Chapter Fourteen:
Tevos held one hand over her eyes, trying to keep her stomach from lurching. Her other hand supported her weight as she leaned forward over the sink. In a few minutes, she would be forced to leave her office's small washroom and stand at the top of the Temple's wide marble steps, explaining her actions before a large and possibly hostile crowd.
Normally, public speaking didn't bother her. It had been a part of her life since she was a small child. But this was different. She wasn't simply being questioned on matters of Council policy. This was personal. A test of her character. As sick as she felt, she was eager to rise and meet it. She reminded herself that she had led her people through what looked like the end of the universe. In comparison, this was nothing.
In some small way, it annoyed her that she needed to have a press conference in the first place. She knew that she owed her constituents an explanation for her behavior. Bonding with someone as infamous as Aria T'Loak couldn't just be swept under the rug, and she understood why their relationship might seem strange or even dangerous to an outside observer, but part of her resented having to justify something so personal. Briefly, she wondered if Aria had ever felt this resentment during their melds and assumed it was directed at her.
The two of them hadn't spoken much that morning. Aside from bringing Tevos breakfast, Aria had remained strangely silent and introspective. Tevos hadn't received much more than a hollow 'good luck' and a perfunctory kiss before Neota had ushered her out the door, barely even noticing Aria's nakedness. When it came to Aria, nothing seemed to surprise her poor, long-suffering assistant anymore.
A knock on the door made Tevos pull her hand away from her eyes. "Yes?" she called out, hoping that she didn't sound as exhausted as she felt.
"It's me, Counci -" The hiss of the washroom door sliding open muffled the sound of Neota's voice for a moment. "- re you all right?" she finished, stepping into the room. She frowned when she caught a glimpse of Tevos's face.
"Define 'all right'," Tevos said, holding on to the edge of the sink. She looked as sick as she felt.
Neota's brow furrowed in concern. "Do you need some water? Pills?"
Tevos shook her head. "No, thank you." She had been fighting back nausea all morning, but she hadn't taken any of the mild sedatives she carried with her. Since the war, she had become a little too dependent on chemical regulators for her own comfort. The stims and sedatives she used were completely legal, and she never took more than the prescribed amount, but she disliked relying on drugs to manage her emotions.
"They sent me to fetch you," Neota said, pausing as she studied Tevos's face more closely. "But your makeup might need some touching up first."
Tevos looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. "Unfortunately, you're right. I doubt the press will be kind enough to use filters on their cameras." She splashed a little water on her face, relishing the sudden cold. Then, she turned and left the washroom, crossing through her office and out into the hallway with Neota following quickly at her heels.
She adopted a long, confident stride as she cut a path through the mob of priestesses, techs, C-Sec grunts, stylists, and the sound crew walking through the halls. Most of them recognized her and stepped out of her path as soon as they caught sight of her, but she did have to dodge a few hovering cameras. Somehow, even though Neota was walking a few steps behind, she managed to catch Tevos's eye and nod her over towards one of the side rooms near the front entrance.
When she passed the two C-Sec officers standing outside and stepped through the open doorway, she had to stifle a groan. Two asari maidens were waiting on either side of a large, empty chair, both of them armed with an impressive spread of supplies. She had company in her misery, however. Sparatus was lounging near one of the mirrors, his arms folded over his chest, and Valern was seated in another chair, being attended to by a human male with blonde hair.
"You're finished, I take it," Tevos said, slightly jealous as she watched Sparatus preen in front of the mirror. "Sometimes I hate you."
"If you wanted to go first, you should have gotten here faster," he said.
"I did go first. I just need a touch-up."
"You know, I've never had an asari do my clan markings so well before." Sparatus turned his head to view the white paint covering his face at a better angle. "They look rather dashing, don't you think?"
One of the asari, a girl with pleasant pink facial markings, blushed at the compliment, and Tevos resisted the temptation to heave a sigh as she sat down. "I'm sure your wife will appreciate it," she said flatly. She gave both of the maidens a brief smile of acknowledgement to be polite, and then tilted her head back, hoping her torment would be over with quickly.
"Goddess, how did I miss this one the first time?" one of them gasped as the collar of Tevos's dress shifted. "Petra, where did you put that medigel tube?"
The maiden with the pink markings stopped making flirtatious eyes at Sparatus long enough to look and see what had startled her companion. "I'll get it," she murmured, turning towards the table of supplies.
Sparatus chuckled. "So, the Queen of Omega is a biter. Doesn't surprise me. How much medigel did they need the first time?"
Tevos narrowed her eyes and prepared to tell Sparatus exactly where he could shove his comment, but Valern beat her to it. "If you must speculate about such distasteful things, please do it outside of my presence," he said in a clipped tone from his chair, making the human male who was working on him click his tongue in disapproval. The corners of Tevos's lips twitched up in a small smile. She decided that she liked him, and not just because his jacket reminded her a little bit of Aria's.
"You're the only one who finds the subject distasteful," Sparatus said. "Westerlund has sold more subscriptions in the past day and a half than during the rest of the galactic standard year combined."
"Wonderful," Tevos drawled, shuddering slightly as the maiden with the pink facial markings rubbed the cold topical medigel onto the bruise until it faded into unbroken blue skin. She actually felt a small, irrational sense of loss as the love bite disappeared.
"Do you want to fix her lips, or should I?" the other maiden asked. "Her eyes are fine."
"I'll trade with you," the human male who had been working on Valern offered. "I left the eyes for last." Tevos tried not to look amused. Honestly, she had no idea how one went about putting makeup on a salarian at all.
"She's all yours." The maiden handed him the tube of gloss she had been holding as they passed each other.
Tevos spent the next minute deliberately ignoring Sparatus's annoying looks, going over her talking points in her head, and trying to hold perfectly still as she felt her lips being re-outlined. She was momentarily distracted when she heard a small commotion by the door, but didn't bother turning at the sound of footsteps.
"Excuse me? This is a private room. You can't just barge in here and –" Valern's outburst suddenly quieted, and Tevos turned around to see Grizz standing behind her chair, holding a thin electronic pass between two talons. His other hand rested on his pistol.
"I was invited," he said, his layered voice deadly calm. Then, he looked over at Tevos. "How are you holding up?"
"Grizz," Tevos said, smiling broadly. "I feel a little like I'm getting ready for the sequel to Vaenia instead of a press conference, but..." A sudden thought struck her, and her smile disappeared. "Please tell me that Aria is still at the Estate."
Valern glared at her from his chair, forcing the maiden with the pink markings to step aside. "You let one of Aria's people in here?"
Tevos closed her eyes and tried to ignore the brush running beneath the points of her cheekbones. "Valern, answering stupid questions is all I'll be doing for the next hour. Please don't make me start early."
Sparatus laughed, and even though Tevos couldn't see his facial expression because of the way her chair was facing, she imagined that Valern was scowling at her. "Leave her alone, Valern. Aria is technically our ally. A dangerous ally, but still..."
Tevos wanted to thank him, but she felt sorry for the man trying to fix her makeup and settled back in her chair, holding still as she felt him swipe away a line through the center of her lower lip, letting the white stripe of her tattoo show through the color he had been applying.
"All right, you're finished," said the human, stepping back and admiring his handiwork. Tevos glanced in the mirror, and was pleased to see that the stress and exhaustion she felt was hidden behind a clever blend of shadows and highlights. Now, she just had to hold on to the illusion for a few hours.
"You look like you were born for this," Grizz said, and Tevos was touched by the sincerity of his words. For some reason, she had a feeling that the turian could see right through the face she was wearing, and meant what he said anyway.
"Councilor?" Tevos turned to see Neota walking towards her, a hovering microphone floating beside her head. "They're ready for you."
Slowly, Tevos stood and smoothed out the front of her dress. "Thank you." She gave her assistant a soft smile. "By the way, expect something extra in your next paycheck." Before Neota could murmur her thanks, Tevos headed towards the door, pausing when she reached it to look back at Sparatus and Valern. "Well? Are you coming or not?"
Reluctantly, the two other Councilors followed her towards the door, barely even noticing when several C-Sec officers fell into step beside them. Silently, Grizz joined the group, never letting Tevos leave his line of sight.
. . .
As Tevos listened to the conference coordinator's introduction in a chair just off-center from the podium, all of the words seemed to blur together. For a few moments, nothing her assistant said was actually distinguishable at all. Tevos swallowed once, and blinked her eyes slowly. This press conference could prove to be her saving grace, or the end of her career. Unfortunately, she couldn't predict which.
The other two Councilors were seated on either side of her, although there was a gap between Tevos and Valern so that no one would be sitting directly behind the podium. Without even looking, Tevos knew that their faces were as blank as her own. C-Sec agents stood silently along the steps and several yards off to the side, and although she couldn't see him, Tevos knew that Grizz had to be somewhere close by. She was tempted to look for him, but even though she was still seated, the crowd at the foot of the steps was watching her. The cameras were surely capturing every movement she made, every expression that passed across her face.
The sound of her name pulled her back into the present. "Councilor Tevos will now make a statement..."
When Tevos rose to her feet, the room exploded with noise – the whirring and clicking of cameras, rising voices, countless questions. Swiftly, she raised one hand for silence, and to her relief, it was granted within a few seconds. "Thank you. Because of recent events, I thought it would be prudent to make a brief statement and answer a few questions." She focused her eyes on a spot in the distance, just above the heads of the crowd so that it appeared as if she was looking directly at them. She needed to appear as if she was making a personal connection with the people listening, even though there was only one face she wanted to see.
"First of all, I did bind wrists with Aria T'Loak. We were married about a month ago." No one spoke, but the effect of the statement on the crowd was almost audible by itself. Even though she didn't feel comfortable sharing the details of her relationship, Tevos knew that she had to give them something more. She needed people to sympathize, to understand, to relate to her, even if it made her uncomfortable. "Our relationship started during the war. So much death has a way of forging unexpected connections, but even I was surprised when it grew into something more. When I was elected to this position -"
Tevos paused, letting the icy, impersonal aura she was protecting herself with melt. The numbness she felt stabbed a little as it faded away. If she wanted to keep her job, she couldn't play the regal, austere politician this time. She needed to add something of a personal touch. Even if the confidence vote went against her, there were a few things she needed to say. Not for her people, but for herself.
"... When I became the Asari Councilor, I never expected to fall in love." Her lips softened into a brief smile. "I was afraid that opening up to someone else would weaken me. But the past few years have shown me just how wrong I was. Strength is shown through love." Tevos waited a moment for her words to sink in. She wondered if Aria would find her speech flattering, or slightly irritating. Surely, Aria wasn't used to being described in nearly poetic terms. "I know our bonding seems unorthodox, implausible. But even Janiri fell in love, and I'm only mortal. We don't choose when or where love takes us."
Tevos straightened, making herself taller as the floating microphone adjusted to hover beside her lips. "But we can choose our actions, and we are responsible for our decisions. I am submitting to a confidence vote because I believe in our system of government, and because I believe that my personal decisions have not undone or erased my contributions to the Republics. I am the same leader I was before. My convictions have not changed."
The crowd seemed transfixed, and Tevos allowed herself a small moment of pride. She was in her element again. This was what she knew, what she was good at, what she enjoyed. "In the next three weeks, my actions will be judged by the citizens of Republic. As your Councilor, I ask that you judge all of my actions. Politicians are servants of their people. Judge how I served you for nearly a century. Judge how I served you when our entire Galaxy was on the brink of destruction. Judge how I served you as we rebuilt, stronger than before."
Tevos waited, letting her words settle as she retreated into herself again. She was the wise, austere councilor again, and this time, the image she was trying to project felt genuine. But the passion was there, just beneath the surface if she needed a few more carefully timed displays. "And now, I would be happy to answer a few questions."
Briefly, Tevos glanced down at the screen built into the podium. The text of her short speech – which she had deviated from considerably – had disappeared. Instead, it had been replaced with the names of every reporter in attendance and the news organizations they belonged to. All she needed to do was select a name on the screen. To an outside observer, her picks would seem random, but Liara had come through for her with modified (and occasionally incriminating) dossiers on every single reporter in attendance. Being on intimate terms with the Shadow Broker had its advantages.
After a moment's consideration, Tevos selected one of the safer names, a female turian from one of the major news networks. The Galactic Broadcasting Corporation wasn't known for inflammatory coverage like Westerlund. "Faine Saronis, GBC News. Councilor, you haven't made a statement about your bonding until now, but several major media outlets have reported that the ceremony happened several weeks ago. Were you trying to conceal your relationship from the public, and did the appearance of recent tabloid photos finally prompt you to make an announcement?"
Tevos was slightly relieved that the turian hadn't mentioned that she was naked in those photos – as if she needed the reminder. "The photos did bring media attention to my relationship with Aria, but I wasn't trying to conceal it. No one ever asked." She held up her wrist, showing her bondmate bracelet. "I've been wearing this for months. I don't take it off. Also, I submitted the bonding paperwork under my legal name. It was a matter of public record... if anyone cared to look." She couldn't help smirking slightly as the reporters realized that the story had technically been available to them for weeks, and they had all missed out on a chance at an exclusive.
Glancing down at the screen again, Tevos selected another name, an asari with severe facial markings and an even more severe expression. "Damara Al'tai, FCC. What would you say to critics who claim that your relationship with Aria T'Loak is a security threat?"
Tevos had known that this question was coming. Avoiding it was impossible. She responded in the only way she could – with offended dignity. "I have never revealed classified information to Aria, or anyone else. I've spent centuries strengthening my mental barriers, and the Council employs some of the best techs in Citadel space to secure all of our electronic devices. But if my word isn't satisfactory, I challenge anyone who disagrees to find proof and name a specific incident." Tevos knew that the last part of her statement was risky. It could inspire some of her political enemies to start digging for specifics, but she was banking on the fact that since there was nothing to find, she could disprove or at least cast doubt on their accusations.
After making sure the cameras had captured her vehement denial, she selected another name, a human male this time. "Robert Masters, Alliance News Network. Recently, Westerlund published an exposé on your relationship with Aria. Is the information in that article accurate, and do you know the identity of the anonymous source?"
"I have no comment on the anonymous source at this time, but the information in the article is factual, for the most part. There were a few embellishments..." Tevos paused for a moment to find Khalisah's face in the crowd. She was in the front row, probably thanks to her reporting on Liara's pregnancy and Tevos's bonding. Obviously, her newly elevated status came with a few perks. "But overall, it was surprisingly accurate."
Tevos tapped another name on the screen. This time, the question came from a hanar wearing a rather strange looking black hat, which had obviously been made for a human head, on top of his body. "Regards the Work of the Enkindlers Joyously, Skywire. This One has confirmed that the company Fornax has already begun preproduction on a film parodying Madam Councilor's relationship, starring Avara Angalee..."
The hanar didn't even need to finish his question. "Amara Anjali?" Tevos corrected automatically. Then, she froze, deliberately willing herself not to blush. In addition to starring in Cheap Illium Whores VII: The All-Asari, All The Time Edition, and the Play Hard: Asari Skyball Undressed special, she had won several awards for her work in Blue Bondage Babes, parts three, four, and seven. Briefly, Tevos wondered just how sad and awful it was that she could remember most of the actress's filmography without any reference material.
With the right makeup, Amara Anjali could pass for Aria's sister, and Aria had even commented on the amusing resemblance once or twice before while perusing Tevos's not-so-secret stash of porn clips.
Tevos blinked slowly, trying to clear her head so that she could form a somewhat coherent answer to the question. "I - I had no idea that such a film was being produced, but otherwise, I have absolutely no comment on the matter." She cleared her throat. "Next question." When no one spoke, she remembered that she had to choose a name, and jabbed her finger randomly at the screen.
"Kazuhiro Saitou, Second Star Broadcasting. A recent poll from Harris-Reid has shown a significant drop in your approval ratings since your relationship with Aria T'Loak became public knowledge. What is your response?"
"I believe that particular poll showed a dip of about seven percent," Tevos said. "My approval rating among the asari dropped over twenty points after I told Commander Shepard about the existence of the Prothean Beacon in Armali. Once the war ended, it rose forty. In comparison, the polls about my relationship with Aria seem... trivial."
That was when the sound of gunfire tore through the air.
The reaction was immediate. Several people screamed, and others threw themselves to the ground. Tevos instinctively ducked behind the podium, her heart hammering wildly as a wall of C-Sec officers closed around her in a protective circle. She tried to look past their broad, armored chestpieces and catch a glimpse of what was going on, but they completely blocked her view.
Tevos's world shifted as she was dragged down behind the podium, two armored bodies crouching over her as several others drew their weapons. Her eyes darted around, trying to take stock of her situation. The only things she could hear were screaming and gunfire.
Before she had time to breathe, someone grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet, pulling her up the stairs. Somewhere along the way, she noticed that one of the armored chestplates beside her was grey instead of black with blue stripes, and she breathed a small sigh of relief. Grizz. Tevos didn't have much time to be thankful before she found herself shoved up against Sparatus, who was also being hurried up the steps and back into the temple.
Valern was on her other side, looking just as terrified as Tevos felt. "What's happening?" he demanded, completely out of breath as the three of them were guided into the temple. Tevos didn't bother trying to answer. She had no idea who had started shooting at her, or why.
Grizz and two C-Sec agents remained directly beside her, literally making shields of their bodies as the temple doors closed behind them. Four others broke from the diamond formation they had adopted and immediately took one of the side passages, standing two abreast as they hurried for the nearest emergency exit.
For some reason, the fact that she couldn't hear screaming anymore made Tevos sick to her stomach. It didn't help that the hallway was completely abandoned aside from their group, and everything was uncomfortably quiet.
Eventually, the silence was broken by one of the C-Sec officers speaking into his Omnitool. "This is Shift Leader Kardonis, evacuating principals Kurinth, Mehrkuri, Gurji," he barked as they turned a corner in the hallway. "Shuttle three, do you copy?"
There was an explosion of static from the other end of the connection, followed by a few broken words. "Do - ... come, we're... nder att –"
"Damn it, someone's jamming communications." The turian jabbed at his Omnitool again. "Shuttle three, we can't read you –"
This time, the voice coming from the other end was less garbled. "We read you. You're clear to evacuate."
Tevos winced as she was hurried through a second door and back out into the bright sunlight, squinting her eyes against the glare. Once the spots swimming in her field of vision cleared, she saw an armored Skycar hovering a few feet away. The door opened, revealing several more uniformed C-Sec agents. Without waiting for the guards to follow, Valern hurried onto the shuttle, with Sparatus almost immediately behind him. Tevos turned to Grizz for a brief moment and opened her mouth to speak, but the turian was studying the occupants of the Skycar, and his eyes narrowed with suspicion. He extended an arm, blocking Tevos's path forward. "Wait, don't –"
"Varris, Michaels, evacuate the principals!" The Shift Leader rounded on Grizz, mandibles flaring. "What the hell do you think you're doing? This is a C-Sec operation. I know the Councilor has you on a leash, but this isn't your job, you barefaced –" Before he could finish his insult, a fresh round of gunfire came from the inside shuttle, and he collapsed, one side of his face gone. Several of the other C-Sec agents fell beside him, shot down before they could even aim their weapons.
Acting on instinct, Grizz pushed Tevos to the ground, firing his pistol as three well-armed impostors leapt from the Skycar's open door. He didn't even have time to notice that he had hit his first two marks before several heavy rounds collided with his chestplate. His body jerked at the impact, and Tevos screamed as he dropped to his knees. She tried to move towards him, but one of the armored humans stopped her, hauling her bodily into the shuttle. The last thing she saw before the doors closed was Grizz falling forward and hitting the ground, a dull grey blur surrounded by several corpses in bloodstained black armor.