Twenty-Fifth Assignment
Weddings were complicated, everyone who was about to plan such a thing had to know the difficulty that came with preparing an event that would celebrate the union of two souls. And complicated was what Seraphina expected when she had to somehow integrate human wedding traditions into a krogan one.
Krogan didn't marry as some species did; instead they had mating ceremonies that were brilliant in their simplicity. Two krogan came together and were connected by the wrist by a piece of silk-like thread, a Shaman would then list all the promises each partner would have to live by and then the tie would be cut and the pair bonded.
To ensure it was consummated the couple merely went to a chamber at a later time. Witnesses were not even needed, as the Shaman had enough power that no one would question him/her. Compared to a human ceremony, that required witnesses and could go on for hours, it was preferable.
In fact, a krogan ceremony was what Seraphina wanted.
"Are you sure?" Wrex had asked her. "I know humans have rings and dresses, I can get you a ring if you want and a dress... but I'm not wearing a suit."
She laughed, "I don't want a dress or a ring," she said. "I want to wear a robe like Bakara and speak before the Shaman. Besides, I was never one for dresses."
He didn't argue with her, not when he was looking forwards to a traditional krogan ceremony himself. Deep down he was never keen on having her wear some white dress - especially when white seemed inappropriate at the time - and rings? What was the point of something that could be misinterpreted or easily lost?
The best kind of bond was the kind that was naked to the eye, but visible to those who knew the signs.
A krogan ceremony took only a few days to prepare, around three days at best, and was held on Tuchanka in the male - or female krogan's - clan, whichever was preferred. This ceremony took four days to prepare, as they needed to wait for all the RSVP's to return.
The only thing Seraphina wanted was her friends at the ceremony; if she didn't invite them she could only imagine the backlash. Besides, it was worth having a little human touch. In her apartment, Liara and Bakara helped Seraphina fit into the ceremonial robe. It was just like a female krogan's gown, with the same gold thread and hood that came down over her face, and was the same deep red as Wrex s crest.
Liara had picked a special gown to wear for the ceremony, long and red also, with gold thread going around the shoulders in several patterns and along the helm. She hadn't seen Garrus or Mordin or Anderson yet, so she wasn't sure how they looked.
"Are you nervous?" Liara asked. "It is a big day, after all."
"She has no need to be nervous," Bakara said. "She is to join Clan Urdnot and become my sister, why should she be worried?"
"Giving one's life to another is a huge decision," Liara remarked. "You can't expect her to not be a little nervous."
"Liara, I'm fine," Seraphina assured her. "I know what I'm getting myself into and I'm prepared for it."
"If you're sure," Liara said, unconvinced.
Seraphina turned to her friend and took her hands, "Asari mate for life too," she remarked. "When you find the love of your life you'll know exactly what I'm talking about."
"Perhaps... you're right," Liara smiled. "You've always had good judgement."
Seraphina observed her reflection and felt the smooth material of her robes. It felt so... right. There was just no other way to describe how it felt to stand in a krogan's robes, knowing that in a few moments time you would promise your life to krogan. She wondered what her parents would have thought about her decision.
"Is everyone ready yet?" she asked.
"I'll call Tungel and find out," Liara opened her Omni-tool and called the genetic mutation who had fitted so neatly into the group.
She had made contact with most of her new family, except Quentius, and had taken a liking to asari culture. That day she wore a robe like a Matriarch's, long and flowing and black with a head-dress. The outfit covered her whole body, which was necessary considering how few knew of her existence.
"Hello Liara," Tungel greeted. "Is Seraphina ready?"
"Yes," Liara replied. "She looks beautiful. I hope Wrex knows how lucky he is."
"He does," Tungel laughed.
"How is everyone on your end?" Liara asked.
"We're just waiting for Anderson," Tungel said. "He's had to take some security protocols to ensure no one follows us, if anyone discovered the human Councillor was taking a normal shuttle to Tuchanka we would become targets."
"We'll head down to EDI then," Liara said. "We'll meet you there."
"Alright," Tungel said simply.
Liara disconnected the line and they left Seraphina's apartment. They took the elevator down to the dock and entered the shuttle powered by the AI. Wrex, Mordin and Garrus were inside waiting. Garrus was wearing some type of uniform, dark navy, while Mordin was in his usual armour and Wrex was in his family armour.
Wrex smiled at the sight of his human and affectionately caressed her eyebrow with his knuckle.
"You look like a true krogan," he said. "Urdnot will be proud to have you!"
"So you say," she smiled. "We both know it won't be easy to get the clan to accept me."
He grinned, "When has it ever been easy for us?"
"Where's Anderson and Tungel?" Liara asked.
"Tungel went to get him from his office," Garrus replied. "She's got more free reign now ever since the Council agreed to mark her as an endangered species."
The Council had continued to meet together to discuss Cerberus and Quentius and Anderson laid out most of Operation Cobra's assignments, giving Valern and Tevos a better understanding of all the work they had done over the months and the income they have had.
Seraphina's implants came to light, as well as Tungel's existence, and realizing the potential Tungel possessed - in having some of Giriko's memories and being part of Cerberus she could have some information she herself may not be aware of - and so they did not want her falling into the wrong hands or facing scrutiny because of what she was.
She became marked as an unidentified endangered species and only those in the Citadel security were aware of what she was, any more than that and she would be at risk. As long as she hid her appearance and tried not to draw attention, she would be allowed to roam around the Citadel.
"Let's just hope they're not late," Bakara said. "The bride-to-be will get anxious."
Tungel cheerfully skipped to the Embassies, smiling at the woman on the desk and entered Anderson's office. The lush and spacious office seemed empty, but the woman at the desk wouldn't have waved her in if Anderson had already left.
"Councillor Anderson?" she called. "Are you here? It's time to leave for Tuchanka."
Her stomach sank, something deep inside of her warning her to turn around. Something wasn't right. There was something... wrong. She took another step into the office, heading towards the desk, and that's when she saw it. A pool of blood.
She froze at the sight of the red liquid, pooling by the desk's leg and turning into a streak as if something was dragged.
"Anderson...?" she gasped.
She took a step forwards and caught sight of a figure slumped on the ground, head lulling forwards, a deep red patch on the chest. If she could cry she would, but Giriko didn't think of giving her tear ducts.
"Anderson?" she croaked. "No..."
She ran to him and fell her knees, her dress soaking up the blood as she fell into the puddle. Anderson clutched a gun in his one hand, with the other he tried to stop the bleeding with little luck. The wound was clean and straight, it a hit a major artery and a lung.
"Let me call the woman on the desk," Tungel cried. "We'll get help, some Med-"
"No..." he wheezed. "I'm... done for, kid. I've... lost too much blood."
"But Seraphina," Tungel said, "she can do something, she could help."
"She can help," Anderson groaned. "She... and the others... have to stop... Kai Leng."
"Kai... Leng?" she gasped. "He did this? Where is he?"
"Just... get Shepard," he ordered.
"I'm not leaving you on your own," she protested.
"Please," Anderson begged. "Get Seraphina."
Against her better judgement, Tungel obeyed. She had to respect the dying wish of a commanding officer, if it had been Seraphina bleeding on the floor she would have happily obeyed. She ran out of the office and ordered the receptionist to get medical help - they couldn't save him but maybe they could help with the pain.
...
"Ah, there she is," Garrus pointed. "Tungel, what took so..."
He saw trail of blood she has leaving and felt his stomach sink. Seraphina grabbed Tungel as she ran into her arms, making sobbing noises but unable to cry.
"Tungel, what happened?" she demanded.
"Anderson... Kai Leng got him," Tungel sobbed. "He's in his office... bleeding out."
"Then why didn't you inform the receptionist?" Seraphina cried.
She pushed Tungel aside and bolted for the Embassies, Wrex and Garrus hot on her heels. Bakara and Mordin watched them disappear around the corner, Mordin turned to Tungel and he had never seen her look more distraught than she did at that moment.
"He... he said he wanted Seraphina," she whimpered. "How could I deny him that?"
Mordin patted her shoulder soothingly, for once not sure what to say.
...
They came onto his office and found a whole medical team on the scene, swarming over Anderson as they fed him oxygen and tried to fix his wound, but it was painfully obvious it was too late. Seraphina pushed her way through, knocking back those who stopped them, and fell to her knees beside him.
"Anderson..." she cried.
He looked around, his vision blurry. He saw her red eyes beneath the hood and smiled painfully, he sat up and ushered the medics away. He raised one bloody hand and Seraphina took it, squeezing it so tightly, as if she hoped to give him some of her life.
"Are you.. crying?" he teased.
"No," she quickly answered and wiped her tears away.
"It's... okay if you are," he said. "I won't... tell your parents... when I see them."
"Don't talk like that," she said. "We can..."
"You know... there's no saving me," he argued. "I'm on my last legs, kids... and I'm at peace. I've done all... that I could. The only thing... I wish I did... was agree to be... your... godparent."
"You was, Anderson," she insisted. "Maybe not officially, but to me... you was my father when I needed it."
"That's... good," he sighed in pain. "Seraph, listen. No matter what... happens, don't let... Cerberus change you."
He smiled at her, blood on the side of his lip, and slowly his eyes closed and his grasp went limp. Moments later the other Councillors arrived, just as a white body bag was led out of the room and a holographic police tape was set up.
"No... Anderson," Quentius covered his eyes. "How can this be?"
"Kai Leng."
He uncovered his eyes and looked up at Garrus, the Spectre had a hard scowl on his face.
"Cerberus sent Kai Leng to kill Anderson," Garrus said. "We're not sure yet, but it's probably because our operation is proving to be a nuisance."
"Then you and the rest of your team will lead the investigation," Valern ordered. "Find out how Kai Leng got in and where he went."
Garrus wanted to question why he was suddenly following Valern's orders, but he realized now was not the time and with Anderson's death there was more things he needed to be concerned with. Instead, he saluted and entered the crime scene.
Seraphina was still sat on the floor, facing the red mark on the wall where Anderson lay slumped. Wrex stood not far from her, unable to comfort her. What could he say? She had just lost the closest thing she had to father, Wrex had lost his too - but he had killed his father, so there was a bit of difference in situation.
"Valern wants us to investigate Anderson's murder," Garrus announced.
"Did she say what she wants done with Kai Leng?" Wrex asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Seraphina said.
They turned to her, surprised by the steely voice she spoke in. She stood to her feet and removed the hood, holding it in her blood hand. She slowly turned to them, her eyes glowing with a dark red pulse and the veins around her eyes had turned a bright vibrant red.
They both took a step back, surprised by the horrible look in her eyes. Is this what the Cerberus implants did? What they were doing to her?
"We're going to find Kai Leng... and we're going to kill him."
To Be Continued...
As always thanks for reading and if you a moment to spare, leave a review. I'll hopefully upload the newest chapter Sunday, along with my new ME fanfic 'The Tank Born Diaries', which centres on Grunt and his adventures as the krogan race rebuild their reputation. But don't worry, I won't neglect Spectres.