about the Quarian or else..." Holana looked guilty
"Or else what?" asked Wisp.
"I...well. Running this clinic...it isn't easy, or cheap. I had some trouble getting enough medicine so I...purchased some illegally from Actus."
"And he threatened to reveal that and get you struck off as a doctor." finished Garrus.
"There's more." said Holana "Before she left the Quarian asked me if I knew a way to contact the Shadow Broker. And I told her that Actus could help her."
"Actus betrayed to Broker to work for Saren." said Garrus "All of C-sec knows it. A Krogan bounty hunter showed up yesterday and he's made no secret of why he's here."
Holana looked shocked "Actus betrayed...that's stupid even for him. Even I know that no one crosses the Broker and lives."
"Arg, this is turning into one of those days." muttered Shepard "We need that evidence. Come on, we're moving out."
"Wait, Alpha." The Spawn stopped in their tracks and turned to look at Garrus. "I know the Wards and I know Actus. I can help you."
"You want to help us bring down Saren?"
Garrus mandibles clicked in anger "I may not have found any 'proof' yet but I know Saren is dirty. He's a disgrace to the Spectres and to my people."
Shepard wasn't exactly jumping at the idea of having a Turian along but he could see Garrus' determination and while he would never admit it he could use the help.
"You got any better weapons than that." Shepard gestured at Garrus' pistol.
The Turian officer nodded "Yeah. But it's in my locker back a Headquarters."
"Lovely!" without warning Wisp shot forwards and hugged Garrus' legs. After a moments uncomfy silence the genlock realised what he was doing and let go of the very embarrassed Turian "You're getting back at me for what I said on the ship aren't you?" he asked while looking up at a spot on the ceiling.
Garrus gave Shepard a confused look "Don't ask. We needed to go to C-sec anyway. This kills two nuggs with one rock. Let's go."
The doors pinged as they opened then again as they closed. Now that Holana was alone she had a chance to survey the damage. There were bullet holes in the walls, burn marks, blood stains and of course four dead bodies.
"Oh what a week." she groaned.
Minutes later. Inside C-sec headquarters
Skyfall practical ran out to the elevator proclaiming "Never again. If I ever have to listen to that bloody track again I swear to Andraste I'll..."
"So Shepard." Garrus interrupted the genlock's little rant "You never did tell me the other reason we came here?"
"If we're going to break into Chora's Den we're going to need a battering ram."
Garrus looked confused, then Shepard pointed directly ahead and he suddenly understood.
Standing a few feet away, surrounded by four nervous looking C-sec officers was a grizzled and pissed off looking Krogan in blood red armour.
"Witnesses saw you making threats in Actus' bar. Stay away from him." warned one of the officers.
"You should warn Actus. I will kill him." The Krogan wasn't daunted in the slightest.
"Do you want me to arrest you?"
That earned a chuckle "I want you to try." Then he noticed that Darkspawn watching him so he pushed his way past the C-sec officers and walked up to them. "Do I know you?"
Shepard took a step forwards "Urdnot Wrex. I'm Alpha Shepard."
Wrex smiled a little "Oh yeah. I remember now. You were on Kar'sharn. They say you personally threw the Hegemonies senate to the rioting slaves."
Shepard looked surprised. He hadn't been aware that his part in the Kar'shan invasion was public knowledge. "That's...not entirely true."
"Ha. I guessed that. They also say that you rode into the city on the back of one of those Varteral things and that you left the planet with an Asari harem."
Now Shepard was really scratching his head "That's...first off, riding a Varteral never ends well and what possible use could I have for a harem, Asari or otherwise?"
"Hehehe. I always liked that about your species. Unconventional. Everyone else loves Asari, you all say 'why, what's attractive about that?'. But I doubt you came all the way here just to make small talk Darkspawn."
"We were told that you were hired by the Shadow Broker to kill a Turian named Tonn Actus." said Skyfall "And it just so happens..."
"You want him dead too?" asked Wrex.
"No, we want to beat the crap out of him and interrogate him first."
This seemed to make Wrex happy "My people have a saying: 'Seek the enemy of your enemy, and you'll find a friend'."
Shepard smiled and offered Wrex his hand, which the Krogen shook "Welcome to the team Wrex."
With the Krogan mercenary now on their side (and a new sniper rifle that Garrus had taken from his locker) the rapidly expanding team bundled back into the elevator that went back to the wards. Skyfall was the last to embark as he didn't want to sit through another torturously slow ride.
"You know what. You can all go in the elevator, I'll just take the st-argh!" Wrex grabbed him and pulled him in. Before Skyfall could escape the doors had shut and the music had started. "Nooooooooo!"
Outside Choras Den
The entrance to Chora's Den was a secluded door in the lower part of the wards, just off from the main market area. The space in front of it consisted to a massive drop into oblivion broken up by a few narrow walkways. The place was actually quite infamous as a site where local gangsters could dispose of dead bodies and, as the two waiting Turian assassins had discovered, it was a very good sniping position.
The pair were sitting on the second walkway from the club, training their rifles on the door. "Remember the plan." said the one on the left, the older of the two "Once the Spawn show up, we shoot the Hurlock first, then pick off the rest."
"Right." said the other assassin as he readjusted his scope for the tenth time that day. "They won't know what's hit them."
"Yeah. They'll never see this coming."
The two assassins froze, then the slowly looked down and to their left. A Darkspawn genlock was standing next to them, staring intently at the clubs entrance. It looked up at them, showing all its teeth in a massive grin. "It's not your day, is it?"
The two assassins spun round but before they could take aim Wrex grabbed hold of the one on the left, head butted him and then threw him over the handrail into the abyss below. The remaining Turian actually managed to raise his weapon but he now found himself staring down the barrels of six separate guns. He looked between them all nervously for a few seconds then he cried out "Long live Lord Saren!" and took aim at Shepard.
The six man squad opened fire all at once, practically obliterating the assassin. The combined force of all those bullets destroyed most of his upper body and sent what was left of him flying back, over the hand rail after his friend.
Skyfall poked his head out over the drop "Lord Saren?" he repeated the thugs final words.
Wrex let out an annoyed grunt "I've seen this before. When pricks like Saren start calling themselves 'Lord' then they've really gone off the deep end."
Leaving the sight of the attempted assassination the team approached Chora's Den, stopping just outside the neon lit door.
"So, how do you want to do this?" asked Garrus "Quietly, or guns blazing?"
Shepard pulled his sword out of its sheath, the fire rune etched in the blade instantly setting it alight "What do you think?" he asked sarcastically right before he stepped forwards and the door automatically opened for him.
The first thing than hit him was the sound. Shepard had been able to hear the clubs music from outside but it had been heavily muted by the door and walls. With those now out of the way the sound was almost deafening. His entrance had not gone unnoticed but most of the customers were either too drunk or too high to notice or care apart from the dancers who were nervously continuing with their routines and the guards who looked like they were about to crap themselves.
"I think I preferred the elevator music!" Skyfall yelled over the din.
"I don't understand any of this." said Ash "The music's too loud for anyone to hear, the lighting is terrible and I don't get the dancers at all!"
"Apparently they're 'sexually attractive'." said Wisp. When Ash just gave him a blank look he shrugged as if to say 'I don't know either.'
Suddenly there was a loud bang and a flare of sparks and the clubs music came to an abrupt halt. All eyes were now on Shepard, who'd just put a round into the speaker system.
"Everyone out. Now!" he barked. There was a brief stamped as the patrons, the barkeep and the dancers all ran for the door, leaving only ten very frightened looking guards all anxiously holding their guns.
"Don't just stand there you idiots! Shoot them!" yelled a Krogan bouncer.
The guards opened fire as Shepard's team started upending tables to use as makeshift barricades. Shepard himself jumped up on to the bar and ran towards the enemy, sending drinking glasses flying as he went. Two guards turned their guns on him but just as they fired he suddenly vanished into thin air. Their confusion was shot lived as Shepard reappeared between the two of them, half way through a sword swing that practical cleaved the left guard in two. The remaining guard hurriedly stepped back and took aim at Shepard but the commander yanked the sword out of the dead guard and pirouetted on the spot, avoiding the bullet then he brought the blade slicing down through the Turian's shoulder.
The remaining club guards weren't holding up much better. One had caught and arcane bolt from Wisp straight to the face that had almost ripped his head off, two others had been pinned down behind a table by Ash and Garrus when Skyfall had lobed a grenade at them, destroying their cover and killing them both.
That just left the Krogan bouncer who was firing off blasts from a large shotgun while retreating towards the clubs offices. He'd almost reached the door when Wrex jumped out from behind cover and ran straight at him, firing off several blasts from his own shotgun. The Krogan bouncer jerked violently with each impact, then Wrex reached him and smashed his armoured shoulder into the other Krogan's face, sending him crashing into a wall and finishing him off with a final point blank shot.
"Well that was easy." said Skyfall as he stepped over a dead body.
"Don't put a hex on it." warned Wisp.
"We should get moving." said Garrus. "We won't have long before C-sec comes to investigate."
Shepard walked past Wrex towards the clubs back door, which opened once he'd used his sword to lever it. The space beyond was mostly full of crates, apparently it served as the clubs storage area. On the other side of the room in the left corner he could see the door to Actus' office, but blocking the way were two Salarian workers who were nervously pointing guns at them.
"S-stay right there!" said one in a shaky voice.
"Oh, enough." groaned Wisp. He marched past Shepard and thumped his staff on the ground. After a momentary pulse of magic the two workers froze on the spot, encased in a thin layer of ice. They were both still very much alive and aware as evidenced by their eyes still moving and the odd grunting sound as they tried to break free.
"Not bad." said Wrex.
Walking past the two icicles the team encountered their next obstacle. The door to Actus' office was not only locked tight it was armour plated.
"I don't think my sword will work on that." muttered Shepard. "Sky. You're our explosives expert, can you get us in?"
Skyfall walked up to the door an placed his hand flat on the metal surface. "Hmm. Titanium alloy. reinforced bolts and frame. Somebody's paranoid." After a moment he tapped the door once then he did the same to the wall next to it. "Ah ha. Paranoid but not smart." He pulled a small black disk from his belt and carefully held it to the wall. Instantly four legs folded out from the top and drilled into the wall, holding the device in place and a red light suddenly came on around the outer edge. The light began blinking and the machine also began emitting a beeping sound.
"Might want to step back!" said Skyfall as he ran over to the boxes and dived behind a particularly large crate. Everyone else followed him and seconds later there was a loud bang and a sound of tearing metal was a large section of the wall was blown apart.
"Armoured the door but not the walls." explained Skyfall "Amateur mistake."
Shepard got up and ran through the newly made hole in the wall. Tonn Actus was lying in a daze on the floor. When he saw the Darkspawn standing over him he tried to grab a rifle that was lying next to him but before he could Shepard seized him by his armour's collar and slammed him against the back wall.
"Where's the Quarian Actus!"
"Quarian? What Quarian. I see no Quarian here." Actus didn't sound very convincing so Shepard threw him across the room into the opposite wall. He got back up and tried to scurry over to a gun rack but Shepard grabbed a chair and threw it after him, knocking the Turian to the floor.
"Nice shot." commented Skyfall as he and the others walked into the room.
"We talked to Doctor Holana." said Garrus "We know everything, including that you betrayed the Shadow Broker for Saren."
"Yeah, that was a mistake." muttered Actus as he got back up, raising his hands in surrender. "Saren was good business at first. Gave me a ton of credits for my help but now he's gone off his head."
"You spoke to him?" asked Shepard.
"Yeah, but it wasn't much of a conversation. Something to do with him 'finding religion' or something, he sounded like one of those bloody Hanar preachers."
"Get to the point." grunted Wisp.
Actus gave them all a crooked grin "And just what do I get if I-" BLAM "ARRRGHH!" he fell to the ground clutching at his leg "You shot me!"
"Noticed that, did you?" said Shepard as he holstered his pistol. "Now talk. What happened to the Quarian."
"Gaahh! The Quarian wanted to meet with the Broker. Said she had dirt on Saren, something that proved he was behind what happened on Cadash Prime."
"Impossible." Wrex interrupted. "The Shadow Broker never meets with anyone in person. Even I was hired through an agent."
"The Quarian didn't know that. I told her I could set up a meet, only it'll be Saren's men waiting for her."
Shepard walked over to Actus and knelt down so his face was level with the Turian's. "When and where?"
Actus swallowed heavily before answering "Th-the wards. Nearby, there's an ally i-it's almost right outside the club. If you hurry you can find them."
Shepard got up and was about to order everyone to move out when Wrex suddenly walked up to Actus and shot him in the chest, killing him.
"What are you doing!?" yelled Garrus in alarm.
"The Shadow Broker paid me to kill him, and I don't leave jobs half done."
"You could have given me some warning." said Shepard, who was actually slightly annoyed he hadn't shot Actus himself. "Alright, let's get to the-"
"Hang on." Wrex went over to a wall safe and tapped in a code on a panel to the left. The safe opened and Wrex took the contents, a small piece of metal. "Two reasons I took this job." the Krogan explained "One was the pay, the other was that this prick had something of mine. Part of some old family armour."
"Ok, now let's go!" Shepard insisted "Before that evidence disappears forever!"
The Wards. A back alley near Chora's Den.
Tali didn't like this. The whole 'dimly lit alleyway meeting' was like something straight from a bad holo-vid but this was the location Actus had given her for her meet with the Shadow Broker. She could see three other people in the ally, two fully armoured Salarians and one dark scaled Turian wearing white skull face paint. The Turian noticed her approach and walked towards her.
"Did you bring it?" he asked in a smooth, calm voice.
Tali was now certain that something was wrong but she kept her composure and asked "Where's the Shadow Broker? Where's Actus?"
"They'll be here." he answered dismissively as he placed a hand on her shoulder and ran it down her arm "Now, where's the evidence?"
Tail pushed his hand away "No way. The deal's off."
The Turian looked angry for a second, then he took a few steps back. Out of the corner of her eye Tali saw the two Salarians move, drawing guns. This whole thing had been a trap! Acting quickly she took out a concussion grenade and threw it at their feet. The explosion bought her enough time to pull out her pistol but she had nowhere to go, there was no decent cover here, if she tried to run she'd be gunned down in an instant and if she stayed and fought she was outnumbered and would be killed anyway. As her mind race to find a solution the Turian assassin took his assault rifle off his back and aimed it at her.
Then a figure appeared out of thin air, armed with a sword of all things which it used to cut down one of the Salarians. As the other would be killer recoiled in shock the new arrival turned and punch him in the face so hard he shattered his helmet visor. That was when Tali got a good look at her rescuer. It was a Darkspawn, a Hurlock if she remembered correctly. The Turian assassin fired two shots at the Hurlock that grazed his barriers, the he extended his hand and fired off a lightning bolt that blasted the thug off his feet.
"Not bad."
The sound of a new voice caused Tali to turn around. A short distance behind her was another Hurlock, two Genlocks, a Turian in C-sec armour and a Krogan who was probably the one who'd spoken.
"See, you all wonder 'how did the Darkspawn beat us so quickly?'" said the Genlock with the staff to the Turian "We all ask 'how did it take us so damn long?'"
Shepard checked the smoking body of the Turian he'd just zapped. Satisfied that he was definitely dead he turned to the Quarian. "I take it you're the Quarian with the evidence against Saren? I've been looking all over this blasted station for you."
"Whoa, wait a moment!" said Tail while taking a few steps back "Not to sound ungrateful but who are-arrgh!"
There was a muffled boom as a small stun grenade hit the young Quarian and blasted her sideways off her feet and knocking her out cold.
Shepard looked down at her unconscious body, then up at Skyfall who was still holding his grenade launcher. "What?" the genlock asked innocently.
"Dumat's rotten blighted BACKSIDE! SKYFALL! What did you do that for!?"
"What? I thought time was of the essence here!"
Right now Shepard felt like banging his head against a bulkhead but he pushed that feeling down and got back to trying to sort out this ever expanding mess "Alright...She's the one with the evidence, we'll just bring her back to the embassy and wake her up there."
Garrus gave a frustrated groan "Sure, I've already disobeyed orders, committed multiple homicides, why not add kidnapping to the list."
That was when Ash decided to try and 'comfort' him "You missed out theft, destruction of privet property and-"
Garrus made a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a wale before staggering forwards to help Shepard move the Quarian.
"What did I say?" Ash asked as the group moved on.
The Darkspawn embassy. One elevator ride later.
The Messenger was sitting with his back to the door, looking out through the window at the Presidium when he heard them enter. He'd sensed his fellow Darkspawn approaching earlier so their arrival was no surprise. "You're not making my life easy Shepard." he began "A fire fight in the wards. An assault on Chora's Den. The Council is turning breathing down my neck and turning this into one big cluster..." he trailed off when he turned round and saw who Shepard had arrived with and the Quarian slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Alpha, just what happened this time?"
"Ambassador, this is Garrus Vakarian, Urdnot Wrex and erm...I...didn't have time to ask her name."
Dryden and Messenger shared a look. "I know I'm going to regret this, but what is going on, why are these three here?"
"Well Garrus wants to help stop Saren and Wrex..." Shepard trailed off mid sentence "Actually Wrex, why are you still with us? Actus is dead, you have your family armour, I thought you would have left for the next job."
"And miss out on the chance to beat the galaxies greatest Turian Spectre to a bloody pulp? Not a chance."
"Good for you" said a more than slightly frustrated Messenger "but that still leaves the Quari-." Just then Tali made a slight groan as she began to wake up "Well, speak of daemons."
Shepard quickly went over to the desk and set her down in the chair. Slowly Tali's world came back into focus. Her initial relief at not being dead was quickly replaced with confusion at her new surroundings, then anger as her memoires fell back into place. She sprang to her feet and reached for her shotgun.
"We took that." said Ash, holding up the weapon so she could see.
Undaunted her hand moved to her pistol.
"And that."
Her combat knife.
"And that."
By now Tali was positively fuming with rage "Y-you...you Bosh'tets! What did you do to me!?"
As one Wisp, Ash and Shepard pointed down at Skyfall and said "He did it."
"Traitors." Sky gave Tali a nervous look "Now in my defence...um...ummm. Ok I've got nothing."
"Will you please calm down!" insisted Messenger. "You're not a prisoner here. You'll be free to go once you give us the evidence on Saren."
Tali most certainly did not calm down, in fact she seemed to get even angrier "That's never going to happen! You basterds knocked me out and kidnapped me! Do you really expect me to give you anything!?"
"You don't have to." said Wisp as he walked over to the computer sitting on Messengers desk and activated his omni-tool. "I downloaded it from you omni-tool while you were sleeping."
"It doesn't matter." said Tali defensively "You'll never break the-"
There was a ping and a green light from the computer.
"Encryption." finished Wisp "Already did that to. Turns out those long elevator rides are good for something."
"Cadash Prime was a revelation for us." Saren's voice, tinged by static flowed out of the computers small speakers "Now that He has shown us the light we're one step closer to both finding the conduit and brining true peace to this galaxy."
"And one step closer to the return of the Master." said an unknown female voice.
"Looks like there was something in that orb after all." muttered Skyfall.
Tali, Wrex and Garrus all looked confused "Orb?" asked the Turian.
Shepard shot his fellow Warden a withering look "Sorry. I forgot."
"There'll be time for explanations later." said Dryden. "Right now we should get this evidence to the Council. Even they can't brush dismiss this."
"You're not going anywhere without me!" insisted Tali "That evidence was part of my Pilgrimage. You wouldn't even have it if it weren't for me."
Dryden was too impatient to argue right now "Alright, fine the Quarian comes too."
"My name is Tali! Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."
"Is this a good idea." Sky whispered to Shepard as everyone started leaving for the Council chambers. "If she finds the Geth then..."
Shepard grimaced imagining that conversation "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
The Council chamber. Minutes later.
As days went, this had not been one of Shepards best but standing there now on the Petitioners Stage, looking at the Council's expressions as the recording played made it all worthwhile.
"You wanted proof. There it is." said the Messenger with a smug grin.
"This evidence is... irrefutable." Sparatus admitted. "Saren will be stripped of his Spectre status and every effort will be made to bring him to answer for his crimes."
"Yes, every effort will be made. By us."
Sparatus was about to argue but he was silenced by Tevos "As you are the wounded party and you did prove Saren's guilt, perhaps a compromise is best. We will provide you with intelligence of Saren if you keep us informed as to your progress and don't do anything...drastic."
"Deal." The Messenger agreed without hesitation, much to everyone's surprise. "We'll be sending a team immediately. Alpha Shepard will lead."
Shepard looked about as jubilant as Darkspawn can get, which actually looked very unnerving "I've been waiting to hear you say that since Cadash Prime."
"If we are going to be sharing information, we may as well begin now." said Tevos. "I recognise the other voice. Matriarch Benezia."
"And who is she?" asked Shepard.
"Matriarchs are powerful Asari who've entered the final stage of their lives. Revered for their wisdom and experience, the serve as guides and mentors to my people. Benezia is a powerful biotic and she has many followers. She will make a formidable ally for Saren."
"I'm more interested in this 'Master' she referred to." said Valern.
"Same here." agreed the Messenger "Everything will come to light eventually but we mustn't delay any longer. Saren has a good head start on us, let's not give him any more time. Shepard." he turned to face the Warden and his crew "I'll finalise things with the Council, go and wait at the Calen."
Shepard gave a small nod and led his team away.
"Basterd didn't even thank you." grunted Wrex once they were far enough away.
"Until I find Saren I haven't done anything yet." said Shepard "Let's get back to the ship."
"I can't wait to get off this station." said a very relieved Skyfall.
"I've never been on a Darkspawn ship before." said Tali, her mood having softened slightly "I can't wait to take a look at the drive core."
Shepard quickly sent a text massage from his omni-tool to Joker "QUARIAN COMING. HIDE THE GETH!"
The Darkspawn docking bay. Sometime later.
"Why do we have to wait out here." Wrex complained as he leaned up against the platforms guide rail.
"We've been over this." said Shepard "If you two go in there unprotected you'll catch the Blight. Just give Wisp some time to find the medicine."
"That doesn't explain why you're not letting Tali in." Garrus pointed out.
Shepard looked over at the young Quarain who was standing further away, admiring the ships gun ports and making notes on her onmi-tool.
"Ermmmm." Shepard tried franticly to think of a convincing lie but he was saved when Wisp emerged from the ship, carrying three small glass bottles in his hand.
"Ok, Wrex, Tali, Garrus. If you're going to be travelling with us you'll need protection from the Blight. This potion" he held up one bottle "is made from a flower that grows in the Korcari Wilds. Drink it regularly and it will keep you from catching the Blight and turning into ghouls."
Garrus was the first to drink, followed by Wrex, then Tali who had to take the potion in via an 'emergency induction port'.
"I thought the Blight was incurable." said Garrus.
Wisp rolled his eyes "Oh please. This isn't the Dragon Age Garrus. Medical technology has advanced."
That was when Dryden and the Messenger arrived, the two Hurlocks stepping out of the elevator and walking up to where Shepard and the other were waiting.
"It's done." said the Messenger "Warden-Captain Dryden is stepping down as commanding officer of the Calen. The ship is yours now Shepard."
"She's quick, quiet and you know the crew. It's perfect for hunting Saren down." Dryden explained.
"Thank you Captain."
"We have three leads for you." said Messenger. "The first is about that Matriarch, Benezia. Apparently she has a daughter called Liara. She's an archaeologist specialising in the Protheans. She's supposed to be on a dig in the Artemis Tau cluster, but no one has heard from her in some time."
"She might not know about Saren or his plans, but she's a link to Benezia we can't ignore." said Dryden.
"Secondly the Council gave us a look at Saren's finances. Apparently he's been pouring a lot of money into a shady research project at a Binary Helix lab on Novaria. And Finally, our own intelligence reports that there's been a large Geth attack at Zhu's Hope."
The name was vaguely familiar but Shepard couldn't quite place it "I've never heard of that colony."
"It's a Batarian refugee camp for civilians fleeing the civil war." Messenger explained "It's also home to a large abandoned Prothean city. We think the Geth are looking for something, but we don't know what."
Shepard took a moment to digest all this information. "I'll make Artemis Tau our first call. If we run in to Benezia I'd like to know exactly what I'm up against. And who knows, maybe this Liara will know something about what her mother and Saren are up to."
"Or she could be working with Saren herself." said Wisp.
"We have to start somewhere." replied Shepard "Everyone, get on board. We're leaving."
"Good luck Commander." said Dryden and Shepard and the others all stepped inside the ship. "We're all counting on you."
Once everyone had embarked they all assembled in the front of the CIC. Tali was looking around with something resembling childish wonder, Garrus and Wrex looked decidedly less impressed.
"This ship looks like it was welded together from spare parts." said Wrex.
Skyfall looked offended "Hey! This ship is the cutting edge of Darkspawn technology!"
Something on the ceiling exploded in a shower of sparks and fell to the deck with a clang.
"It's supposed to do that." Skyfall said quickly.
With a dim glow of light the Spirit of Faith appeared next to Shepard. Garrus jumped back in shock, even Wrex looked unnerved "Welcome back Commander." said Faith, oblivious to their reactions "The crew have been informed of the change in commander and we're ready to-"
"ARRGGHH!" She was interrupted by a panicked scream from Tali "A-an AI. You didn't tell me that there was and AI on this ship!"
"I'm not an AI." insisted Faith. "I'm a Spirit of Faith bound to this ship."
That did not make things better "T-the ship is possessed!" Tali squeaked.
"You're being hysterical." said Ash "The ship isn't possessed, it's haunted. Completely different."
Tali screamed again and ran off towards the back of the ship.
Shepard shook his head in despair "I think I get why Dryden didn't want to lead this mission. Ah Vashedan."
And that's all until next time.
Seeing as how Conrad can't be human what species do you think I should make him? Turian? Salarian? Asari? Maybe even Elcor?
So until next time atrast nal tunsha.