A/N: I'm back with a brand new chapter. Sorry for the long wait everyone, I got caught up with my other stories. I'll try and update this as much as a I can when I'm not working on my other stories.
Anyway enjoy the new chapter.
Any mistakes are mine and mine alone.
Karen and the rest of her team rode the slowest elevator that they ever rode in. They are heading to the lowers wards of the Citadel to get information from a C-Sec officer named Harkin. Apparently they need to get information on someone named Garrus.
"God, this thing go any slower." Dean said crossing his arms and leaning against the side of the elevator.
"You're the type who believes hitting the button repeatedly makes it go faster, aren't you?" Jake said with a smirk.
"It's a tick of mine." Dean said with a shrug.
"It's better than tapping your foot." Alice said looking at Dean while looking at the ads in the elevator.
"Technology has always been at the forefront of human evolution."
An ad caught Karen's attention, she looked to the screens lining the ceiling of the elevator.
"And we here at Skell Technology have been leading the way."
The ad showed the various technologies of human make.
"We have developed technologies that have improved our lives. From civilian use to even the military. We here are Skell Technology will continue to lead the way."
The ad ended with the logo from the company before switching to a news report.
"Skell Technologies has announced a new line of combat bots to aid the Alliance military. We go to an interview with William Skell, CEO of Skell Technology."
Everyone in the elevator watched the news report with interest.
"We here at Skell Technology have always been great friends with the Alliance military. The events that happened on Auroa in 2023 showed the dangers of unchecked combat drones. Since then Skell Technology has always been at the forefront of combat drones."
"Which is why I'm pleased today to announce the Zeus Line for the Alliance military. These new models far surpass anything and will greatly assist the military in protecting the men and women serving."
"Guess we'll be seeing new drones out in the field." Karen said after the interview finished playing.
"I wonder when we'll get some new toys." Dean said pushing himself off the wall and uncrossing his arms.
"Not for a while." Karen said just as the elevator dinged and the doors opened to the lower wards. Karen and the others left the elevator and entered the wards. They immediately went to Chora's Den and Karen spotted two turians waiting in the front of the bar that looked in their direction, then to their omni-tool.
Karen and the others entered the bar and their senses are immediately assaulted the moment they entered. Loud music blared over the speakers, spilled alcohol lingered in the air, along with the scent of sweat of different species. Half naked dancers danced on the poles set up above the bar and in the private booths.
Karen went to the bar while the others spread out and mingled with the crowd to not draw attention.
"I'm looking for Harkin." She told the turian bartender who pointed to a table with a lone man. She nodded in appreciation and walked over to the table. Along the way she saw two krogans talking with each other. Their deep and loud voices could be heard even over the loud music.
"Fist needs to come out." The krogan wearing red armor told the other krogan who seemed to be the bouncer.
"He's not coming out, Wrex. End of story." The bouncer said getting up in Wrex's face.
"This story is just beginning." Wrex said before leaving and passing Karen. "Out of my way, human."
Karen ignored the krogan and approached the table that Harkin is occupying. "You Harkin?"
Harkin looked up from his drink and looked at Karen, his eyes trailed her body up and down.
"You a merc?" He slurred, clearly having been drinking for a while. "Or a cop?"
"The first." Karen said sitting down across from Harkin. She could smell the alcohol on his breath and hoped that she could get this over with quickly. "You know a Garrus?"
"Why do you want him?"
"He pissed off my client." Karen told Harkin the lie she and her team came up with while in the elevator.
"Ha! I told that bird that do gooders always end up dead." Harkin said leaning back in his seat and waved one of the server girls over. "Anything?"
"Never drink on the job." Karen said and Harkin ordered himself another drink. "So, Garrus?"
"You ex-military?" Harkin asked through bloodshot eyes. "You carry yourself like a soldier."
"Don't see how that's any of your business." Karen said playing into the role of merc pressed for time. "Garrus."
"Mercs never want to talk about anything other than business." Harkin mumbled and scratched his cheek. "Yeah, I know the bird. Worked with him on a couple of cases."
"You know where he's at?" Karen asked just as the server girl arrived and set another cup of alcohol down in front of Harkin. "Client gets impatient."
Harkin took a drink. "Client's one of those types, huh."
Karen nodded and waited when Harkin took another drink.
"He said something about visiting a doc in the upper wards" Harkin said taking another drink. "A Dr. Michel, I think he said."
"Thanks." Karen said standing up. "Enjoy your drink." She said before leaving Harkin to drink alone.
"I intended too." Harkin said and went back to drinking. "Maybe I should become a merc." He said to himself.
Karen found the rest of her team sitting at a table near the corner and sat down at the open spot.
"What did you learn?" Alice asked when Karen sat down.
"Garrus is at Dr. Michel's clinic in the upper wards." Karen told them before forwarding the information to Hackett. "Let's go."
"Hold up, boss." Dean said stopping Karen from leaving. "Remember those two turians outside?"
Karen nodded.
"They're mercs with a contract on Shepard." Dean told her and she nodded for him to continue.
During the talk between Karen an Harkin
Dean walked to an empty table with Jake and ordered a drink. "Did you see those two turians?"
"Yeah, something fishy about them." Jake said taking a small sip from his drink. "They way they carry themselves."
"Soldiers." Dean said also seeing how they carry themselves. The way they look at their surroundings and how they unconsciously reach for the gun they have hidden on themselves "You notice how they looked at Karen and Alice first?"
"Yeah." Jake said taking another small sip from his drink. "Got a bad feeling about them."
"I'm gonna ask them." Dean said rising from his seat.
"Do it politely." Jake said leaning back in his seat.
Dean took a big sip from his drink and walked to the entrance with his drink. When he got to the entrance he sighed to himself before stumbling out and headed for the two turians.
"Hey- 'mere. I got a question for you." Dean said slurring his speech and stumbling over to the turians who ignored him, "Is it true you guys squawk like- like- like birds." Dean asked stumbling his way forward toward the turian with the active omni-tool and grabbed his shoulder making sure to turn the arm with the omni tool toward him so he can see the screen.
On it is a picture of Commander Shepard.
"Get off me human!" The turian yelled roughly pushing Dean off, he stumbled back spilling his drink all over himself as he fell down.
"What the hell!" Dean shouted at the turians. "You owe me drinks!"
"Get out of here!" The turian yelled at Dean.
"That explains why you smell." Karen said with a smirk aimed at Dean, who smirked back.
"What do we do?" Alice asked concerned about the hitmen outside the bar and hit on one of their own.
Karen thought it over, weighing the decision in her mind. As an N7, she knew that Shepard could handle the two of them on her own but they might have backup. "We take them quietly and see who placed the hit on Shepard. Alice."
"Get them to follow me, on it." Alice said with nod. "The alley by the bar?"
"That works." Karen said and the three left the bar first while Alice hanged back a little and waited for three minutes and left the bar.
Alice walked over the turians who glanced at her before going back to the watching the door that leads to the lower wards. She bumped into one of the turians and made a show of holding her hands up for them to see before walking off towards the alley.
"Damn humans. Shouldn't be on the Citadel." One of the turians said before looking at his wrist and seeing his omni-tool is gone. "She took it!" He yelled chasing after Alice who ran into the alley.
Alice stopped in her tracks when she heard a gunshot, she quickly raised her arms and slowly turned around to see the two turians. The one she stole the omni-tool from is the one holding a gun aimed at her.
"Give me the omni-tool." The turian said and Alice tossed the device towards the turian.
"Wait, she was with three oth-" His partner said but stopped when he felt a gun being pressed against the back of his head. He and his partner raised their hands and had their weapons taken away.
"Who hired you to take out Shepard?" A female voice behind them asked.
The two turians didn't say anything even when the back of their legs were kicked forcing them to their knees.
"Who hired you?"
"We never got a name." One of the turians said glancing over his shoulder briefly to see his attackers but didn't get a good look at them. "We got the photo and a transfer of credits over the net, along with the location she would appear."
"Data is saved on my omni-tool." The other turian said and Alice took the omni-tool and pocketed it for the future.
"We told you all we know. You'll let us go?"
The answer was a powerful hit to the side of head that knocked them out, Karen phoned C-Sec to inform them of two hitmen and their location. She hoped that C-Sec is able to hold them long enough for them to leave to station.
"Let's go." Karen said and when she turned to leave the alley, she heard the sound of footsteps and gestured for her team to hide. Karen hid behind a wall and peeked out to see a lone quarian wearing a purple themed suit with some blue accents and a hint of yellow. The quarian saw the two unconscious turians and quickly looked at her surroundings. Karen pulled back and pressed her back to the wall, she hoped that the quarian would quickly leave.
Luck wasn't on her side since she heard more voices approaching from the entrance to the alley.
"What do we have here?" A male voice asked and a turian from the sound of it.
"You tell me, did Fist send them?" The quarian asked and Karen peeked out again and saw a turain with two salarains behind him.
"No. This alley is used frequently by pickpockets and others." The turian said and Karen saw the quarian relax a little.
"Where's Fist?"
"He'll be here." The turian said walking towards the quarian and put his hand on her shoulder and slowly moved lower till his hand was resting on the quarian's hips. "Did you bring it?"
"Deal's off." The quarian said pushing the turian's hand away and backing away slowly. The turian looked at the two salarians and they drew their pistols. The quarian quickly reached into her pouch and tossed a flashbang blinding the three as she ran away. One of the salarians blindly fired and almost hit her.
Karen drew her pistol as did the rest of her team and opened fire on the three forcing them to take cover. Karen fired her pistol and shot one of the salarians in the shoulder forcing him out of cover, where he was shot by Jake.
The turian returned fire and appeared to be the only one to have a kinetic barrier since he tanked some shots before retreating back into cover. Alice took out the other salarian with a head shot when an arc of electricity went passed them and over the cover that the turian is using. A cry of pain and the turian fell out from cover, he recovered enough to fire another shot.
Karen took him out and slowly towards the bodies to check them. Kicking away the weapons she checked the bodies and gave the all clear as she put the safety back on and holstered her pistol.
"Thank you." The quarian said coming out of hiding. "That bastard Fist, he betrayed me."
"Can't trust criminals." Dean said and the quarian agreed.
"What are you doing here?" The quarian asked still suspicious of them.
"We're on leave from the England, we decided to visit Chora's Den when we saw our crewmate being taken into the alley." Jake said and Alice nodded making sure to look uncomfortable. "We followed them and saw these two getting a bit too handsy." He said pointing to the two turians knocked out.
"We were about to leave and call C-Sec when we heard you coming." Karen said. "We thought you might be with them and decided to hide. When we saw them trying to kill you, we had to intervene."
"I thank you for that." The quarian said with a slight bow. "I should-"
The sounds of gunfire rang in the distance, they came from the direction of Chora's Den.
"Maybe you should hang back." Jake suggested looking at the quarian. "Sounds like a dispute is happening."
The quarian agreed and waited until the sound of gunfire stopped before heading for the door with Karen and the others. But before that happened the doors opened and in walked Commander Shepard with a krogan and two turians, one of them is a C-Sec officer and the other is the spectre they saved. And the marine they encountered back on Eden Prime is with them.
"Are you Tali?" Shepard asked and the quarian nodded unsure if the woman in front of her and the people behind her. "I'm Commander Shepard with the Alliance Navy. I'm told that you have possible information on a turian named Saren?"
"Than I have the chance to repay the Alliance for their help." Tali said before turning to face Karen and her team. "Thank you for helping me. Keelah Se'lai." She said with a bow.
"Take care." Karen said returning the bow. "We best get back to the ship and report this."
Karen and the others left Tali in the care of Shepard and the others and quickly left before they were asked any questions and also before C-Sec came and locked down the wards. Thankfully they managed to leave before the lockdown, the same couldn't be said for Shepard and those with her. They quickly entered the elevator and pushed the button for the Presidium and waited.
"How do you think the hearing is going to go?" Dean asked once again leaning against the elevator wall.
"Depends on what kind of evidence they can get." Karen said looking at the ads.
The elevator ride seemed to last longer than last time, probably because some elevator music came on after the ads finished playing. Finally they reached the Presidium and left the elevator to meet with Hackett in café that is popular with Alliance soldiers while they are on the leave. They found Hackett sitting at a table with his aide and some guards, all of them are enjoying the coffee.
Karen and her team sat at the table after saluting the Admiral, Hackett told his aide and guards to give them some privacy. "What have you found?"
"This." Karen said sliding the omni-tool to Hackett who took it. "It has some information about the hit placed on Shepard."
"I'll pass it along." Hackett said pocketing the omni-tool. "Hopefully Nihlus can use his Spetre contacts to pull something from it. Shepard has stepped into a sticky situation."
"Ain't much we can do, sir." Alice said. "How's the hearing?"
"Slow, they refuse to believe that one of their own is responsible." Hackett said with a sigh and took another sip from his coffee. "I'm considering showing them the recorded footage from Eden Prime."
"Is that wise?" Jake asked knowing that the footage is from Alice's scope and the Council isn't going to be happy to see that they had a scope trained on of their operatives, let alone two.
"If Shepard and Nihlus can convince them, then I won't have too." Hackett told them before his aide came back and told them that Udina and Anderson are requesting him back at his office. "That'll be all. Take some time and enjoy the coffee. Consider this leave."
With that Hackett and his entourage left the cafe. Karen leaned back in her seat and decided to call home for a quick check in.
"Order my usual." Karen told Alice and transferred the credits to her.
Shepard waited for Hackett to return Udina and Anderson moved forward with the hearing. Tali had kept her word and provided them an audio recording that Anderson and Nihlus confirmed was Saren's and the voice of an unknown woman. Now the Council can't ignore the evidence this time. While waiting she thought back to Wrex and Garrus. Those two helped her in finding the much needed information about Fist and Tali, they had even offered to stay and see how things played out.
Garrus, she could understand since he'd been trying to nail Saren for a while. Wrex on the other hand confused her, he had been hired by the Shadow Broker to deal with Fist and yet chose to remain with her even though his contract is complete. Then there was Tali who wanted to repay the help from the four Alliance soldiers.
Hearing the door open, Shepard saw from the corner of her eye that Hackett has arrived.
"Hackett, we have good news." Udina said with looking at the Admiral. "We have an audio recording implicating Saren in the attack on Eden Prime."
"I may have something as well." Hackett said pulling out an omni-tool and setting it down on the desk. "My team discovered a hit team with a contract on Shepard and stopped them. They recovered this."
"You think it was Saren?" Anderson asked.
"I'm not sure, though it's a possibility." Hackett said before turning to look at Nihlus. "Can you use your contacts and see if you can get anything."
"Of course, I doubt Saren would be stupid enough to leave his name." Nihlus said taking the omni-tool.
"We may get lucky." Shepard said.
"There is also a recording." Hackett said before looking at the non Alliance personal. "This is classified material, would you wait outside."
"I'll ask my contact regarding the omni-tool." Nihlus said turning to Garrus. "Want to tag along?"
Garrus agreed and the non humans left the room.
Hackett brought up a recording on his omni-tool and played it. The footage showed Saren and Nihlus talking and then Saren pulling a gun on Nihlus. The footage ended on the frozen frame of Saren holding a gun to the back of Nihlus' head.
"Why didn't you show this earlier?" Udina yelled at Hackett as he deactivated his omni-tool. "This would have convinced the Council."
"Or the Council would have ignored it." Hackett said facing Udina. "They would've said that the footage is fake and Saren would agree. Who do you think they would listen too? Their top agent or humanity."
"Where did this come from?" Kaiden asked.
"A second team was sent to help secure the beacon and ensure that nothing went wrong." Hackett said and it was clear that's all he's going to say.
"Those four…" Ashley said thinking back to the four soldiers that they ran into on Eden Prime and the ones that went with Admiral Hackett when they reached the Citadel.
"How do you figure our chances with the Council?" Hackett asked Udina who placed a hand under his chin and thought for second.
"The audio recording is a good start and with Nihlus to confirm the voice is Saren. That already is a big help" Udina said. "The footage on the other hand we'll use if they still don't believe us. I think our chances are good."
"Let's not wait." Anderson said and the others agreed. Shepard left the office and saw that Wrex and Tali are waiting for them in the hallway, she was surprised to see them waiting and even tagged along as they headed for the Council chambers. Shepard made sure to contact Nihlus and tell him that they are headed for the Council chambers, Nihlus said that he and Garrus will meet them there.
Shepard and the rest of her group arrived at the Council chambers and found Nihlus and Garrus already waiting for them.
"Shepard, good news." Nihlus said walking over. "The account used to pay the hitmen came from one of Saren's hidden accounts."
"That's good?" Shepard asked unsure.
"It may not have been Saren's direct account but it's one that the Council transfers credits to." Nihlus explained and Shepard had an idea of what that meant.
"Meaning Saren used Council funds to pay hitmen." Shepard said and Nihlus nodded in agreement. "To kill me."
"Right, meaning if the Council ignores the other evidence. They can't ignore this." Garrus said from his spot behind Nihlus.
"We also have a video of Saren." Shepard said and she was sure that both Nihlus and Garrus are surprised. It was hard to tell with turians.
"Then why wasn't it shown the first time." Nihlus asked in a curious tone.
"It's complicated." Shepard said and Nihlus looked at her.
"Does it have anything to do with those four soldiers?" Nihlus asked having seen them in the cargo hold of the Normandy keeping to themselves.
"Yes. That's all I can say." Shepard said before the Council called the room the order. "We better hurry." The group walked the many stairs and made it just in time as the audio recording was being played.
"Eden Prime was a major victory! The beacon has brought us one step closer to finding the Conduit."
Only Shepard and Nihlus were allowed into the meeting, the others had to wait. The two walked over to the podium being used by Udina.
"And one step closer to the return of the Reapers"
"You asked for evidence, there it is." Udina said pointing to the Councilors.
"This could be a forgery." The turian Councilor, Laiel Sparatus said looking at his fellow councilors.
"I can confirm that it's Saren who is speaking." Nihlus said stepping forward. "This audio file was taken from a geth unit with the help from Tali, a quarian."
"The quarians have always held hatred for the Council." Sparatus said and the few quarians in the crowd glared at the turian from behind their masks. When they asked for help and refuge after they lost their planet, the Council turned them away and banned them from settling any planet in Council space. Forcing them to become nomads forever wandering the stars with only the memories of their homeworld.
"It wouldn't be hard for a quarian to forge an audio file." Sparatus added. "Do you have more evidence?"
"We have a footage that shows Saren's betrayal." Nihlus said and Udina played the video that Hackett had given them. Shepard saw Nihlus clench his fists tightly, this would be the first time that he's seen the video. "I can confirm that everything in the video happened exactly."
The councilors looked at each other then to Udina.
"This evidence is irrefutable. Saren will be stripped of his Spectre status and his accounts frozen." Tevos, the asari councilor said. "An arrest warrant will be issued and all attempts will be made to bring Saren in."
"That's not enough!" Udina yelled. "Saren has already attacked one of our colonies. What's to stop him from attacking another?"
"What would you have us do?" Valern, the salarian councilor asked crossing his arms.
"Send the Council fleet after him." Udina proposed and Shepard had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Udina had to know that space offers Saren plenty of hiding places and she wouldn't be surprised if he had someone in the crowd right now watching them and reporting back. "They can secure sectors of space and trap him. Keep anymore of our colonies from being attacked."
"Or it could trigger an attack with the Terminus systems." Sparatus said. "Or would you rather we just blow everything up like you humans are so fond of doing in the hopes that Saren will be caught in the blast?"
"I might have a solution." Nihlus said standing next to Udina. The councilors gestured for him to continue. "As the Council is aware, I submitted a request for Shepard to join the Spectres. I ask that the Council approve my request and together we can track Saren."
"Your request is denied." Sparatus said. "You will track Saren down and apprehend him."
"I think you're letting your bias against the humans cloud your judgment." Tevos said looking at her fellow councilor. "Nihlus is correct, two would be better than one and Saren was one of our best."
"It's too soon for the humans." Sparatus argued clearly getting agitated.
"Then we'll put it to a vote." Tevos said bringing up a screen. "Do we allow Commander Shepard of the Alliance Navy to join the Spectres?"
"Hey turn up the volume." One of the marines shouted getting Karen's attention as she looked over her shoulder and saw that everyone in the café is watching the news report.
"They're going to vote on Shepard joining the Spectres." Another marine said.
Karen and the rest of her team joined the others in watching the screen as the councilors voted. The café watched in silence as the vote came in.
2 – 1
The entire café cheered when it announced that Shepard had become the first human Spectre.
"About damn time!"
"Next is the Council."
Karen smiled as Shepard walked forward and was told what it means to be a Spectre and that her first mission is track down Saren with the help of Nihlus. Her omni-tool beeped with a message and she looked at it.
"Looks like our short leave is up." She told her team and finished the rest of her coffee. "We report back to the Olympus for out next assignment."
Shepard sighed to herself on the elevator back to docks. She had received a message from Anderson to meet in front of the Normandy. She now had her first mission as a Spectre and that was to capture the traitor Saren and bring him back to the Citadel for judgment. Nihlus would be assisting her in the mission as are Wrex, Garrus, and Tali. Those three surprised her but she figured she could use the help.
Garrus knew police procedure and is a hell of shot.
Wrex knew the criminal underworld and that could be useful if they needed to land in less than savory ports. Plus, he is a krogan and damn good with a shotgun and biotics.
Tali already has experience in dealing with the geth and she is a mechanic.
"How do you like your new rifle?" Kaiden asked referring to the HMWA Master Assault Rifle X in the case next to her feet.
"Shoots like a dream." Shepard said. She had gone to the requisitions officer for Spectres on the suggestion from Nihlus. She had some problems at first since they didn't believe her until her name came up in the system. After that they had given her the prototype rifle that had proven itself in the field. They offered the shooting range and she wanted to see what the rifle can do. It took her a moment to get use to the built in heat sink.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened, Shepard and the rest left the elevator in time to see Nihlus and the others boarding the Normandy. She saw Anderson and Udina waiting outside the ship, they waved her over and Shepard told the others to board the ship without her.
"Shepard, good news." Udina said when she reached them. "Captain Anderson had relinquished his command of the Normandy. The ship is now yours."
"Are you sure?" Shepard asked looking at Anderson who didn't look happy but disguised it.
"She's quick, quiet, and you know the crew." Anderson said. "Perfect ship for a Spectre."
"I- thank you, sir." Shepard said with a salute. "I'll take good care of her."
"Now, Shepard." Udina said getting her attention. "You may be a Spectre but you're also a member of the human race."
"I'll try not to make your job harder." Shepard said once again trying not to roll her eyes.
"Nihlus has the coordinates for the planets you need to investigate." Anderson said. "And Hackett wishes to speak to you." He said looking further down the docks and Shepard followed his gaze and saw Hackett waiting.
"We'll leave you to it." Udina said. "Come Anderson, I need your help overlooking some files."
Shepard saw the grimace on Anderson's face and wished him luck as he followed Udina to the elevator while she walked over to Hackett.
"Sir." She said with a salute when she reached Hackett. "You wanted to speak to me?"
"Yes, congratulations on your new position as a Spectre." Hackett said before looking at the Normandy. "I figured you should know that Saren has made the third spot on our Most Wanted List. The Alliance is fully behind you on this."
"Thank you." Shepard said unsure of what Hackett is getting at.
"I'd like to assign a team to you." Hackett said now looking at Shepard. "Tell me Shepard. What do you know of Ghost Recon?"