The elevator took almost a full minute to reach the top, Kara didn't mind however, as she was provided with a beautiful view of the Presidium growing ever smaller beneath her. Rocket grunted as he felt a slight sense of vertigo as the elevator came to a stop. "You good?" Kara asked.

Rocket nodded. "I'm fine, thanks." Kara shifted her focus from her procyonid companion, and gazed at the large chamber before her. The lighting cast the room in a reddish brown, setting it apart from the Presidium.

Kara was escorted up several flights up steps, ignoring the many individuals who stared at the procession, before reaching a long podium, facing three aliens (who Kara surmised were the Councilors) who stood across from and slightly above the platform. To the right of the Councilors, stood a Turian, who was participating in the proceedings via a holographic device. Anderson took point now, along with Udina and Shepard.

Anderson scowled as he saw the Turian being projected. "Saren." He said in a slightly hostile acknowledgment of the Turians' presence

"Captain Anderson, why am I not surprised to see you involved with the Eden Prime debacle."

Shepards eyes narrowed. "How could you know about Eden Prime if you weren't there? The mission was supposed to be top secret."

Saren waved a hand dismissively. "With Nihlus dead, his files passed onto me. I'm honestly not surprised at how your mission turned out. You humans aren't ready for the responsibilities of being part of this galaxy. You're not even ready to join the Spectres."

Ambassador Udina fumed. "He has no right to say that! That is not his decision!" The man bellowed.

The Asari councilor raised a hand and spared a glance at Saren. "Shepard's candidacy for the Spectres is not the purpose of this meeting, we are here to discuss what happened on Eden Prime."

Saren straightened, and he glared down at Shepard. "Yes Commander. Tell us what happened." His voice was dripping with venom.

Before Shepard could respond, Kara placed her left hand on Shepards shoulder. The human almost flinched at the sight of her claws gripping her, regardless of Kara's gentleness. "Commander, I recognize that Turian." Kara whispered.

Shepards brow furrowed in confusion, how was that possible? Kara had never seen Saren before, the only Turians Kara had ever seen was the C-sec officer they'd met earlier and… Oh. The realization hit Shepard like a mag-train. The Turian her team spotted on Eden Prime. Shepard turned her head and stared at Kara. "You're sure?" She asked.

"Positive Commander."

The Turian Councilor cleared his throat. "We are waiting, Commander."

"Sorry." Shepard said, before swallowing the lump in her throat. She briefed the Council of her mission. The Geth attack, how Kara and her team intervened, their discovery of Nihlus's body, and the destruction of the beacon.

Kara ignored most of the debriefing, reviewing the footage her team had captured during their operation on Eden Prime, focusing specifically on when Machiko and Samantha spotted the Turian. Kara watched the recording back several times over, then focused on the holographic Turian before her. There was no doubt. He was on Eden Prime. For what purpose however, and how he was involved, remained a mystery. But she knew it wasn't good, otherwise this Saren wouldn't hide his involvement.

Kara remained silent as she thought, momentarily forgetting the world around her, until Rocket placed a hand on her neck, snapping her out of her mind.

"Sorry, I know you were thinking about something, but it looks like these chumps are finally about to finish talking about Eden Prime." Rocket whispered.

"Then they'll start talking to us. Thank you Rocket." He smiled, and nodded.

Sure enough, only another minute passed before the Asari Councilor cleared her throat. "That's the first order of business dealt with. Now onto our second topic of discussion…" She said, focusing on Kara and Rocket. Saren disconnected, apparently not caring enough to participate any futher.

"Finally." The Turian Councilor said. He raised his hand in an almost accusatory gesture towards the two furry aliens standing before him. "The Geth remained in isolation for over three hundred years. Then, without warning, they attack a Human colony, and as luck would have it, an entirely new species just happens to show up out of nowhere to help, though I'm sure that was just a coincidence." The Turian said sarcastically. "Care to explain?"

Captain Anderson spoke as Kara was considering a tactful response. "Are you implying that Kara and her team collaborated with the Geth to stage an attack? Do I need to remind you Councilor, that the Geth have killed any and all organics they've come into contact with? Besides, what would Kara have to gain by trying to trick us like that?"

"Our trust." The Salarian Councilor replied.

Rocket scoffed. "Paranoid pricks." He muttered.

Kara adjusted her head slightly. "It's a valid concern Rocket. You have to admit, it does look a little suspicious." She whispered. Rocket merely grunted in response.

"Well?" The Turian said, growing increasingly impatient.

All eyes were on Kara as she answered. "As suspicious as the timing of these events are Councilor, they are just a matter of us being in the wrong place at the right time. My team and I were scouting the area near Eden Prime when we detected a distress signal from Eden Prime" Balls! Kara yelled at herself internally as she suddenly realized her poor choice of words. A choice the Turian councilor noticed.

"Scouting implies the existence of a larger military presence somewhere not far behind." He said, glaring at the Hunter.

"Any exploratory ventures my species undertakes are considered military operations, Councilor. The galaxy is a dangerous place, and it would be foolish not to be prepared for any unfortunate encounters. "Kara said, still scolding herself internally.

The Turian Councilor looked as though he were about to respond when the Asari Councilor silenced him with a wave of her hand. "That is a valid explanation, even if its implications are somewhat worrying." The blue skinned alien said.

The Salarian Councilor spoke next. "How far away exactly is the force you were scouting for?"

Kara knew they would expect her to lie, to say that her main force wasn't a threat. So instead, she told the truth. "Close enough to be a threat."

The Councilors looked between each other, their eyes containing a mixture of confusion, worry, and anger.

The Turian councilor glared at Kara. if looks could kill, Kara thought to herself as the Turian spoke. "Just what kind of game are you playing at!?"

Kara shifted her weight, growing increasingly uncomfortable with how this was playing out, not that she expected they'd be drinking tea together or anything. "I am merely telling the truth, Councilors. Our involvement in the events that transpired on Eden Prime was unanticipated and certainly not how I wanted things to play out. The intentions of my people are peaceful I assure you, my objective was merely to determine how best to make contact, and the presence of my battlegroup is just a means of protecting my people if the worst comes to pass. I don't want a war. Not when we still have a chance for peace between us."

The Turian Councilor didn't calm down at all, which didn't surprise Kara really, considering how quickly the Turians seemed to resort to violence historically. The Asari and Salarian Councilors, however, seemed to believe Kara. They nodded to each other, and the Turian growled.

The Asari spoke. "Very well General Kara. It is the decision of this Council that no further actions need to be taken regarding you and your kind, as long as your fleet stays out of our space."

"And remember," the Turian snarled, "We'll be watching you very closely."

"Thank you Councilors, I hope you like what you see." Kara said, nodding mockingly to the Turian Councilor, Rocket snickered.

"This meeting is adjourned."


Shepard sighed explosively as they turned to leave the Council chambers. "You know, considering how first contact went between Humanity and the rest of the galaxy, I'd say that went pretty well."

"How very fortunate… for you." Kara said, a small smile creeping its way onto her lips. Shepard huffed in amusement. They reconvened in the Human Embassy, to discuss Kara's accusation against Saren. Shepard watched with interest as Kara removed what looked to be a data drive from the device mounted to her forearm, and played the recording.

They were looking through what must have been Samantha's helmet cam. "Unknown contact sighted." Sam said, as a Turian walked into view beneath their position.

"I see him." Machko responded. The recording zoomed in, as Samantha magnified her helmets' camera. It was definitely a Turian they'd seen, and it was confirmed to be Saren when the figure turned slightly, revealing his face.

Anderson slammed his hand down on a table in excitement. "This proves it! Saren was involved in the attack!"

Kara sighed. "No, it proves Saren was on Eden Prime. Look closely, there are no geth near him, so there's no proof he collaborated with them. I don't think this alone would be enough to convince the Council."

Shepard spoke up. "Why not? Like you said, this proves he was on Eden Prime."

"But it doesn't provide any evidence as to why he was there in the first place. Saren could easily say that Nihlus called for backup once he spotted the geth presence."

"But Nihlus never called for backup." Ashley retorted.

Kara turned to look at her. "Can you prove that? Can Nihlus? It would be our word against Sarens. We need stronger evidence."

Ashley scoffed. "Well hell! Why don't we go get some? I think I saw some in a coffee shop on our way here!"

Kara ignored the comment, instead looking away, seemingly distracted. She gestured to Rocket, tapping where her ears would be if she had any. Rocket nodded, and placed something in his ear.

Shepard looked at her, slightly concerned. "Kara?"

"One moment." Kara said tersely. She stood silently, staring straight ahead at nothing for several moments. The Humans shared confused glances between themselves before Kara's stance relaxed.

Rocket turned to Ashley, a smug grin on his snout. "You want some evidence? We know how to find it."

Shepard gestured to her team, bringing along Jenkins, Kaiden and Ashley, and they followed closely behind their furry comrades.

"What was that back there?" Kaiden asked.

"Never you mind, Lieutenant. What matters is we have a lead on someone who might be able to help us. We're going to a med-center in the Wards."

Kaiden looked to Shepard, who merely shrugged.

They jogged through the Presidium until they came to the elevator leading to C-sec, and the Wards. From there, it was a short trek to the med-center. Once the sign to the clinic was in sight, Kara raised her right hand in a closed fist, the order to halt.

Shepard complied, and surveyed their surroundings, finding nothing out of the ordinary. "What is it?" She asked.

"There's a group of men inside the clinic. They're armed, get ready to breach."

"What!? How could you possibly-" Shepard was cut off.

"No time, just do as I say. Do you have a flashbang?" Rocket quickly donned his helmet.

Shepard plucked a cylinder from her waist, and handed it to Kara.

She took position on the left side of the door, the humans the right. "I'll take point, the rest of you, move in when you hear it go off."

Shepard was about to ask Kara to wait, when the beast of a woman opened the door and chucked the grenade, following close behind. Shepard heard a brief shout of surprise, before the flashbang went off. She swiftly ran through the open doorway, and took everything in in an instant.

There was a Turian, C-sec, who looked to be the same one they'd seen earlier at the docks. A woman wearing a medical outfit, a civilian. Then she spotted a Human wearing black armor, who was armed. Reacting quickly, Shepard took aim and fired a single round, splattering the wall behind the man in blood and brain matter. Shepard quickly advanced, her team following close behind. As they secured the room, Shepard saw that Kara had leapt over the waist high wall in the middle of the room, and had engaged the remaining four combatants in CQC, which given Kara's sheer size and weight, with the addition of the flashbang, went very poorly for her opponents. Two of the four lay dead, both had their necks crushed, their head hanging at unnatural angles, rather than simply cut open, which Shepard was slightly relieved to see. The third gunman was lying down on the ground, convulsing as though he were being tased, and the fourth had been thrown to the ground, and was pinned underneath Kara's vaguely Tyrannosaurid-like foot. Shepard approached the C-sec officer and the civilian.

"You two alright?" Shepard asked.

"Ears are a little messed up but I'll live, thanks Commander. What about you Dr. Michel?"

"I'm okay, thanks."

"Just doing my job Ma'am." Shepard said. "I'm looking for evidence against Saren, something to prove he's gone rogue. Can you help me?"

The doctor nodded. "Yeah I-I had a patient come by a while ago, a Quarian. She'd been shot, but she didn't say by whom. She asked where she could find the Shadow Broker, so I sent her to meet Fist over in Chora's Den, he's one of the Brokers agents."

The Turian spoke up. "Not anymore according to my sources, they say Fist's gone rogue."

"Well then It looks like we should be Fist a visit." Shepard said, a smile gracing her lips.

"I'll come with you, provide backup."

"Always glad to have help. I didn't catch your name."
"Garrus." The Turian said as he and Shepard clasped their hands together in a handshake.

Kara removed her foot from the Human she'd pinned, and the man shifted, trying to look up at his assailant, before Rocket shot him, a ball of electricity impacting the man in the back, who convulsed briefly before passing out.

The trek to Chora's Den was quick, nary a word passed between the seven of them as they approached. Kara raised her fist again, and they all halted just as they came to the door.

"What is it?" Shepard asked.

"Hostiles in the next room. I make twelve."

Ashley scoffed. "You can count how many people are hiding behind a solid metal wall? Bullshit."

Shepard wasn't so sure about that. Kara had been right about there being gunmen in the med-center, so she was willing to trust her here.

Garrus spoke from the middle of the formation. "Twelve shooters, all guarding a single entrance? Those are some bad odds. You got any more of those flashbangs?"

Kara's head twitched almost as if she heard something. "That won't be necessary." She said as she nodded to Rocket, who grinned in response behind his helmet.

"Don't worry bird-guy, this'll be easy." Rocket cackled, and Kara burst through the door before Shepard could react, straight into the sights of a dozen men armed with rifles and shotguns. They pulled the triggers and… nothing. Nothing happened, their weapons jammed. All of them, at the same time. And Kara and Rocket were left standing in the open, a menacing grin was plastered onto Kara's snout, her lips pulled back to reveal large, razor sharp bone crushing teeth.

She lunged for the man closest to her, and seized the man's throat in her massive hand, lifting him over three meters into the air, before slamming his head into a table next to her. Panic ensued, Shepard could hear the sounds of triggers being pulled being met with silence, shouts and screams filled the air as Kara darted between men, tossing them aside like ragdolls, slamming them into walls and tables. Shepard and her team walked into the room, and they struggled to process what they were seeing.

Shepard hissed and raised her rifle as one of the men, consumed by panic, began running straight at her, probably more out of a desire to flee than fight, but before she could pull the trigger, Rocket leapt onto the man's head, causing him to scream in panic. "What the fu- get it off get it-" The man was silenced as Rocket pulled his head backwards by yanking on the man's hair, and punched him in the throat. The man choked and sputtered, before falling to the ground gasping for breath. Shepard watched the man as he fell, and Rocket rode him down, before standing on the man's back, shooting Shepard a smug look.

"I told you it'd be easy." Shepard simply shook her head, and looked up at Kara, who had stepped onto the counter where drinks were served, and was reaching for the man who had climbed up there. He kicked at her hand, and she immediately seized the limb, before dragging him down and throwing him on the ground near Shepard. The man had just enough time to look at Shepard before she kicked him in the face.

Garrus approached Kara. "Hey, remember me? We never really got the chance to properly introduce ourselves. I'm Garrus."

"Kara. A pleasure to meet you Garrus." She responded, dipping her head in greeting.

"I just wanted to say, I'm really glad you're on our team."

Kara huffed. "I'm afraid I'm on my own team."

Garrus shrugged. "Can I join?"

Kara chuckled, and walked off, towards the back room. Shepard joined Garrus, and he looked at her. "She didn't answer."

Shepard shrugged as she moved to join Kara. "Didn't say no either."

Garrus nodded in a good point fashion, and moved up. There were no further obstacles between them to speak of, just a pair of dock workers who screamed and ran off as soon as Kara approached. Shepard watched them run by with an amused glance.

They breached the door to Fists room, and Shepard glared at him. "Fist, I've got a few questions for you."

The man scowled. "Go to hell." He activated something with his omni-tool, and two turrets popped out from the floor. Instead of aiming at Shepard and her party however, they swiveled to face Fist, blue targeting lasers aiming squarely at his head.

Kara crossed her arms, and a smug grin graced her lips.

The man gazed in confusion at the turrets, before turning to face Shepard. "Alright what do you want?"

"A Quarian met with you, trying to set up a meeting with the Shadow-Broker, I want to know where she is."

"I told her I'd set up a meeting, she's in the back alley by the market, if you hurry you can catch her."

Kara gazed down at Shepard. "What do we do with him?"

Shepard paused, considering her options. She turned around, and looked at the human members of her team. "Kaiden, Williams, Jenkins, you three stay here, keep an eye on him. Garrus, call C-sec and have them send somebody to pick him up." They all nodded, acknowledging their orders, and moved to carry them out. Shepard, now only accompanied by Garrus, Kara and Rocket, ran as fast as she could to the back alley Fist mentioned, passing by the battered and unconscious bodies of the people Kara and Rocket dealt with.

It wasn't far to the meeting place, and Shepard's team arrived in less than a minute. They passed through the door, and found themselves in a dimly lit, dark red passageway. They ran down the passageway a short distance before they spotted the Quarian. There were three people surrounding her, a Turian and two Salarians. Before Shepard could react, the Quarian threw something at the two Salarians, causing an explosion, she then produced a knife hidden somewhere in a compartment on her suit, and swiftly cut open the Turians throat.

Shepard came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. The Quarian whirled around to face her. "Who are you?" She demanded, leveling a pistol at Shepard, who promptly raised her hands in submission.

"I'm Commander Shepard, Alliance Navy. I came to help you, but it looks like you've got things covered. I need to talk to you."

The Quarian hesitated a moment, regarding the people before her, before she lowered her pistol and nodded. "Alright Shepard. Is there someplace safe we could talk?"

"The Human Embassy. It's not far."

The Quarian dipped her head. "Lead the way."