Disclaimer: I do no own Mass Effect, I do not claim to own Mass Effect, I am only doing this for fun.
Author Notes: This is official ending of the expansive "Roman Arc", I can't believe it has ballooned to be nine episodes in total. It seemed like it would be shorter in my notes. Oh well, please enjoy!
Episode 61: Triumph [Part II]
Shepard met Pallin's gaze and held it, out of sheer stubbornness if nothing else. The silence in the room was absolute, Shepard could hear Garrus' fingers moving on the strap of the bag that contained his rifle. She refused to show contrition for something she had not actually done. Castis had figured things out and the charges against her had been withdrawn. If Pallin had a problem with that, it was his issue, not hers.
Pallin stared back, without so much as blinking or twitching a mandible. "When I was notified that you were here to discuss an open case with one of my detectives, I did not quite want to believe it, but here you are. Not even a Spectre yet, but already using the privileges… or perhaps your training Spectre sent you in his stead, because he could not be bothered to come on his own?" Pallin's deep voice rasped, whether that was natural or the result of a recent injury was unclear.
Shepard blinked, was he lighting the bridge on fire himself? "I'm here of my own volition. In the interest of cooperation."
"Then that just makes it worse. Truly humans cannot help but want to involve themselves in everyone's business."
Shepard focused on keeping her face perfectly blank. She could not blame him for wanting her out of his metaphorical hair, after all, this was very much personal for him. Though she could have done without the subtext of those words. If he wanted her gone, he could have just asked. Then again, maybe he knew that if he did that, next time she would be back with Nihlus. He would not get rid of him as easily. "I get the feeling that you do not trust humans. Even before one tried to kill you."
"It was not the first time that a human has tried to kill me, Commander." Pallin replied. "You are right though, I do not trust humans. You are eager to take all the power you can get, and you are being given a lot. Less than thirty years after joining the community you want a Spectre. Do not deny that your people also desire a Council seat. Then, you yourself command a ship that should not exist. If the Council is willing to overlook all of that, if they want to make humanity their new favorite pet, it is their business, but I do not have to like it. Or enable it."
Shepard suddenly understood what fueled this. It went far past just her being a human. To be sure he could have kicked a presumptuous human out and been done with it, but she was also a Spectre-in-all-but-name, someone he could not get rid of as easily. He probably did not like Spectres, for all the obvious reasons. Then there were other circumstances and even the Normandy. Finally, Garrus standing right next to her might just be adding to the grievances. "With all due respect, Executor, you are mistaken. The Council views humanity as second-class citizens. We have to fight for every little concession. I could even argue that the limits imposed by the Treaty of Farixen are a fear reaction. How many dreadnoughts does the Council think we can build and support? Furthermore, the six months delay between the first shots of the First Contact War and the Armistice could be construed as Council apathy. They only stepped in when the Hierarchy considered dropping an asteroid on Shanxi. An act that would have destroyed a garden world and violated one of their conventions. Seems to me like they cared more about the Hierarchy not making themselves look bad than they cared about us." If he wanted to debate politics, he better bring the big guns. Shepard was not anti-turian by any stretch of the imagination, but she knew the common arguments.
Pallin's mandibles drew up so far against his chin that they actually covered the gaps that showed glimpses of his teeth.
Shepard smiled, though without any joy. It was the sort of smile that a shark would give, if it could, while picking the moment to come up under an unwary seal. "Now, that debate is neither here nor there. I do not care for petty arguments. I may be both human and likely to become a Spectre, but I did not come here to cause an incident." If he took that as an admonition, then all the better.
"No, you came here demanding information on an active investigation." Pallin replied, sounding even less impressed than before, and without missing a beat. "It is not our policy to divulge such information to everyone who wants it."
Shepard had to restrain her urge to sigh. Castis had tried to be diplomatic in his refusals, as he could not go behind his boss' back. She had to respect that. However, Pallin was not going to bother with the niceties, in fact, he seemed keen on torching the bridge himself. This standoffish attitude was as good as him saying that he would not yield or compromise.
Standing there, under his increasingly withering stare, Shepard understood just how pointless her attempt at diplomacy ended up being. She was not going to get anything out Citadel Security on her own. Nihlus likely knew that, and he was going to be utterly insufferable before he was finished celebrating being right. Still, Shepard would have never gone straight for the arm-twisting. This straight-forward attempt eased her conscience, she could do what needed to be done without feeling bad about it. Hopefully Castis would not hold it against her if the next time she showed up with Nihlus, and throwing her weight around.
Even now, she could apply some pressure on him, metaphorically shake the tree and see what fell out of it. "You are very much mistaken, Executor. I came here to request Citadel Security's assistance, one law enforcement agent from another, in an ongoing parallel investigation. Spectre Kryik and I wish to see the autopsy report, as there are some questions regarding the exact circumstances of my clone's death." That was not a lie. "What more, I've already provided Senior Detective Vakarian with information regarding the motive and possible identity of those who are behind the assassinations as well as the attempt on your life. For me, this is very much an exchange. However, if you are unwilling to release the report because I'm just either not a Spectre, or merely a proxy for one, then please tell me. No hard feelings, I can understand that."
Pallin's eyes narrowed.
Shepard pressed on, "I will let Spectre Kryik know that he will have to come for the report in person." Nihlus would happily back her up. She turned to Castis, "I do apologize for taking up your time, Detective." The last thing she wanted was to insult Garrus' father. He was hesitant, but still clearly not against the quid-pro-quo. Everything seemed to hinge on the fact that his boss was less than amiable.
The detective nodded, but did not say anything. Then again, the look he was giving her was all the reply she needed. He would have understood what she had just pulled. Maybe he would even explain to Pallin, in more polite terms than she could muster, that telling her no would not stop her. Maybe Pallin would even ask him about the information. Sure that was stretching the reasons for the information release, but it was not technically a lie. Then, given a bit of time, he might even realize that he was being pointlessly obstinate.
"We are… done then?" Garrus asked, seemingly finding his voice for the first time in a good five minutes.
"Yes. If the Executor is set in his decision, I am not going to create an incident by arguing with him. I plan to return to the Normandy, I'm still waiting for a reply from Doctor T'Soni regarding that other matter." She was a busy woman and was not going to let Pallin waste more of her time. "Have a good day, Detective. Executor." With that said she stepped around Pallin and breezed out of the room, affecting all the nonchalance that she could muster.
Bellacus was on his communicator, keeping a conversation, but he watched her pass like a hawk. She did not get particularly far across the bullpen before Garrus was at her side again. Then she had stepped past the bullpen doors, out into the corridor, and was on her way toward the elevator when Garrus cleared his throat.
"Are you really alright with that?" He asked, practically whispering.
"Of course I'm not." Shepard replied blandly. "But I haven't got the inclination to argue with Pallin. Quite frankly, as insufferable as Nihlus is going to be when I tell him that my effort failed..."
"Insufferable seems too mild a descriptive." Garrus murmured.
"He's going to be ten times worse on Pallin." Shepard smiled. "He'll be all only too happy to look down his nose at Pallin and tell him he wants that autopsy report. The executor will have to swallow his ego and surrender it." He would also remember that, for better or worse, but as far as Shepard was concerned, she had tried the peaceful approach. "I just hope that I can keep Nihlus on target. I don't hold your father responsible, and I don't want him to hate me after this."
Garrus hummed, but said nothing.
Shepard hoped that it was the good sort of hum. It went without saying that she would rather like to avoid sowing discord between father and son over this, or anything else to do with her. She did not want Garrus to have to choose sides like this. She was not that much of a raging egomaniac.
"What are you interested in finding out from the autopsy report?" Garrus asked.
That was an abrupt a topic change as any got, but she was glad for it. "I want to understand Leng's psychology. That scene was bloody… and that coming from someone who killed a krogan with a single knife thrust? Did he stage that whole thing?" The autopsy report might also imply some other things about Leng's thinking and methodology. She would not know what she had until she saw the report.
"Why would he? To unnerve you?" Garrus asked.
"Maybe? Or just to display his power. I don't know, but I think he staged it. His boss would've known I'd eventually find out." The idea that Leng staged the bloody scene just to unnerve her was not really her primary thought. "I'm concerned more with whether he actually enjoys what he does, whether he's outright a sadist. It determines just how much danger he poses to everyone around me."
"You think he would come after the crew?"
Shepard nodded grimly. "If he's half the sick bastard I think he might be… he might. I don't want anyone to end up an opportunity victim. Heck, if I'm right, and he's a xenophobe… he would come after non-humans with zeal." Shepard did not say it, but she thought it. There was even the possibility that he would go after Nihlus or Garrus first, just because they happened to be the closest to her. Plenty of people thought there was something there, that supposition might just be enough. The thought very much stomped on Shepard's nerves. She loathed the mere idea that someone would come after Nihlus or Garrus to get to her.
Garrus hummed, "We can handle him, Shepard. We are your team."
Shepard stopped in front of the elevator and pressed the button to call a cab before she turned to face Garrus. "You should not have to handle him, Garrus. I sincerely hope he never comes within a kilometer of any of you… but if he does, as the cosmos is my witness… I will shoot him in the head and not miss a wink of sleep." She would spit on his cooling corpse too. If Leng came anywhere near her team to get to her, he would meet the true monster within her. She would not even feel bad about it afterward. Leng would not deserve her feeling bad about his death.
The elevator cabin arrived and Shepard stepped aboard, and pressed the button for the first floor. There was already a storm brewing inside her. Just the mere thought that anyone would come after any of her team, especially Nihlus and Garrus made her see red. No one would ever hurt another person who was dear to her, and doubly so if it was like that.
As the elevator cabin budged she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself. There was no point in getting angry now, nothing had happened. Still, she could not deny that she wanted to find Leng just to make sure he would never even come close to posing a threat to anyone. She had to tell herself that he was would not be on the station right now, so there would be no point in ransacking the place looking for him.
"Shepard?" Garrus asked.
She looked up and met his gaze. Garrus' mandibles were ticking ever so slightly against his jaw. A sign of some apprehension or anxiety. She shook her head, took another deep breath, held it, and let it out. "I'm fine. Just annoyed." It was an understatement, but not outright a lie.
"Ah. Well… um…"
Shepard smiled, reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Garrus nodded and said no more.
They were half-way back to the Normandy when Shepard's omni-tool pinged to announce an incoming message. A quick look told her that it was from Liara, and included a location code. Liara said the place was a coffee shop that supposedly made the best cappuccino and pastries, something that Liara had developed a taste for as a way to help her concentrate while going over research notes and journals. The archeologist was inviting her to come and join her, so they could talk. The asari also apologized for missing her original message for almost two hours. It seemed like it was one of those days, everyone was very busy.
"Doctor T'Soni?" Garrus asked.
Shepard blinked, "How did you guess?"
"Well if it was Kryik calling you back to the tower for the galaxy's most impromptu Spectre promotion, you would be turning this vehicle around right now. The fact that we are still flying on our original course tells me it is much less urgent than that," Garrus explained without missing a beat.
"I shouldn't have asked," Shepard mumbled. Of course the former detective would figure it out. "Liara said she is going over her notes at her favorite café. I should join her. That's a quote."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Garrus asked, eyes alight with mirth.
Shepard chuckled and reached for the vehicle controls to input a new destination. The vehicle dipped out of their lane almost as soon as she pressed the confirm key. Then it did a clean U-turn, and accelerated toward its new destination.
The change of course took them right back to the Presidium, which did not surprise Shepard one little bit. However her paranoid senses began to outright tingle when the car landed on a pad overlooking the enormous Presidium gardens where Sparatus' secretary had been killed. The vehicle's VI politely told her that it was as close as it could park before asking for a credit chit. Shepard rolled her eyes, swiped hers through the reader, and then climbed out of the car. Garrus had already stepped out first and slung his gun bag over his shoulder.
As Shepard straightened, she took a long deep inhale. The gardens were just as beautiful as they were the first time she had seen them. Except there was a difference. Some of the trees from Thessia were in bloom, showing off gorgeous red and yellow flowers that suffused the air with their scent. But Shepard scanned their surroundings, her eyes landed on their destination almost immediately.
The café Liara invited them two was more of a bistro, complete with an outdoor patio overlooking the gardens. The whole front façade was clad in dark red-hued wood, while inside was done up with cream walls, wood detailing, and what looked like an orange-red irregularly-shaped imitation stone floor, with matching wooden furniture and real table cloths. The patio itself was fenced off in black wrought metal interspersed with planters and draped in ivy. The outdoor furniture was also wrought metal, with each small round table shaded by a huge, rather unnecessary burnt-orange sunshade.
Nearly every table in the place, both inside and outside, was occupied. The large crowd meant that it took Shepard a moment to spot Liara. The archeologist was in the corner that allowed her the best view of the gardens. She was wearing a white knee-length sundress, and matching strappy sandals. Her table was positively cluttered: her cappuccino, a plate of pastries, five separate datapads, and her portable terminal. There was also no sign of any bodyguards.
"It is… quaint," Garrus murmured.
The place was almost too adorable, and somehow all too appropriate for Liara. Shepard was utterly unsurprised that a young asari enjoyed the romantic imagery. "It looks like it came off two-hundred-year-old postcard from somewhere on the Mediterranean Sea on Earth. You know, if you don't want to stick around, you don't have to. This will probably be long and boring."
"It is fine. In for a… what was that tiny old money unit again?" Garrus asked.
"In for a penny, in for a pound." Shepard replied with a smile.
"That. Yes. I messed it up."
"That's okay," Shepard smiled. She loved how readily Garrus wanted to use human sayings, but still failed at them. It was one of his most endearing qualities. "I hope they have dextro fare."
"This is the presidium, so they should," Garrus replied.
Shepard hummed as she started on her way toward the restaurant. She had just reached the wrought metal archway entrance to the patio when Liara looked up and visibly jumped.
"Commander! Officer Vakarian! Over here!" She waved her arm high over her head.
Shepard waved back and turned toward the corner, closing the distance in a few broad steps. "Hello, Doctor T'Soni," she greeted as soon as she was close enough.
"Good day, Doctor T'Soni," Garrus greeted in turn.
"Please, I'm just Liara. Have a seat!" Liara motioned to the chairs with one hand even as she went straight for her datapads, almost upending her cappuccino in the scramble to open up space for them.
Shepard made the executive decision to spare the asari all embarrassment by picking up both her cup and pastry plate. Liara thanked her without stopping or even looking up as she moved things about. When Shepard glanced at Garrus, cup and plate in either hand, he shook his head, but his mandibles were twitching even as they pressed up against his jaw. He was doing his best not to not make a sound, let alone laugh.
Their arrival had not gone unnoticed by the staff. Almost as soon as Shepard set the archeologist's drink and snack back down and seated herself, a server in two thirds of an old fashioned suit, complete with shined shoes, arrived to take their orders. It took her less than a minute to skim over the menu, only to order a latte and a single large cherry-filled pastry. Garrus took even less time, going straight for a plain kava. The server wrote their orders down on an old-fashioned paper pad and then busied off.
About then Liara finally shut down her potable terminal and set it aside with her pads. "Sorry about that."
"Probably can't be helped. You were not sure whether I was actually coming today." Shepard replied.
Liara shook her head, "I had a feeling you would come by, sooner rather than later. I was in the middle of writing a paper… I needed to make sure that I wouldn't lose a citation. Now what is it that you wanted to discuss with me?"
"I think it is best we wait until our food arrives," Garrus noted.
"Yes, I rather not be overheard," Shepard added.
"Ah, of course… I understand," Liara smiled sheepishly.
It was not a long wait, maybe five minutes. The server came back balancing a tray on his fingers, with a white towel draped over his arm. He set their orders down carefully, followed by a call button fob, excused himself, and wheeled away to serve another table.
Shepard watched it all mutely, and once she was sure he was out of earshot, she took a sip of her latte, set it back down, and turned to Liara to begin her explanation. In the space of the next fifteen minutes she revealed a good chunk of what Nabu given her, and then turned to the topic of what all that implied. Liara listened without interruption, her jaw slackening by the second. When Shepard finally went silent, the asari had not blinked in a good half a minute, seemingly frozen in her seat. As far as Shepard could tell there was no disbelief on her face, just a lot of mute shock.
Then, the archeologist snapped out of her trance all at once. "By the Goddess… a cryogenic facility?" Her voice took on an airy quality with her awe. "You don't think it could still be…" she trailed off there.
"Functional?" Shepard supplied.
Liara shifted to sit right at the edge of her tiny chair and clasped her hands together on the table. "We can only hope that it is functional, but… fifty thousand years… how much power would that take? A core that can sustain that would have to be enormous!"
"Indeed." Shepard replied blandly. She could not even begin estimating the energy a single cryostasis pod might require over fifty thousand years, and there was also no way of knowing how many said pods there were inside the facility. But if she was right, and the whole thing was meant to preserve a species from extermination, the facility would need to preserve a genetically viable population, five if not six figures.
Liara went on, "Oh I never thought he might have given you something like this. I mean I realized that you could somehow converse with him in a language none of our translators worked with, but this… oh Commander, I am definitely interested in this! If you will allow me to come along, I will be very happy to assist you in whatever way I can!"
Shepard smiled. "I've done some… background research if you might call it that. The Corporal under my command is an Eden Prime native. I asked him about any places where there might be powerful magnetic anomalies. I was thinking it might be manifesting itself similarly to the facility we found on Mars."
"Yes, that is a good place to start."
Shepard realized that there was seemingly no ceiling to the asari's excitement. "Well, Jenkins pointed out a place, I rather not mention it here… much too open, but I have a good feeling about it. This instinct does not make sense, I know, but it's there. I've learned to follow my hunches. I've even contacted my commanding officer for assistance, as this will likely become very official, very quickly. I also requested that Admiral Hackett put me in contact with the locals who know the place, it isn't open to general public."
"That is quite common in my field. The locals know these places best, and we have to respect their claims," Liara replied.
"You know, I have always found it strange that every space-faring species seems to find a Prothean installation of some sort in their home solar system," Garrus mused.
Shepard hummed, but said nothing out loud. She thought it though. From what she knew about the Mars facility, it was patently obvious that the Protheans had been studying the earliest humans. After all, the pre-agrarian hunter-gatherers wandered the Earth in bands for over a hundred thousand years. The more pressing question that was still debated was what their studies entailed. Some posited that the Protheans had not been merely passive observers.
"It's not a coincidence. Observation of societal development is something one does in certain academic fields. Specifically comparative xeno-sociology, the study of social structures and development in other species. That field seeks to understand the fundamental forces that affect social development in all sapient species! The ability observe an actual, developing society that is not tainted by awareness of being observed is invaluable!" Liara said. "The Protheans were a highly advanced society, but all societies ask the same fundamental questions at some point."
"I do not think their studies were as benign, or as passive, as you make them sound, Doctor. If they observed every primitive species of their time… it could maybe explain where the ancient Turian beliefs in the titans originated," Garrus replied.
Liara nodded. "There is the possibility that you're right… but-"
Shepard could tell, Liara did not want to think of the Protheans as capable of that. There was that little bit of youthful naiveté peeking through.
"Well, if this ark colony is functional, we may get the opportunity to ask!" Liara concluded, rebounding into bubbly enthusiasm with a vengeance.
Shepard reached for her rather cooled latte and the pastry. "I certainly hope you are right, Doctor." She could afford to say that, in the interest of diplomacy. Setting her latte cup down, she pressed on. "That is why I need your assistance. No one on my team is an academic. Admiral Hackett is willing to pay you for the duration of the work. But I have to be honest, there is another reason why I'm making this offer."
Liara turned to her, some of the enthusiasm leaving her.
Shepard thought Liara had no clue what she was eager to jump into, and could not bring herself to use that. "The Council has a… standing claim on all Prothean discoveries made by associate races. This one? It's a little different. I want you to help me write the reports I show them. I'm utterly at a loss when it comes to the academic things, and I think I can trust you not to make the Alliance look like we were hiding it all along." The Alliance did not need another incident of humans-hiding-things right now.
"I understand, that will not be a problem at all!"
"Also… I hope you understand that there are politics involved in all of this." Shepard went on, might as well hammer that point in as bluntly as possible.
"This has to do with the Alliance's Thanix system," Liara said. "I've… heard about it, and about the Hierarchy's delegation visiting Arcturus station to discuss the matter."
Shepard nodded, took a bite of her pastry, chewed slowly, and swallowed. The cherry filling was delicate, just the right consistency and sweetness. She was beginning to see why Liara had praised this place. It was growing on her too.
"I've also followed the… attack on Executor Pallin. You were charged with attempted murder, but then the charges were dropped," Liara went on.
"A case of mistaken identity," Shepard replied before reaching for the last of her latte. Given the volume of this cup, she might just get another one. "I am a Spectre in training. I think I might be gunning for most enemies made before I even become one in full."
"I figured that would be the case," Liara murmured. "Spectres are not known for living peaceful lives."
Shepard nodded. "The point I am getting at is that… the Council will be alright with my involvement, but your third party reports would assuage any remaining qualms they have. There is also no end date on that Alliance agreement. If you wish to continue working on it -you will have to work with an Alliance team of course- but I don't think having more than one name on the research papers is going to be a problem."
Liara straightened in her seat, "No, it won't be. If I can publish the paper on Thessia even as it is published on Earth, it wouldn't matter how many names are on it," Liara smiled. "Well, I am definitely interested in seeing the contracts and getting the details."
"Good." Shepard replied bluntly. "I am not certain when we can begin, as there are some things I still need to do, but I would say that we might be able to visit the site within the week if we're lucky."
"Alright. I can work with that. Feel free to contact me whenever you have the specifics, I'm looking forward to this. I'll be there like the sun in the morning."
Shepard nodded, but she could not work up even half the enthusiasm of the asari sitting in front of her. "One last thing, if I may." Now came the most damning part. She could not, in good conscience, allow Liara to become involved if she was utterly unaware of the potential for danger.
"Certainly, anything." Liara replied.
"I feel like I should say this right here and now, Doctor. Associating with me is not exactly… hundred percent safe."
Liara clasped her hands, "I surmised as much."
Shepard raised an eyebrow.
Liara did not even hesitate to continue. "With all due respect, Commander, I am not a child. When you said your arrest was a case of mistaken identity… I knew that there was more to it. Citadel Security would not have arrested you if they had nothing. But it was not a real something, was it? I think… you were framed. Someone would go as far as to frame you. You are warning me about whoever that is."
"You got me there," Shepard replied, trying not to smile sheepishly. She had been busted, again. Today was one of those days when karma came back to bite her in the rear.
"Please understand, I'm a historian and an archeologist. Taking disparate pieces and making something of them is my job. As I've said, I watched the news coverage." Her tone was perfectly amiable and she reached for her cold drink when she was done.
Shepard was not born yesterday. Sure, a historian might just use tiny pieces of information to put something together, but Liara was short-selling the intelligence behind those critical thinking skills. There was also something with a little more edge buried in what she said. Whether her issue was with being patronized, or someone assuming she could not read between the lines remained to be seen, but behind that perfectly pleasant mien there was a still-sheathed edge of steel. "I do apologize if I came off a little… patronizing. I do not wish to give you a false impression."
Liara smiled, "Thank you for being honest with me."
Shepard nodded, and said nothing else. There was little that needed saying at this point. The rest was all background work. There were of course a few things to consider, namely how they were going to accommodate Liara on the Normandy for the duration of the trip to Eden Prime. There was also the issue of whether or not she wanted Liara to know about EDI. Nevertheless, as of right then, Shepard was satisfied. This was progress, a step in the right direction. Shepard would consider the minutia later.
Her omni-tool pinged to announce the arrival of a message. Shepard automatically glanced at it and grinned, "Ah. I was wondering when this would come."
"Something wrong, Commander?" Liara asked.
"It is from Nihlus, right?" Garrus asked flatly.
"Indeed." Suddenly she did not care how self-satisfied she sounded right now. "He is done with what he set out to do." There was no need to say more, Garrus would know. She did not want Liara to know though.
Garrus hummed and reached for the last of his kava.
Shepard grabbed a paper napkin to wrap the last of her pastry in and then turned to the asari seated across from her. "To answer your query, Doctor, just… ironing out the wrinkles in the inglorious bureaucratic parts of the plan." She tried to sound as casual as possible with that intentional understatement, but it was a struggle to restrain her glee. Pastry wrapped up, she reached to the call fob the server left and pressed the button on it marked with the sigil for the credit. "Thank you for your agreement, Doctor. But I must ask to be excused."
"I understand," Liara nodded. "If you wish, I can cover the bill."
"Oh no, that's fine. This will be my treat." Shepard set the fob down and reached into the pocket for her credit chit. A couple coffees and some pastries? She would pay for that without even looking at the bill. Right then she would have paid triple figures for salad. Total triumph was effectively within arm's reach, she just had to stretch out her arm and grab it.
The server came by, carrying a small device in his hands.
"I wish to pay for the whole table," Shepard announced as soon as he stopped in front of their table and held out her chit.
"Of course," the server totaled the goods on the table, and then took the chit to press it to the reader, and immediately handed it back.
By then Shepard was on her feet, and the chit vanished in her pocket. "I am sorry for this abrupt departure, Doctor T'Soni."
"Oh it's no problem at all. Have a good day, Commander. Officer Vakarian."
"Have a good day, Doctor," Garrus replied.
Even before Garrus replied Shepard had stepped carefully around the server and started on her way toward the patio entryway.
"Commander!" Garrus called after her, having to jog to catch up. "It is happening then?" He asked.
"Sooner rather than later, yes. We do not want to give Councilor Sparatus the time to change his mind and articulate another objection." She would not lose her victory when she was this close. "It's just unfortunate that the rest of the crew can't be there to see it." It would have been the cherry on the sundae really.
Shepard had idly contemplated putting on a show for the Council, her way of telling them that she was truly able to work with about everyone in the galactic community, not just the privileged few. She would have wanted the marines, Tali, Legion, and Wrex present. Sure, Wrex being present would never work out now, but she could not bite back the sting of disappointment that the marines, Tali, and Legion would not be there.
She stopped cold and turned to her left. The curvature of the Presidium rose in the distance, and she could not see the tower entrance from there, even if she squinted. Shepard sighed and turned toward the skycab kiosk.
Shepard climbed out the skycab at the foot of the tower access barely ten minutes later. With a single glance she counted six C-Sec officers wandering the plaza. There was also the usual crowd of business suits too coming in for their scheduled appointments up in the tower. The arrival of another skycab only drew quick glances, most of those who looked their way quickly went back to their communicators and omni-tools.
Then her eyes landed on Nihlus. He stood in the shadow, leaning on the trunk of a large tree growing out of a huge recessed planter box, his arms crossed over his chest. It was apparently mutual as he raised one hand out of the crook of his elbow and flicked a wave, mandibles fluttering with extreme self-satisfaction. In that moment he looked very much like the cat that ate a whole group of canaries.
"He is happy with himself," Garrus rumbled.
"He's always that way." Shepard murmured.
"Of course," Garrus chuckled.
Shepard did not say anything as she started on her way to close the distance between them.
"Shepard. Vakarian." Nihlus said blandly as soon as they were close enough, even as he pushed off the trunk.
"Kryik." Garrus replied, just as blandly.
Nihlus' mandibles gave an amused flicker.
"What's the situation?" Shepard asked, there was no need for any sort of preamble here. She would not dare assume that, self-satisfaction aside, Nihlus' success came free of caveats and strings attached. Say what people would, she was never that fortunate in life. There was always a can kicked down the street. This can would be quite large and its contents could be very unpleasant. Today was also full of can kicking.
"We can go up whenever," Nihlus began. "But I have something planned. I figured you would want to put on a bit of a show."
Shepard raised an eyebrow. "What sort of show?"
Nihlus grinned. "I contacted Alenko. I told him that anyone who wants to witness your triumph has to get here on the double. I am going to give them another fifteen minutes. That will also allow us to discuss the details before we go up."
Shepard blinked, genuinely surprised. Was she that transparent, or did Nihlus simply know her that well? "And they say I'm the schemer."
"You are. I am merely an imitation." Nihlus replied without missing a beat.
Shepard thought that might have been his best attempt at feigning humility, but he could not quite tamp down his cat-that-ate-canary aura right then. The only way to make it more obvious was for him to be holding up a sign reading 'I played the Council for fools, and I would do it again'. Maybe that ought to be printed on some gag gift she should consider getting him.
"You will be happy to know that Tevos is very interested in the Prothean discovery we made. She is also keeping both eyes on the situation on Feros," Nihlus went on. "If you can, you need to make sure that ExoGeni do not get away with that."
Ah of course, the can that she had kicked down the street previously required another kicking. "They won't." Shepard said blandly. "Admiral Hackett assigned Captain Anderson to handle that, and I would bet you a limb that my mom will be all too happy to counsel him." If there was a way to twist the facts to bring ExoGeni down, they would find it. Captain Anderson was one of the most honest people Shepard had ever known, he would pursue ExoGeni simply because they had gone too far. While her mother could be plainly devious when it was for a good cause. Bringing down ExoGeni? Causes did not get much better than that. She would know how to outmaneuver the nonsense the corporates would undoubtedly try to pull. "Garrus and I were just talking to Doctor T'Soni too. She is on board with the Eden Prime job."
"I figured that would be the case. You seem to be self-satisfied today."
"I'm self-satisfied?" Shepard asked. Had he looked in a mirror in the last hour or so?
Garrus chuckled, "Really Kryik? Should I tell the Commander what your subvocals are doing right now?"
The Spectre's mandibles began to tick, "Alright fine."
Shepard shook her head and rolled her eyes. Nihlus was in one of his insufferable moods. "What about Valern?" She asked. The best way to bring him out of it was to get him to focus on something else.
"It is as we assumed," Nihlus replied. "Valern wants to see what we gathered on Cerberus. It will probably go to the Special Tasks Groups."
Fair was fair, Shepard had intended to use that information as bait to get her Spectre status. Baulking and reneging on the offer would not be a good idea. "I will give him exactly what I gave Castis," Not a word more. After all, the information Castis had could already, in theory, be requisitioned by the Council. If Valern had not done it already, then he was a step behind. Shepard had no problem with pulling a technicality there. It was exactly the same thing Saren did, which left a sour taste in her mouth, but she could swallow that.
"Then that is about everything that you needed to know," Nihlus said.
"Great, thanks." In other words, almost everything had gone mostly according to plan. "I did not get the autopsy report by the way. Executor Pallin took umbrage to my coming there to ask for things." Might as well give Nihlus just enough time to get that smugness out of his system. In about fifteen minutes he would be too busy to lord it over her.
"He will soon take even more umbrage to you coming there to demand said things." Nihlus' eyes darkened as he spoke.
Garrus hummed, but said nothing.
Shepard knew she better draw an important distinction now, before Nihlus got ahead of himself. "Just as long as you keep Castis out of the crossfire. I get the feeling that he was inclined to give me the report, quid pro quo after what I showed him, but Pallin clearly sees things a little differently. He's got something against humans. I don't care what it is, but it is there."
Nihlus stared at her, then his gaze flicked to Garrus.
Shepard glared. That was a good as him admitting that he had his own ideas as to why she was defending Castis. Though if he thought she would back down after putting up a token effort, meant to appease Garrus, he was wrong. She genuinely thought that Castis was inclined to cooperate, but his boss would not let him do so without first posturing. Nihlus would have to follow her instincts on this.
"Fine." Nihlus said with an air of finality.
Just by his tone Shepard knew that he wanted to argue, but decided to forgo it. She would take whatever victory she could get. "I think now everything is covered rather nicely."
"Yes."
Shepard looked over the plaza again. Now it was only a matter of time. She wondered just how many would show up. Ashley and Richard would come, at the very least. Kaidan might be inclined, but it would mean leaving Joker in charge of the Normandy. Would he do that to take part in what would undoubtedly turn into a pageant? Kaidan tended to hate those sorts of affairs. The odds of him coming were fifty-fifty, duty balanced against personal distaste. So that left Tali and Legion. The biggest question marks. Both had reasons to want to be here, but also reasons to stay away. She could not begin putting odds on that.
Twenty minutes later Shepard was at the head of a variable procession that packed the elevator to ascent to the Council tower. Much to her surprise and delight, it seemed like everyone on the combat team decided to be there to witness her triumph. Kaidan had gotten the message first, but Richard had been with him at the time. According to Kaidan, Richard all but repeated the feat of Paul Revere as he raced about the ship shouting the good news, raising everyone on their ears. As a result Kaidan had to deal with the sleepy night shift, who thought there had been an attack. Kaidan had already lectured Richard on the way from the docks to the presidium. Much to the amusement of Ashley and Tali. Legion brought up the rear, a mix of impassivity and curiosity.
Shepard led her group out of the elevator, down the narthex passage toward the garden-like central nave. The boxed garden was not much different than at any other time she had seen it. The only difference, marking the passage of time, were the Japanese cherry trees. They had been in bloom last time she had been here, but now they were green.
There was the typical smattering of people clad in professional suits and maxi dresses milling about the garden. Most were too occupied with whatever they were doing to pay anyone much heed. One or two Citadel Security patrol officers wandered about, serving as security guards. Then, as Shepard looked toward the stairs leading up to the Council's apse, her eyes landed on Ambassador Udina. It was impossible to miss the balding man in his neutral beige suit. Nor was it possible to miss his typically sour expression turn even sourer at the sight of her entourage.
"Someone's not happy," Kaidan whispered.
"My bet, he's already terrified of how the Council will perceive you guys… or as he'll call it, my display." Shepard whispered back, dry as a desert.
Kaidan chuckled, "Sorry ma'am, but no one's taking that sucker bet against you."
Shepard smiled and put an extra width to her step, to make sure she reached Udina first. "Ambassador," she greeted, affecting all appropriate nonchalance.
"Commander Shepard, what is the meaning of… this?" he demanded, looking over her shoulder.
No greeting, the Udina special. He still thought he was above her. Well the joke was going to be on him. This was not going to be his triumph. In many ways Spectres were the immediate ambassadors for their species. If the Council needed a quick question answered, they would sooner ask a trusted Spectre than have to deal with posturing ambassadors. Someone like Udina? Shepard had a feeling that even Tevos, who had centuries of life left, would want to avoid the headache of dealing with him.
"The people who have supported me this entire time have a right to be present for this." Shepard replied blandly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the universe.
"Do the words diplomatic incident mean nothing to you, Commander?" Udina demanded.
Shepard stared him right in the eyes. "The Council already knows about my associates. Spectre Kryik would have mentioned them. To be sure, Spectre Arterius has mentioned them. If they saw fault with any of what I did, they would have told me." If she sounded like she was talking down to an obtuse child, then she was. Truly Udina was as obvious as sunrise. He was skittish like a cat on a hot tin roof. She could only hope that the presence of so many non-Alliance personnel might make him hold back, lest he embarrass himself in front of someone while paradoxically berating her for it. One could only hope, right?
Udina's jaw muscles jumped and twitched.
Shepard chalked that down under one more point for her.
"I want you on your best behavior. This is important!" He bit out finally.
Shepard could not decide whether to roll her eyes, or laugh. Best behavior? So should she bow and curtsey, or take the Council for all they were worth? Both could be argued to be her best behavior. She glanced back only to see Nihlus' mandibles ticking against his jaw and Garrus was suddenly very fixated on the closest tree.
"If you want the best behavior, it is best not to keep the Council waiting," Nihlus finally said.
"Yes, yes, of course." Udina mumbled. "Come now."
Shepard smiled, trust Nihlus to pull a subtle rescue maneuver and stick it to Udina at the same time. She watched for a long second as Udina turned and started on his way up the stairs. Really the man needed more of a backbone. He was trying to be the big dog in the junkyard, except he was a yippy Chihuahua surrounded by pitbulls and Rottweilers, the sort of dogs that could bite him in half if they were so inclined. Nihlus flicked his hand, indicating for her to follow. Shepard rolled her eyes and started up the stairs herself.
Nihlus' shadow fell in step on her left. "Best behavior huh?" He whispered as they were halfway up the stairs.
"I'll just mind my manners, even as I do what I do best," Shepard replied blandly.
Nihlus' mandibles twitched, he was back to trying to keep his laughter at bay.
Shepard smiled, but said nothing more.
Shepard stopped just past the top of the stairs. The reception space was hardly as empty as she would have expected it to be given the urgency of the procedure and the arm-twisting Nihlus had to do to get them there. Though maybe Udina had a hand in the small crowd of suits on the balconies overlooking the hall. There were more Citadel Security officers too, and even an asari reporter with a camera operator in full rig. Apparently she was not the only one who could move quickly when the situation called for it.
"Well..." Shepard muttered. Best behavior suddenly made sense. If she went and did anything that Udina would see as an embarrassment to him or the Alliance, in that order, on camera, she would never hear the end of it.
"Alright, honor guard, to you posts!" Kaidan announced.
"Aye, aye, sir!" Richard replied, eager as ever.
Udina turned so quickly that Shepard thought he might just give himself whiplash. By the time Shepard looked over her shoulder, the five of them had assumed position by the stairs. Ashley and Richard on one side, Tali and Legion on the other, and Kaidan by the center of the stairs. It was the most symmetrical arrangement they could produce.
"I had nothing to do with that," Nihlus whispered, leaning over her shoulder, close enough that his exhale fanned her ear.
Shepard glanced up at him from the corner of her eye, mostly instinctively. "Why did you think I was going to assume you did?"
"Because you know he would have thought of it, if he had the time," Garrus replied.
"Behave, you two," Shepard murmured. Of course Garrus hit the nail on the head, but now was not the time for that. If she was to be on her best behavior, they were not going to be the cause of her bursting out laughing. Really, was Nihlus trying to make her laugh herself into a fit?
The Council's podiums across from the presentation platform cantilevered over the sunken garden, were empty. Shepard was none too surprised, the Council would always wish to appear too busy for the rest of them. However, there was an asari in a lilac maxi dress, holding a large datapad in her arms. Udina, brusque as ever, moved to mount the platform, drawing all attention onto himself. The assistant's expression betrayed how less than impressed she happened to be. Shepard wondered if Udina noticed.
"Ambassador, are your preparations complete?" The asari asked.
"Yes."
"Very well, I will notify the Council immediately." The asari tapped something into the pad, and then busied off to the side door under the balcony.
The atmosphere in the audience hall shifted noticeably. The reporter had drawn out a microphone from her camera operator's rig, and judging from the lights mounted on the man's helmet, they were recording a quick introduction segment. In the pit of her stomach, Shepard sincerely hoped that the whole thing was not actually to be broadcast live.
The Citadel Security officers had straightened, and one of them was staring in Legion's direction. The geth was standing ramrod straight next to Tali, all child-like curiosity gone, the light emitted from their sensor suite dimmed and narrowed down. Tali had adopted a very convincing facsimile of Alliance parade rest herself, only ruined by the fact that her fingers were moving behind her back.
Suddenly there was an uptick of murmurs from the balcony, and Shepard turned eyes front again. The Council had appeared from the side room. Valern at the front, followed by Tevos, and Sparatus bringing up the rear. The latter's mandibles were drawn right up against his jaw, revealing how tense and unhappy he was. Shepard almost felt bad for him, but only because Udina was a hopeless braggart, and dealing with him would become even more difficult. No one deserved to have to deal with a self-important weasel like Udina. She would not even subject Saren to that cruel and unusual punishment, and he was almost a sworn enemy to her. Then again, Saren could always get rid of Udina and make it look like an accident, Sparatus could not do that, one had to consider that.
"Ambassador Udina, Commander Shepard, thank you for coming at a short notice." Tevos began.
"It is not a problem, Councilor," Udina said.
"Commander, I see you brought your associates as well," Tevos continued.
Shepard had to speak up to be heard, "I did. Hopefully that is not a problem. My ground team helps me execute all my missions, we operate as a team, and as such I believe it is appropriate for them to be here to witness this."
"They are just here as witnesses, Councilors," Nihlus stepped in.
Shepard noted the way Sparatus eyed Legion. Really, people were being about as subtle as a brick to the face when it came to their wariness of the synthetic. Sparatus looked even less happy than before, but raised no objections. Valern did not seem to be concerned either way. Tevos almost seemed to be smiling, like Mona Lisa. Shepard could not begin to figure out what that meant. However the moment of silence did not linger long as the councilors exchanged glances. Udina took the opportunity to give her a very dirty look. He was probably quaking in his boots at the thought that the mere presence of a geth would make the Council call the whole thing off.
"Very well," Tevos said, seemingly sealing the non-verbal discussion. "Commander Shepard, please step forward."
Shepard felt Nihlus' fingers graze the back of her shoulder. She made her way up to the platform, spine straight, shoulders back. Udina stepped out of the way, to stand right next to the low guard railing. Shepard would be lying through her teeth if she said she did not feel some nervousness creeping up her spine right then.
The murmuring from the balconies increased in urgency if not volume. The camera operator had turned her way entirely, the light emitted by his rig growing brighter. The reporter had stepped out of shot, and was murmuring into a closely-held microphone.
Shepard really would have liked to see them gone. Her face, caught on camera, accepting Spectre status, was going to damage any clandestine operation she would try to execute in the immediate future. Sure, there would be some who would still swear up and down that the idea of a human Spectre was preposterous, but only complete fools could afford that sort of error of judgement.
"Commander Shepard. It is the decision of the Council that you be granted all the powers and privileges of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel." Tevos recited, formally and officially.
Valern crossed his arms over his chest, "Spectres are not trained but chosen. They are individuals forged in the fire of service and battle, whose actions elevate them above the rank and file."
Tevos looked Shepard right in the eye, cool and boring. "Spectres are an ideal, the symbol and embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the Council. The instruments of our will."
"Spectres bear a great burden, they are protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defense." Sparatus stepped in, eyes locked on her. If Tevos' look was intense, his was positively withering. "The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold."
Shepard could not help but feel like a major part of that speech was there more for the camera than for her. It seemed oddly pageant like, too cute, too obvious. Almost as if they were trying to cover up that the Spectre corps were in essence a mix of privateer and vigilante.
"You are the first human Spectre, Commander. This is a great accomplishment for you and your entire species," Tevos finished.
"You will be an example for others to follow, and we expect you to carry out your duties with the same dedication and determination as what you showed Spectre Kryik in the course of your training." Sparatus said.
Shepard slipped into her most formal parade rest, "Thank you, Councilors." There was a grand bit of irony in that statement, but she would not be caught dead showing that she had an alternative understanding of things. "You have my promise that I will execute my orders to the best of my abilities."
Sparatus' lingering stare told her plenty about how much he believed her. However, it was officially past the point where he could do anything about it.
"Spectre Kryik has mentioned you already have your first assignment in mind. You have our authorization to carry it out," Tevos stated. "As for Spectre Kryik. He is no longer your mentor, but your equal colleague. We will leave it up to you to decide whether you continue to work together, and if so, under what arrangement."
That was one of those cans that Shepard had always been kicking down the street, to be dealt with later. However, now was later, it would have to be considered. What would Nihlus do, now that he was no longer her mentor, and did not have to come along? She had begun to consider him to be a permanent member of the crew. The thought of parting ways was suddenly a throbbing splinter in her heart. The selfish part of her wanted to say that it was simply unacceptable.
"Do you have any questions?" Tevos asked.
"No ma'am." Shepard replied, quickly, intentionally cutting into anything Udina might have wanted to say. Whatever he had in mind, she wanted no part of it.
"Very good. We have already discussed the details with Spectre Kryik, and he has volunteered to brief you." Tevos added, that Mona Lisa smile making a brief appearance. "Ambassador, is there anything you would like to say?"
"Not at this moment, Councilors." Udina replied, terse and clipped, looking like he was once again chewing glass.
"Then this meeting is adjourned," Sparatus announced.
The finality in Sparatus' tone said plenty about how long he had been looking forward to saying those words. Shepard bowed shallowly and waited for the sound of the Council's footsteps to fade. When she finally looked up, Udina looked at her as if she had stabbed him in the back. Which, she might have, but if she was honest, she would say that since she was now officially higher than him on the pecking order, she had less reasons to care.
"Congratulations are in order, Shepard." Nihlus said, his voice rumbling with undisguised pleasure.
"Congratulations, Shepard." Garrus rumbled, even warmer and deeper than normally.
"Thanks you two."
"Congratulations to Spectre Shepard!" Kaidan called, beaming from ear to ear.
"Oorah!" Ashley and Richard called in one voice.
"Congratulations!" Tali called.
"Shepard-Commander, all the runtimes within this platform desire to extend their congratulations as well." Legion announced.
"That's going to be a long list of runtime serial designations at the bottom of a card." Tali mumbled.
Shepard smiled raised her hands, "Thank you, everyone!"
Nihlus, melodramatic as ever, held out a hand for her to take as she stepped off the platform. Shepard took it, but gave him a look that hopefully communicated about what she thought of the pageantry. He smiled and squeezed her hand, which was all the reply Shepard needed.
Shepard did not linger on that for long, she glanced over toward the reporter, only to see that she was talking into her camera. The angle meant that Shepard and the whole group were in frame in the background. Just how sensitive was the operator's microphone equipment?
"Commander, what is this… assignment you are on?" Udina asked.
"With all due respect, Ambassador, but I will not discuss sensitive matters here. There is a reporter with a functional camera nearby," Shepard replied. If she had her way, she would not be discussing the matter with Udina at all. "In fact, I think I want to vanish before said reporter makes my job much harder than it should be. Sorry Ambassador, but no rest for the weary. I have a job to do."
Udina did not look pleased, but as the seconds ticked away, it became obvious that he could not come up with anything to say to any of that.
"Nihlus, we need to talk." Shepard took charge, not to give Udina any more opportunities.
"No rush, Shepard. I am not going anywhere," Nihlus replied.
Shepard looked up, met his gaze, and just from the warmth she saw in those green depths, she knew that those words meant more than his casual tone implied. In that moment her moment of triumph was complete. She had what amounted to a sort of diplomatic immunity from the likes of Udina and Lindholm, she had a carte blanche to pursue to the Prothean connection, and she still had Nihlus at her side. Now if only she had a quadriga chariot, the image would have been complete.
Author Notes: I feel this needs to be said, that Pallin's dialogue (and the Spectre promotion scene) were transcribed almost verbatim from videos taken in-game. This chapter was mildly delayed because I needed to finally figure out (post it notes and red string) the details of the forthcoming arc and how the "Prothean Connection" will fit into the overall plot of the whole story. There was a lot to figure out, but it is done, and I'm happy with it!
General Notes:
Nothing here…
Chapter Notes:
Paul Revere - For the non-Americans, Paul Revere (1735 – 1818) was an American patriot, best known for his Midnight Ride (on April 18, 1775) from Boston to Lexington and then on to Concord, to alert the leadership and all patriots that the British forces were coming in to crack down of the nascent rebellion. This was immediately before the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which began the American Revolutionary War proper.
Quadriga Chariot – This isa chariot with four horses abreast (in a single line). They were used for Roman chariot racing, triumphs, and the depictions of deities journeying from place to place.