The flight from Omega to the Citadel reminded Tali of when she had been on Terra Nova. Just like back then, everybody seemed to be well disposed towards her. Back then, she had helped in saving the planet from annihilation at the hand of batarian terrorists. Now, her association with Shepard seemed to be enough. It was him who had freed about three dozen slaves, and who had secured transport for them to the Citadel. So it was small wonder that those people nearly worshipped him, and some of that goodwill was also extended toward Tali.
Since Shepard had already revealed his identity to the ship captain, he no longer made a secret out of it. Neither did they make a secret of their relationship. That was a mistake Tali was not eager to repeat. And since nobody from this 'Archangel's' group had come along, now the two were abandoned to the attention of the ship's occupants.
This left Tali in a state of emotional ambiguity. The death of her friends she had witnessed still haunted her, but her current situation was soothing and comforting. Her joy from being with Shepard again after having thought him dead for two years had not yet worn off, and the friendliness of the people around her was reassuring.
Meanwhile, reports about Shepard's reappearance were flooding the extranet. The turian captain was quite annoyed that Shepard had already given footage of himself to somebody else, a quarian pilgrim, but there was nothing she could do about this anymore. Tali found it nice how much Shepard seemed to care about quarians in general. His openly stated aim of undermining quarian traditions, i.e. the Pilgrimage, did not bother her anymore. Haestrom had thoroughly shaken the loyalty she felt to her people's traditions. At least for now, she was far more willing to trust Shepard than them.
Since the ship was a cargo ship, it did not have many windows, but there was one corridor with a small line of them. Tali stood there and saw the Citadel coming closer in all its majesty. Covered in the mists of the Serpent Nebula, sprinkled with lights and surrounded by ships of all sizes and shapes, it offered a sight without equal, marking it as the centre of the galaxy.
Even though it's just an oversized mass relay, Tali thought cynically. Worse yet, a trap.
She wondered what might await them there. While Shepard being alive was now public knowledge, nobody knew he was on this flight. He would have to identify himself, get somebody to take care of the freed slaves, and then would undoubtedly want an audience with the Council, to present his proof, Veetor's records, about the Collector threat. This would be interesting, too. For the first time, Shepard could hope to find a receptive Council, as it was led by Anita Goyle, his political ally.
Tali went to the airlock. Shepard was already waiting in front of it. He wore the leather vest and other civilian clothes they had looted on Freedom's Progress. This time, he would not hide his identity. It was even somewhat important that people should recignize him. He planned to use his celebrity status to get some help for the freed slaves.
A soft rumbling went through the vehicle, signalling it had come to a halt. Soon afterwards, the door to outside opened.
That will be a lot of explaining we'll have to do. I just hope we'll find somebody who...
Tali stopped. Outside the ship, about two dozen C-Sec guards stood in the dock. Apparently they were waiting for them.
One of them, a human with very short cut hair and a grim face, approached them and addressed Shepard: "Jonathan Shepard. I'm Captain Bailey of Citadel Security. We have orders to bring you to Council Chairwoman Goyle, immediately. We'll also take care of the people you've freed on Omega."
"I... ah... I must congratulate C-Sec on its intelligence, I suppose," Shepard answered surprised.
A turian walked up to Bailey's side and asked: "Will you come with us, Shepard?" He sounded uncomfortably aggressive. Almost as if hoping Jon would say no...
Before either Bailey or Shepard could respond, the turian captain came storming out of her ship. She apparently had little respect for C-Sec. "What's going on?"
"Don't worry, ma'am," Bailey tried to reassure her, "You'll get appropriate compensation for your services. I'm sure Council Chairwoman Goyle will see to that."
"I certainly hope so," the captain answered, but her voice had lost some of its steadiness. She looked cautiously at the C-Sec guards, probably realizing how many there were. Probably wondering if she has gone over her head with this.
"Very well. If Goyle is so eager to see me, I'd hate to disappoint," Shepard finally said with a certain ironic undertone. "But my luggage..."
"Don't worry, Shepard, we'll take care of it," Bailey reassured him. "We'll bring it to the Alliance embassy. Now please come along."
Tali did not like how C-Sec was completely taking over the scene. Ever since her first stay on the Citadel, she did not like the organization. In her experience, it was filled with prejudiced bigots and vain, incompetent people who used their position to aggrandize themselves. She was nonetheless ready to give the benefit of the doubt to individual officers, but this whole situation was very suspicious. How did they know the ship we were on?
"What about the quarian?" a turian officer barked.
"Goyle said she can come along," Bailey answered. "If she wants to."
Tali made a gesture of agreement, slightly surprised that her presence was another fact the Council Chairwoman had apparently already known about. The turian turned around angrily, apparently not liking this answer, but did not say anything.
Only now did Tali notice that there were even more armed people here than just the C-Sec guards. All of them were humans or turians. And so, as Tali now realized, were the C-Sec officers. No other race was represented. And the two groups kept apart from each other, and watched each other carefully.
Shepard had apparently realized this, too. As he got going, his muscles tensed, and his right hand remained suspiciously close to his pistol holster. He walked close to the humans, and always kept a watchful eye on the turians.
What is going on here?
Shepard would not keep to the humans just because they were his own species. Tali remembered how he had had some very unflattering things to say about his people. As it was, he seemed to keep close to them for protection. The tension in the air was thick enough that one could cut through it with a vibroblade. Tali, too, now kept her hand close to her pistol holster.
Captain Bailey remained silent, but he kept the turians under close watch. Like all his men, his gait was stiff and tense. He seems to fear a confrontation. And that was bad news: If C-Sec was split like that, Tali did not even want to consider the divisions in the Council.
The strange procession drew the attraction of many onlookers. Soon, inevitably, camera drones began to follow them. Tali tried to ignore both as much as possible, but she was concerned about the attention she and Shepard were getting. She did not think this would help them in any way.
"I wonder how many of those damn drones I could take down at once," she muttered in jest to Shepard.
"Oh, do let them fly," Shepard answered. "If the media report this now, they'll also have to report about what I've done on Omega. This can only be good for my reputation."
Tali chuckled slightly. As so often in these issues, Shepard had obviously been a mental step ahead of her.
The drones stopped when the group reached the Presidium. The people here were rich and influential enough to maintain their privacy, so by special regulation every drone not previously registered and approved was hit by a series of jamming signals which made controlling them impossible. Thus, most camera drones now left the group alone.
The entourage stopped outside the human embassy. For a moment the tension in the air rose: Nobody moved, and humans and turians looked at each other with open distrust. But finally, the C-Sec guards and the other armed turians left. Only some armed humans remained. Embassy guards, as Tali realized. They guarded Shepard and Tali as they entered the building.
Inside, Anita Goyle was awaiting them in her office, the same that had formerly belonged to Udina. The small, old woman stood in front of her white desk, and her look was stern.
"Mr Shepard, Ms Zorah," she greeted them after the guards had left the room, "I hope you have a good explanation for the mess you have created, Mr Shepard."
Shepard looked at her unsurely. "What mess?"
"We all know you've always been unconventional," Goyle stated. "And I've accepted that. It helped a great deal to make the Alliance a better place. But I have to say - Cerberus? Really?"
How does she know about that?
"What are you implying?" Shepard asked. "That I've joined them? You can't seriously think that! Not me, of all people!"
Goyle turned around and activated a holographic screen on the desk. Side by side, it displayed a video and a text file. Both documented Shepard's mission on Freedom's Progress. Even though Shepard's armour had no Cerberus insignia, he was clearly fighting alongside Cerberus members.
"Goddamn bastards," Shepard muttered.
"Citadel intelligence got this material from one of our moles inside Cerberus," Goyle explained. "It was a risky manoeuvre. The mole is dead." Of course. Cerberus doesn't leave behind loose ends. "Furthermore, we've gotten conclusive proof that the facilities you attacked two years ago were all part of a rogue group within Cerberus. This makes certain actions of yours appear in a new light."
Shepard's face darkened, but then he sighed. "I suppose me telling you that you've been fed misinformation is exactly what you'd expect right now, isn't it?" Goyle nodded curtly. "But that's the truth. I haven't joined Cerberus. It's... it's complicated."
"Then tell me," Goyle demanded.
And so Shepard did. About how he had woken up on a Cerberus station, about how he had been tricked into staying with the Cerberus operatives, about how he had agreed to cooperate on Freedom's Progress, but also how he betrayed the Cerberus operatives there. And he told Goyle about the Collector threat.
Goyle rubbed her forehead. Then she sighed and said: "That's quite a story you tell. But I have no doubt that your data will show evidence for the Collector threat. And besides, I never did believe that you have joined Cerberus. It never made sense to me."
"So you believe me?" Shepard asked.
"For now, I do," Goyle confirmed. "But the Council won't. Especially not Councillor Sparatus. When he heard about the intelligence report, he wanted to have you arrested on the spot. Or maybe even shot on the spot. I managed to prevent this, but in reaction he mobilized C-Sec agents loyal to him. So I did the same with my faction inside it."
"I had the feeling the officers were only a hair's breath away from shooting each other," Tali commented.
"They're too intelligent to let this escalate, but the situation is quite bad indeed," Goyle answered. "So the Council won't listen to you, Mr Shepard."
"But they have to!" Shepard insisted. "I don't care if they think I'm with Cerberus. But something has to be done about the Collectors! Hundreds of thousands of people have already been taken. Hundreds of thousands!"
"I'm aware of the problem," Goyle answered. "You don't need to convince me."
"Veetor's data is extraordinary," Shepard argued. "Surely, faced with that, the Council will do something."
"Quite possible, especially with my support," Goyle agreed. "But I know you, Mr Shepard. You don't want the Council to just do 'something'. Not really. You want them to support you in doing something."
Shepard grinned abashedly. "Ideally, yes."
Goyle shook her head. "That won't happen. But the Councillors can tell you that themselves. They want a meeting with you anyway. I managed to get you here first, rank has its privileges, but I fear I must start the Council session now."
"Then we should go," Shepard said.
Goyle grinned. "As I've said, rank has its privileges. We stay here. The session will be held by holographic communication".
000000
Back into the lion's den of politics.
Truth be told, Shepard secretly enjoyed much of this: The tension, the intricacies of politics, the chance to one up those in power. He was annoyed in how Cerberus had tricked him, but he was quite ready to face the Council. It was a challenge, a different kind of fight than those he ever experienced on the battlefield.
He, Tali, and Goyle walked up to the holographic projector in the Council Chairwoman's office. It looked very similar to the one which had stood in the Normandy's conference room.
"Just to be clear, I heard the Council's official position is that the Reapers are a legend. Is that true?" Shepard asked Goyle.
"I'm afraid it is," Goyle answered. "I've done some research on my own, about which I'll tell you more after the session, so I'm inclined to believe the Reaper threat to be real. The Council doesn't, though. You have to understand, Mr Shepard: We did send a follow up expedition to Ilos. But the hologram you mentioned to be there was not found. And Sovereign could actually simply have been a geth warship; we know the geth have technology more advanced than ours. So for the Council's liking, there simply isn't enough evidence out there."
Shepard shook his head. Oh, this is so stupid. "I guess that means I better shouldn't mention them."
The holograms materialized. They were in colour, unlike those which had been projected in the Normandy. Of the Councillors, Shepard only recognized Sparatus, the turian. The asari and the salarian councillors were new to him.
As Council Chairwoman, it was Goyle who spoke first. "This meeting of the Council is in session. It has been called to discuss the problem the former Spectre Shepard presents to us."
What? Former Spectre?
"I don't see what there is to discuss," Sparatus cut in. "Shepard has finally revealed his true colours. He let us, the old Council, die so that humanity could take over. Just as Cerberus had it planned."
"His actions saved the Citadel," the salarian councillor said. "We owe it to him to hear his side of the story."
"Well then, Shepard," the asari added, "what's your business with Cerberus?"
"I was a Cerberus... well, prisoner," Shepard explained. No way I'm telling them Cerberus revived me. It was one thing to tell this to Goyle, as he could trust her. He did not want to spread this information around. It would be too good PR material for Cerberus. "That is why I couldn't contact you after the destruction of the Normandy. I used the mission on Freedom's Progress to get free of them."
"A dubious claim," Sparatus judged. "You set out on your own to regain your Spectre status. We know that in the time between what you did on Freedom's Progress and your reappearance on Omega Cerberus launched some operations in the Terminus. That would explain what you did in the meantime."
Shepard made a grimace. He had to admit, Cerberus' misinformation campaign had apparently been orchestrated masterfully.
"He was with me, on a quarian mission," Tali spoke up now. "Which... ah, is classified," she added somewhat sheepishly.
"Your loyalty to Shepard is well known, Tali'Zorah," the asari stated. "I think we both know you would in fact lie to cover him. Like just now."
"What about the rachni then?" Shepard asked. "You believe I only attacked all those Cerberus facilities two years ago in order to wipe out a rogue part of the organization. Alright. Why then did I use the rachni findings to motivate the Council to hunt down Cerberus in general, instead of simply giving rachni samples to the organization?"
"We don't presume to have all the answers," the salarian Councillor replied. "Right now we can't be sure about you either way. But that's exactly the problem: We can't trust you."
"We'll watch you, Shepard," the asari Councillor added. "And if you do belong to Cerberus, and you do slip up, then we'll be ready."
Shepard groaned annoyed. "Fine, be ready. But nevermind Cerberus, there is a far greater threat out there, which you have to be aware of!"
"Ah yes, your tales about 'Reapers'," Sparatus mocked. "The immortal race of sentient starships allegedly awaiting in Dark Space. We have dismissed that claim."
Shepard shook his head. "No, not Reapers. No tales. Something that has been measured in every way possible - visual, electromagnetic, dark energy, you name it. And it is abducting Hundreds of thousands of people in the Terminus Systems."
"Ms Zorah, begin transmitting the files," Goyle told the quarian.
A while later, after ingesting some of the information, the salarian Councillor spoke up again: "We've heard about those abductions. I have to admit they were a puzzle to us. This is the first clue as to what has happened... and it's very exhausting and detailed evidence indeed."
"But as sorry as we are for those people, the Terminus Systems are not in our jurisdiction," the asari Councillor added. "Your colonists knew this when they left Citadel space."
"With all due respect, Councillor, you're missing the point," Shepard argued. "We're talking about a power that can snatch up so many people in a matter of hours, without any resistance to them and without anybody noticing what's going on. If such a power runs wild in the Terminus, that's a threat to Citadel space, too. After all, we have no idea about the motivations and mentality of the Collectors. We can't be sure that they won't strike here, and do you have the means to stop such a power?"
"He has a point," the salarian Councillor admitted.
"Perhaps. In any case, this is something worth investigating," the asari Councillor stated.
"I can do that," Shepard claimed.
The holograms of the councillors looked unsure. Finally, the salarian spoke up: "No, Shepard. We cannot trust you. We cannot give resources to somebody who might be associated with Cerberus. This could backfire too easily."
"So, what will you do instead?" Shepard demanded to know.
"This is not for you to know," Sparatus scoffed.
Annoyance rose in Shepard. "Oh, let me guess: Nothing. As usual. While hundreds of thousands die out there."
"As far as I'm concerned this session is over," Sparatus stated. His hologram faded.
"Shepard, we thank you for your information," the salarian Councillor spoke up. "Don't let our colleague's short temper fool you into believing we don't appreciate this. You've done a great service to the Council, again. Unfortunately, considering that these... 'Collectors' for now only target human colonies, stopping them would in fact also be in Cerberus' interest. I'm sorry, but we still can't trust you."
"There is the matter of his Spectre status," Goyle said.
"It would be unwise to discuss this now that Councillor Sparatus has left the discussion", the salarian Councillor opined.
"He's free to do that, but then he also has to bear the consequences," Goyle argued.
"What about my Spectre status, anyway?" Shepard asked. "Surely, considering that I never was actually dead, that means I'm still a Spectre."
"It doesn't work like that on the Citadel," Goyle explained. "What matters is whether you're on the Spectres list. You were removed when we received news of your death. That this news were false is irrelevant, what matters is that you were removed from this list. You are officially not a Spectre anymore. But you could be reinstated."
"It would be unwise to publicly support a possible member of Cerberus," the salarian Councillor cautioned.
"We can do this all very quietly, without making this big news," Goyle argued. "I don't believe he's with Cerberus, and somebody has to investigate those 'Collectors'."
"I'm not prepared to make such a decision right now," the asari Councillor declared. "We can discuss this at a later time." Her hologram disappeared.
"Well then, Councillor" Goyle spoke to the salarian, "it seems this session is dissolving rapidly. I hereby officially declare it over. For whatever it's still worth."
Without further comment, the hologram of the salarian councillor also went offline.
"God damnit," Shepard muttered, then sighed. "Well, I guess that's out of my hands then."
Silence answered him. Eventually he began to pace in the room and muttered again. "Hundreds of thousands of people... and I can't do shit! I mean, damn, they can't really believe I'm with Cerberus, can they?"
"It's convenient for them. Or at least for Councillor Sparatus," Goyle remarked calmly.
Unrest grew in Shepard. He realized that it was foolish to expect that he of all people should be the one to go off and save the galaxy again. The information about the Collectors threat now was with the responsible authorities; surely they could do something about it. It doesn't need to be always me. But that was how he had imagined it: That he would bring Veetor's data to the Council, and that they would supply him to stop the Collectors.
And what if they do nothing? They still deny the Reapers, despite everything. If they now also turn a blind eye to this... it isn't impossible. But no matter how he looked at it, he was out of the game now, and that frustrated him immensely. So many lives are at stake... I have to do something.
"Meaning I have no ship, no crew, no plan and no Spectre status," Shepard concluded. He hesitated. "And I suppose the Alliance won't supply me, either."
Goyle laughed dryly. "Most certainly not."
"But I have to do something!" Shepard exclaimed.
"Truth be told, I don't know how much resources the Council will devote to this at all," Goyle admitted. "That you of all people brought this information will make this automatically suspicious to Councillor Sparatus, and the other Councillors might concede this point to him in horse trading negotiations."
"So that means the Collectors are free to roam the Terminus and the humans there are doomed?" Shepard asked desperately.
"I'll do my best to prevent this," Goyle promised, "but I only chair the Council. I don't rule it." She hesitated. "I suppose I could funnel some funds to you. But that would be a very risky operation. The Alliance government is only waiting for a reason to remove me from my position. And to be blunt, if I go, you won't have any political allies left anymore at all."
Shepard growled slightly in frustration. At the same time, the computer terminal on Goyle's desk began to beep.
"I thought I had it set to ignore all incoming calls," Goyle remarked annoyed.
Tali activated her omni-tool and after a short check spoke up: "It's being hacked."
"But this is top level Citadel and Alliance te... nevermind. Can you stop it, Ms Zorah?" Goyle asked.
"I'm currently hacking into the system myself," Tali answered. "That's the only way to do something about it. I think I can isolate the intrusion... it's a call."
"If somebody takes such a great effort to reach me, maybe I should listen," Goyle answered. "As long as there's no danger to the other systems."
"I think I've quarantined it now," Tali answered. "I could cut the whole thing off, if you wish. Or lay the call on the terminal screen."
"The latter, please," Goyle chose.
An angry growl escaped Shepard as he saw the face on the now active terminal screen: It was Miranda Lawson.
"You!" he exclaimed.
"Shepard, Tali'Zorah, Council Chairwoman", Lawson greeted the people present. "I hope you've seen now that you can't rely on the Council, Shepard."
"Because you sabotaged me," Shepard accused her.
"Wait," Goyle told him. "How do you know what just happened?"
"You can see this as a demonstration of our capabilities," Lawson answered calmly. "Capabilities we still mean to contribute to fighting the Collectors. Check the docking records of the Citadel. You'll see that we've brought the SR-2 to here. Shepard, our offer of cooperation still stands."
"You can't be serious!" Shepard exclaimed.
"I've found the ship," Tali announced. "An unregistered heavy frigate. They're here."
"Cut the line!" Shepard told her.
Tali did so, and the terminal screen deactivated itself.
"I think we might have to clear who has authority here," Goyle remarked slightly annoyed.
"Haven't you heard? Cerberus has a warship here. A warship!" Shepard argued. "If it's really docked in here we have to use the chance. Well, you do. Send in C-Sec. Seize it!"
"I'll activate the men," Goyle agreed, "But before I give the order... Mr Shepard, maybe you should consider their offer."
"Excuse me?" Shepard protested.
"If I understand things correctly the ship would be for you," Goyle explained her position. "So this would enable you to go to the Terminus and investigate the Collectors. Just as you want. And just as might be needed, if the Council indeed does nothing."
Shepard scoffed. "Ah, the Council is allowed to sit back and do nothing, but I should sully hands by working with that scum? I think not. Am I to reward Cerberus for sabotaging me by joining their efforts?"
"What else do you propose?" Goyle ask. "As you emphasized, quite many lives are at stake."
"If you seize the ship, I can get an expedition together," Shepard answered. "You said you could theoretically provide supplies, even if it's dangerous. And I'm sure I can find good people for a crew."
"And then you'd still have no plan what to do, no intelligence, nothing," Goyle argued. "It looks like Cerberus has a plan, at least." Her voice became more pleading. "You can use them. While I can remain here and will thus be able to further support you."
This stopped Shepard cold. After a while he asked almost disappointed: "Really, Ms Goyle? Are you really like all the others, only caring about keeping your position?"
"Jon, please, I'm sure she didn't mean that," Tali tried to intervene.
"Right, sorry," Shepard quickly apologized. "Considering how you lost your ambassador post the first time and how you came back out of retirement... But it's so damn frustrating!"
"I understand," Goyle reassured him. "How about this? It's evening as per Presidium time. Get a night full of sleep and then come back. I'll take care that the Cerberus ship won't be able to leave, not without getting shot down in any case. And tomorrow we can still decide which option to take, mine or yours."
"Right," Shepard answered frustrated. "I don't like it, but... I guess it's the reasonable thing to do. Sleep over it, for now."
Goyle took an item from her desk and gave it to Shepard. It was a key card. "People know you're here, so you'd better not stay at the embassy. I've secured a nice, anonymous housing unit here on the Presidium for you two. I'll reserve a shuttle to get you there. It will also bring you back here tomorrow."
Shepard nodded, and turned to leave, followed by Tali. His head was heavy with the recent events. As it appeared, he had three choices: To do nothing about the Collectors, nothing about death on a grand scale, to start a mission of his own but with high chance of failure, or to ally with Cerberus. None of those options was truly appealing. Cerberus' chutzpah vexed him greatly: The only reason he was now dependent on their support was because they had sabotaged him. So allying with them, already a distasteful thought to begin with, would mean giving them exactly what they wanted.
But no matter how infuriating that is to me, what's that compared to so all the people abducted or dead or in threat of death?
The shuttle trip was surprisingly short. It covered a distance that could also have been walked. The main purpose to using a vehicle was to keep Shepard and Tali hidden within it.
He opened the door of the housing unit - and took a step back in surprise. Instead of a door frame, there was an airlock behind the door. It looked like a smaller version of the one the Normandy had had aboard. His eyes widened as he realized the purpose of this arrangement.
It's a cleanroom. How very thoughtful of Goyle.