Twenty-Fourth Assignment

The candy cane leader of HUMANITY NOW ran for his shuttle and started the engines, as he prepared to leave more of his men appeared. They were covered in wounds and seemed terrified, though the fear was only obvious by their panicked breathing. They had been slaughtered, the advantage of surprise and better weaponry was nothing compared to skill and leadership.

He turned the shuttle and flew away, just as Kirrahe and his men entered the dock. Kirrahe ran for the ship, firing several useless shots. The shuttle flew further away and Kirrahe threw his gun to the floor in frustration. If only he had been a second faster, just a little bit quicker and perhaps he could have stopped them.

One of his men went to speak, offer some encouragement for the salarian who had helped to keep the Councillors and race leaders safe. What he accomplished was no small feat, he couldn't forget that. His solider took a brave step forwards, and HUMANITY NOW's shuttle exploded. In a burst of concentrated heat the shuttle dissapeared in a fiery orb that blinded the soldiers.

As the fire and glow vanished, swept away by the vacuum of space, Kirrahe uncovered his eyes and saw the wreckage of the shuttle. A hunk of charred metal with small figures - that he assumed were bodies - floating into the abyss.

"Who did that?" he ordered. "Was that a Thanix Cannon or -"

"It wasn't us, sir," a soldier quickly replied. "That was a concentrated blast from inside the shuttle's hull. Someone must have installed a self-destruct sequence or a bomb."

Kirrahe was silent, but his thoughts obvious. He was going to have a long talk with his fellow commanders.

...

"A day of joy has quickly turned into a day of tragedy and mourning, as the organization HUMANITY NOW attacked the Citadel, killing fourteen C-Sec officers and wounding others. The last remaining members of the organization were killed when their shuttle blew up. But today is not just a day of death; the new marriage law has been passed, so hope rises from this bloody battle field..."

...

The Councillors had retired to their private office, it was a fairly small dark room with a round table and a single light. It was a room very few were aware existed - many Spectre's included - and was only used for the most secretive and important of meetings. To be included in such a meeting was an honour, though perhaps Primarch Victus and Captain Kirrahe had been in the room before, considering their status.

They had spent the better part of an hour discussing the recent attack, learning the full extent of the damage and the cost to life. There was much left to discuss, like who had given them clearance to enter and informed them of the entrance to the tunnels. The only possible answer was an inside informant, which left only one question. Who had given them such technology and weaponry in the first place?

Each of them had come to the same conclusion.

"HUMANITY NOW was working for another organization," Kirrahe said. "Otherwise they would have known of the bomb that killed them or detonated it closer to the Citadel."

"He's right," Seraphina agreed. "It would also explain how such a poorly funded organization got armour and weapons capable of holding off C-Sec. They weren't fighters, that much was obvious."

"Which just begs the question," Victus added, "who has the money and resources capable of funding such an attack?"

Seraphina looked to Quentius and Anderson, they knew who exactly had the money, resources and desire to attack the Citadel and prevent the new law. It was the same organization who had attacked the Councillors and Citadel the last time using vorcha, and they just knew that the next attack wasn't going to be so easy to deflect.

"Cerberus."

The voice that spoke was neither member of Operation Cobra, in fact, it was someone else entirely. All heads turned to Councillor Valern, who looked up at them sheepishly. Quentius looked beyond shocked, the salarian who had shot down each of his suggestions relating to Cerberus was now admitting their part in the attack?

Even Seraphina couldn't believe what she had heard.

"Perhaps..." Valern continued, "what Quentius and Anderson has been saying all along... is true."

"Councillor Valern?" Tevos frowned. "Why do you say this now? After so many months arguing that Cerberus doesn't exist-"

"I know it sounds... strange," Valern agreed. "But while hiding I thought of everything that had happened over the months, all the strangely organized attacks. Children of political families being used by a mysterious organization, the vorcha working alongside a yahg, a quarian trying to provoke a conflict between its race and the geth..."

She slammed her fists onto the table, "None of it makes sense!" she cried. "I don't want to believe they are connected, because it just seems... impossible! But after everything, what you always said Quentius, I think your right."

Quentius, at that moment, felt incredibly smug. But he didn't let it show. He calmly stood and addressed Valern, still trying to hide the turian equivalent of a smirk. Victus and Kirrahe shared a short glance and both took a step forwards.

"Kirrahe and I for the past several months have been feeding information regarding Cerberus to Councillor Anderson and Quentius," Victus announced. "For some time I have been suspect of the organization's existence and worked alongside Kirrahe to uncover bases and information. The information has been used by Quentius and Anderson to attack Cerberus through a special unit of their creation."

"What?" Valern gasped. "You went behind our backs and-"

"You didn't believe in Cerberus!" Quentius interrupted. "We couldn't stand by and let them get away with experiments and war crimes, we had to act. You can't argue they weren't successful. They stopped a Quarian-Geth Conflict and defeated Ríocht Marfóir, along with the other incidents you mentioned."

Valern and Tevos turned to Seraphina, who now felt very uncomfortable with all of this attention now focused on her. Of course she was involved with this unit, she was Anderson's special Spectre and she obeyed his every command, why woudn't she be involved? Valern and Tevos shared a glance, some silent words passed between the two and Tevos stood.

"Then perhaps... Cerberus is a very real threat," Tevos said. "And perhaps three Spectre's isn't enough to fight them."

"What are you suggesting?" Anderson asked.

"A new squad, under the command of Shepard," Tevos replied. "I am aware that Shepard and her companions have gathered a few... associates of interest who they could use. If we agree to this, agree that Cerberus is a threat, then we need a squad capable of handling the situation. It will be their main and only priority until the situation is resolved."

"It would be entirely off the books," Valern agreed. "If Shepard chooses non-Spectre or Citadel allies then we can easily dismiss the existence of this unit."

"I agree," Anderson said. "Cerberus cannot be made aware of this, they cannot know what we are planning."

Anderson turned to Seraphina and took her aside as Valern and Tevos continued to discuss the matter with Quentius.

"For the moment, keep this to yourself," he ordered. "I don't want you getting your - or anyone else's - hopes up."

"I understand," she said.

"Victus," Quentius turned his attention to his Primarch. "Both you and Kirrahe have battled valiantly and served your Councillor well, but we shall handle the matter from here."

"Very well," Victus nodded obediently. "But know that I look forwards to what comes of today's events, an Anti-Cerberus Unit would be one I would be happy to finance."

Primarch Victus and Captain Kirrahe left, closely followed by a very tired Spectre. She couldn't wait to go home and just take a nice, long hot bath and forget about today's events. She never imagined the extent to which Ceberus would dominate her life. Outside the secretive chamber she noticed Kirrahe and Victus had stopped, as if waiting to speak with her.

"Is there something you need, Primarch?" she asked.

"Captain Kirrahe and I just wanted to say it was a privilege to fight alongside you," Primarch Victus replied. "You are a very skilled fighter and from what I heard you are also something of a politician."

"Thank you," she saluted. "But I'm afraid I'm not as skilled in politics as many would believe."

"Perhaps, but you do have potential," Kirrahe said. "I see a bright future ahead of you, especially considering your relationship with Urdnot Wrex."

"What does Wrex have to do with this?" she asked.

"Wrex is... different to other krogan," Kirrahe responded. "Whereas others do not see the bigger picture, he does. I am aware that he has certain plans for Tuchanka and leading the krogan will be easy, but getting the galaxy to accept the krogan once again? That's something he will need help with."

"Whatever you choose to do," Victus added, "know that you can call on us as allies... and perhaps even friends in the future."

She saluted again, standing taller. "I am honoured, sir," she said. "To have men of your calibre think of me in such light, I am truly grateful and look forwards to when we next me."

They both returned her salute.

"Let us hope the next time we meet it shall not be on a battlefield," Victus smirked.

"Yes, let's hope..."

...

After filling out a standard report and speaking to a psychiatrist who established Seraphina was still of sound mind, she returned to her apartment. She found two things waiting for her, a message from Anderson sent only moments ago and Wrex.

She smiled at the sight of him and happily fell into his arms. Finally, a pleasant sight after everything. She relaxed in his grasp, finally feeling the tension from the battle just fall from her like a weight from her shoulders. He carefully led her to the bar and sat beside her, two drinks were set ready and - thankfully - they weren't Gargle Blaster's.

"What is this?" she asked, inspecting the green liquid.

"Traditional asari tea," he answered. "Liara came round and dropped it off, she said it would help."

"How is she?" Seraphina inquired. "Did she look okay?"

"She seemed... shaken," Wrex answered as he eyed the tea.

Seraphina just nodded. Of course Liara was shaken, she had never actually needed to use her biotic powers for such intense combat before. She had probably used her powers in daily activities, like carrying equipment. Even on Illium, Liara had never fired a single shot. She was too delicate for battle. Seraphina was just happy that Liara's first battle was at her side, she didn't necessarily trust anyone else to look after her best friend.

She wondered how Garrus and Mordin were handling the situation.

"Mordin went back to his lab, to check on Tungel," Wrex announced. "Garrus is still helping C-Sec file reports and file a damage claim."

"Are you a mind reader now?" she teased.

"No," he answered and pushed the drink aside. "You're just very easy to read."

"I guess I am," she agreed.

She picked up the cool glass and took a small sip. It was sweet with a slight bitter after taste, and already she could feel her entire body cool and relax as the magical juice made its way through her system. She picked up the datapad and quickly read the message, a small smile crossed her face.

"What does it say?" he asked.

"My suspension is over," she replied. "I can return to duty as soon as I am able."

She took a long swig of her drink.

"What did Anderson and the Councillors want?" he asked.

"They wanted to talk about Cerberus," she replied. "Valern now thinks they might be a threat."

"Where does that leave us?" Wrex said. "Will they expand our group or just completely shut us down to make way for a larger, more experienced unit?"

She wanted to tell him what the Councillors had discussed, the possibility of an expansion and free-reign to research the enemies and conduct the assignments without fear of discovery from the most powerful individuals in the galaxy. But there was no point in telling him what she heard in case Valern went back on her word.

Seraphina didn't entirely trust the salarian woman - she was probably the only salarian Seraphina didn't like - and to tell him of such a wonderful opportunity for it to never happen seemed cruel.

"I don't know," she lied. "But Primarch Victus and Kirrahe had some interesting things to say about me and you."

"Us?" Wrex repeated. "What did they say?"

"That whatever you're planning for Tuchanka will probably work," she replied. "But getting the galaxy to accept the krogan again will take my assistance, the word of an outsider who has witnessed the ways of the krogan is probably what most people will be more willing to hear."

"...They're right," Wrex admitted. "All we can do is make the galaxy see that we have learned from our errors and are willing to return to the galactic community." He smirked bitterly, "I'm surprised they even included us in that new marriage law."

"They knew I would protest if they didn't," she joked.

Wrex fell silent, he starred down at the table, at the human who grabbed his hand and held it so tightly like a life line. Suddenly, he stood and faced her with a very serious expression that worried her. He saw her concern and quickly tried to explain himself before she got the wrong idea.

"When I told you I wanted you to be part of my krantt, what did you say?" he asked her.

"I..." she frowned in confusion.

Where had this come from? Why was he bringing this up now, just when she thought they had resolved the issue? She wasn't sure of her situation, he knew that. She wanted to continue her Spectre duties and be with Wrex, no matter where it was fate took them. She didn't want to choose between a life with Wrex and her duty.

"I said, 'I'm sure the krogan would love that, a krogan leader with a human girlfriend'," she replied. "Why are you asking me about that now, Wrex?"

"I've been thinking about it ever since we got from that damn research station," he scowled at the memory. "And you're right - the krogan would never accept my 'girlfriend' because we don't have them. We have life-partners, we don't toil around with a female and then get a new one when we're bored of our current one."

He scratched the scars on his face, something she noticed he did when he was nervous.

"So I came up with a solution," he continued. "The krogan would never accept my 'girlfriend' and you don't want to choose, so don't choose."

"What?" she gasped.

He took both her hands in his own, smiling at her. "Be my mate," he said, "and serve alongside me, but continue to be a Spectre and only come to my side when I have need of you."

"M-mate?" she repeated. "Like your... wife?"

He nodded, "If you want to think of it like that," he replied.

She took her hands back, "W-wait!" she stammered. "I... I need to think. Do you know what you re asking? It's a lot, Wrex, to commit your life to someone you haven't even known for a year!"

"I know, I know," he said. "At first I thought it was insane, but Seraph -" he took her hands again, squeezing them reassuringly. "- I love you and I never thought I'd ever say that to a human, or to anyone. You've helped me in more ways than one and the only way I can repay you is by giving you my life."

"Wrex... I..." she sighed. "I do love you..."

She looked at him, at the look in his eyes that was almost desperate. He wanted to spend his life with her, he wanted her to be in his krantt and serve his people, and all the while she could continue to be a Spectre. She could help so many...

What am I thinking? she frowned. I've helped so many already and will help many more, so why can't I stop and do something for myself for once?

A small part of her thought it was somewhat selfish to stop and consider her own happiness, but that wasn't what her parents had taught her. The N7 Academy had taught selfishness and responsibility, to take into considering everything else, and after the massacre on Akuze she had promised herself to do just that.

But the Academy weren't her family. John and Hannah Shepard were her mother and father and they had never allowed duty to come between them. They always did their duty, they made tough calls in order to benefit the many in favour of the few, but they never put family or love on hold because a life without love or friendship wasn't life at all.

As her mother had once said, "The Alliance is my teacher, the battlefield my friend, and my family are here in my heart and never will I allow them to take a bullet for me."

It was something Hannah Shepard's own mother had told her, and when she passed it onto Seraphina, she never entirely understood until now. Family and love were as important as any mission or assignment, perhaps it was time to stop running away in fear of losing those she loved to an imaginary monster from the darkness.

But could she spend the rest of her life with a krogan she had known for not even a year?

He wanted her to help him rule and re-establish the krogan, give them the opportunity to prove themselves to the Council and return to the galactic community without prejudice or fear that they would be forced into a life of pointless labour as a Blood Pack member or some other mercenary group.

Good krogan jobs were few and far between, she knew many soldiers who had requested their unit only have one krogan as more would make them uncomfortable and Citadel jobs for krogan were even harder to come by. It was wrong, how the krogan were treated, and she wanted to help because seeing her lover's species treated in such a way hurt as if it was her own kind.

But the rest of her life with such responsibility? Was she ready - or even capable - of such a task?

He squeezed her even tighter, desperation clear as Seraphina's silence began to scare him. "Seraph, please," he practically begged. "If not you then no one else. No one could replace you. Will you be my mate?"

She saw the look in his eyes, the powerful feeling behind each word, and she knew the answer. The obvious answer, the one she had known all along but was unable to accept that she could truly love someone so profoundly.

"Yes, I will..."

To Be Continued...