Chapter 42: Treason

The airlock opened and Shepard drew up short. "Anderson … we were just coming to see you."

Anderson smiled but it didn't reach his eyes as he clasped his hands behind his back. "Well, I thought it might be nice to get out of the office for a little while. Stretch my legs. I hope you don't mind?"

She fought the urge to frown and start asking questions. She knew the look on his face all too well; the look that said he came with bad news. "Yeah, sure. Of course." Turning, she nearly bumped into Garrus as she swept her hand out toward the ship's interior.

Garrus and Thane parted, stepping aside to clear the way for Anderson. He nodded his head at the three of them as he stepped aboard. Shepard followed him, the airlock sliding closed again behind her.

Anderson glanced around, nodding at Joker when the pilot turned his seat around to wave. After a moment, Anderson let out a heavy sigh and met Shepard's gaze. "We need to talk, and I could use a drink."

Shepard pursed her lips. "My cabin or the ship's lounge?" She meant, 'How much privacy do we need? How much trouble are we talking about here?'

Anderson winced, just a faint tick at the corner of his eyes. "Let's go to your cabin, those couches looked comfortable." He glanced between Garrus and Thane. "How about it? You two want to join us for a drink?"

"OK, so we know he's not here to talk Alliance secrets …." Jane said. "Do you think he's here to talk about me?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe the leviathans." Shepard mentally shrugged her shoulders. "Hell, it could be anything."

Thane bowed his head to Anderson.

Garrus nodded once. "Sure."

Shepard led the way to her cabin, the trip on the elevator filled with tense silence. Garrus coughed into his fist, his mandibles flaring when the cabin door opened. She realized, with an inward groan, the scent of her and Thane's time together must still linger, and she'd left the cabin without making her bed.

Shepard hurried in, stopping at the top of the stairs to block Anderson's view of her unkempt bed. It didn't matter if the Normandy was her ship, and neither of them were officially on Alliance duty; she didn't like the idea of Anderson seeing her bed not meeting standards. "Why don't you say hello to Spike while I tidy up downstairs?"

Anderson raised an eyebrow. "Spike?"

Thane held his hand out toward the tank, and Anderson turned to look. Garrus smirked at her, his mandibles fluttering lightly as he turned to talk to Anderson about the snake.

Shepard smiled at Thane before slipping down the stairs. "EDI," she said, keeping her voice low, "can you freshen up the air in here a bit?"

"Right away, Shepard," said EDI.

Shepard heard the quiet hum as EDI sped up the circulation of the air in the cabin. She straightened out the pillows, pulling the sheet and blanket into place and tucking it in around the edges. Making her way over to the couch, she flipped the cushions as an extra precaution before going back to her liquor cabinet to pour them drinks.

"Garrus will just take it from you, too. Alcohol is worse than coffee for you right now," Jane said when Shepard started to pour one for herself.

She sighed, opting to have water with Thane instead. "I let him get away with far too much."

"We always do."

Setting the drinks down on the coffee table, she made her way back up the stairs. Anderson glanced her way, handing Spike back over to Garrus. Shepard smiled, nodding toward the couches while Garrus put the snake back in the terrarium. They followed her back down the stairs, and she steered Anderson to the glass she poured for him, gesturing for him to sit down. She took the corner seat next to Anderson and sipped at her water, watching him with wary eyes. Garrus and Thane sat down with Garrus right beside her. Their gazes shifted between her and Anderson, but neither spoke.

Picking up his glass, Anderson sighed and took a heavy swallow. "You caused quite the panic with the Council, Shepard." He turned his glass back and forth in his fingertips. "There's … talk. Tevos thinks you crossed a line by approaching these … what'd you call them?"

"Leviathans. It's not their actual name, just what the researchers—talk of what, Anderson?" Shepard licked her lips, pushing herself to the edge of her seat.

Anderson sighed, taking another heavy swallow from his glass, leaving it empty. "Treason."

Shepard blinked, her heart slamming against her sternum. "Treason?"

"Treason?" Jane all but screeched, her shock mirroring Shepard's.

Garrus sat forward, setting his drink down on the table, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "She hasn't done anything to warrant a charge of treason."

Thane stood without a word, moving to the liquor cabinet to retrieve two more glasses and the bottle of rum. Returning, he sat a glass down on the table in front of Shepard and filled it before pouring a little for himself. He gestured to Anderson's glass, and when the councilor nodded, Thane refilled his drink as well.

"Anderson?" Shepard licked her lips, feeling her fingers start to tremble as she struggled to wrap her head around what she might've possibly done wrong enough to be charged with treason.

"It's being decided whether you acted within protocol for first contact with another species." Anderson shook his head, taking a sip from his glass. "It's a damn witch hunt, Shepard. They're afraid these leviathans are going to attack, try to dominate the rest of us. And if that happens, they need someone to blame, as always."

Shepard bit back a bark of manic laughter, fighting against the pressure building in her head. "So, I guess I'm going to end up in prison either way." She picked up the glass in front of her and took a swallow, wincing at the way it rattled against the coffee table when she sat it back down. "I thought I had it covered this time, but instead of the Alliance coming after me to appease the batarians, the Council wants me behind bars to cover their own asses." She sucked in a deep breath, meeting his gaze. "Are you here to arrest me, Anderson?"

"No, of course not. Anderson wouldn't … are you alright?" Jane's voice barely made it through over the growing buzz in Shepard's head.

She closed her eyes against the flood of memories sweeping over her. Pinching the bridge of her nose, the buzzing grew louder as she felt herself being put in handcuffs. Her heart thudded against her ribs as she remembered standing before the judge, waiting to hear her sentence, Anderson and Hackett at her sides. She opened her eyes, turning her attention back to Anderson when he grunted.

"Dawn?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Shepard. I'm here to tell you to leave the Citadel before they make up their damn minds." He shook his head, taking another swallow from his glass before sighing. "I'm putting up as much of a fight as I can. Valern and Quentius aren't quite sold on the idea, but they will be soon. I can tell. Almost makes me miss Sparatus. He's a stubborn old fool, but at least he's not so easily convinced to change his mind."

She took a deep breath, fighting to steady herself. "They're going to know you warned me off." She held his gaze, giving him a slow shake of her head. "Anderson, they'll charge you. I can't let that happen."

She'd let herself be taken in first. When the reapers came, they'd be more than ready to open her prison cell and beg her for help. It wouldn't be all that different than before. She knew enough now she'd tell Garrus what they needed to do to stop the collectors. She trusted him, he was a good leader, and he'd handle everything without her.

"What if they don't let us out, though? What happens if someone else makes it to the Crucible? What if no one else makes it to the Crucible?" Jane felt far more calm and rational than Shepard at the moment. "You need to think about this, Dawn."

"Damn it, Shepard! This is bigger than you or me." Anderson drained his glass again, carefully placing the empty cup down on the table. "Don't worry about me. Just get out of here. With any luck, this whole thing will blow over, but if it doesn't, we need you out there taking care of things and not locked up on the Citadel."

"Anderson …." She didn't know what to say.

"Now, Shepard. That's an order." Anderson stood, looking down at her. "You're the only one who really knows what we're facing and how to deal with it all."

Shepard stood, her shoulders heavy with the weight of Anderson's words, her chest tight as her heart raced inside of her. She saluted him, because there was nothing else she could do; nothing else she would do once he uttered those words. Anderson nodded his head, returning her salute before turning and walking up the stairs, leaving her cabin.

"EDI?" Her name came out like a croak, barely above a whisper. She licked her lips and tried again. "EDI?"

"Yes, Shepard?"

She sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slow. "Call the crew back. We're leaving the Citadel."

"Right away, Shepard." EDI's voice held a note of gravity fitting to the situation.

What would happen now? How long before the Council ordered Anderson's arrest? Would they keep him on the Citadel, or would the Alliance demand he serve his sentence with them? What if they didn't even give him a specific sentence, but just locked him up and threw away the key?

"Dawn, hey, calm down." Soothing waves passed from Jane to Shepard, but it wasn't enough.

She collapsed back down to the couch, pressing the heel of her hand against her temple. Her head started to hurt, feeling full with the pressure inside of her skull, making her thoughts feel disjointed and somehow foreign.

"Anderson will be alright. They may not even arrest him, but if they do, they'll treat him fairly enough."

She couldn't breathe. Why couldn't she breathe? She tugged at the collar of her shirt and shook her head.

"You're panicking, hyperventilating. You need to relax. Come on now, aren't you the one who's supposed to be holding me together?"

"Shepard?" Garrus' voice cut through the din in her head, only to be swallowed up and lost to the rising tide.

She looked up, her gaze darting around the room, sliding over Garrus and past Thane. Nothing seemed real. Not them, not her bed, not the table in front of her.

"Siha?" Thane moved into her field of vision, pushing the coffee table back to crouch down in front of her.

"EDI, what's happening?" Garrus asked, his voice sounding strained and distant. "Is it Jane?"

"What? No! This isn't me. I'm not doing anything. I'm just trying to help her!"

"Shepard's biometric scans do not correspond to scans taken during previous attempts by Jane to assert control," EDI said. "I believe she is experiencing symptoms of an anxiety attack, and I have notified Dr. Chakwas. She is on her way now."

Thane lifted his hands to her cheeks, gently tugging her until she turned her head and found his gaze. "Breathe with me, siha." He took in a slow, deep breath and let it out again just as slowly.

"Listen to him. Just breathe."

Their words weren't making sense. Why were they talking about breathing? Anderson was going to be arrested. She couldn't let it happen. Earth needed him to lead the push against the reapers when they came. Oh gods, if they kept him on the Citadel, what would happen to him when the reapers moved the Citadel? Every time they got to the Citadel, everyone left in the station were already dead.

No! She'd save Anderson this time; The Illusive Man wouldn't be there to shoot him in the end if they did have to use the Crucible. But if he stayed on the Citadel … No! No! No! She tore her gaze away from Thane, seeking out Garrus. He'd do something, anything to make sure this wouldn't happen.

"Shit. OK, what did Thane say before? Acknowledge it and let it go. It doesn't control you." Jane stirred in the back of Shepard's mind, her voice louder than anything else. "Listen to his breathing. Breathe like him, you know it helps."

Garrus frowned, his mandibles drooping, and he put a reassuring hand on her back. Thane urged her gaze back to him, still breathing in and out at a slow, measured pace. She nodded her head in his hands and tried to focus on his breathing.

"Acknowledge and let go."

"OK," Dawn croaked through her staggered breathing.

Thane's lips twitched at the corners but he kept his breathing steady. Shepard didn't hear her enter, but a moment later Dr. Chakwas appeared next to Thane. She kept her gaze locked on his, her breathing finally starting to slow, even if it remained a far cry from the practiced rise and falls he'd worked so hard to teach her.

The doctor opened her omni-tool, using it to scan Shepard before looking at the screen. Dr. Chakwas patted Thane on the shoulder, saying something to him Shepard didn't quite make out. Garrus stood with the doctor, moving off to the side where the two of them talked privately. She saw them in her peripheral, glancing over at her as they spoke.

"Don't worry about them. Just focus on Thane and your breathing."

Her breathing came slower and slower. After a few moments, she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Thane's, using the contact to further center herself. He brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, letting the sound of their now synchronized breathing fill her completely. All thoughts fled her, and he held her there, in that space of nothingness and timelessness, until slowly, the sounds of those around her began trickling back in.

She opened her eyes, searching out his gaze before pressing her lips to his and whispering, "Thank you."

"And thank you, too, Jane," Shepard thought.

"Of course, siha." He brushed his thumbs across her cheek once more before letting his fingers slip away from her face to take her hands instead.

"Yeah. Glad I could help," Jane said, relief heavy in her voice.

Shepard squeezed Thane's fingers, offering him a wane smile. "I'm fine." She pushed up from the couch, and he rose to his feet with her, still holding her hands. She turned her attention to Garrus and Dr. Chakwas before repeating, "I'm fine."

Garrus took a step toward her, his mandibles drooping. "Shepard, I don't—."

"Garrus, I'm fine." She pulled her hands from Thane's, and used them to push her hair out of her face. "EDI, I want everyone in the comm room once they're all back onboard. Tell Joker to prepare to take off, I want us out of here the second the last of the crew returns." Her gaze flicked between Garrus, Dr. Chakwas, and Thane. "The word 'treason' doesn't leave this room until the Council makes the call. Until then, we carry on as planned. Am I clear?"

"You think that's the best idea?" Jane stirred with the restless feeling Shepard learned to associate with Jane not being too happy about something.

"For now at least. I'm barely holding on to things, I can't afford anymore doubt from the crew. Anderson might be right, it might just blow over," Shepard thought, squaring her shoulders.

"Yes, Commander." Dr. Chakwas nodded her head.

Garrus pulled his mandibles in tight against his face and gave her one short, curt nod of acceptance. She turned her gaze to Thane who bowed his head to her.

"As you wish, Shepard." EDI's voice rolled through the comms.

"Where are we going?" Garrus moved a little closer.

She edged past him, heading for her cabin door. She glanced over her shoulder, meeting Garrus' severe gaze as they all followed her to the elevator. "We need to get everything in place. We've got to take care of Cerberus, the Shadow Broker …" She sighed, rubbing a hand across her forehead as she hit the elevator call button. "… things with the Admiralty board, and Legion's going to need help to stop the heretic virus. We've got to get the reaper IFF."

She pinched the bridge of her nose, stepping on the elevator and turning to put her back against the wall. "The Admiralty Board. The sooner we get the quarians and geth cooperating, the easier things will be … and I need to get this over with before the Council declares me wanted for treason and brands me a rogue Spectre. Once word gets out …."

"What exactly did Anderson say if I might ask?" Dr. Chakwas studied Shepard with a drawn brow.

Shepard gave a light shake of her head, still having trouble coming to terms with it herself. "Basically the Council is afraid the leviathans are going to start attacking, and they're debating on whether or not my actions fell within protocol for first contact with a new species."

Jane snorted. "Which is bullshit. Especially since they didn't give us anything on how to deal with a first contact situation."

"As Jane just said, it's bullshit, they never even discussed protocol with me for a first contact situation." Shepard raked her hands through her hair.

"They're looking for someone to blame, and as usual, their pointing their fingers at Shepard." Garrus chuffed, pushing the button for the CIC and the elevator door slid closed, carrying the four of them down.

"I take it this didn't happen with you, Jane?" Dr. Chakwas studied Shepard, her features taking on less of the look of clinical appraisal and more of the concerned friend the longer they talked.

"No, we never dealt with the leviathans until the reapers were already in the system. The leviathans never refused aid in the war, even if they did make it difficult."

Shepard relayed Jane's statement before adding, "I don't think there's any way I could've handled this, even if I followed protocol to the 'T', that wouldn't end up with the Council throwing me under the bus once they realized how dangerous the leviathans are. The only thing that saved me before was the leviathans agreeing to help, but they didn't this time, so now the Council wants to charge me with treason."

"But there hasn't been an actual decision made?" Dr. Chakwas asked.

"Not yet. Anderson came to warn me off before they'd made up their minds one way or the other." Shepard took a deep breath, letting it out slow. "And there's a good chance he's going to be arrested because of it … even if they don't decide I'm guilty of treason."

"Dear God …." Dr. Chakwas raised a hand to Shepard's arm. "I'm sorry, Commander. I know how difficult this must be for you."

Shepard fought back the urge to snort. "Yeah, well, I'm not going to let his sacrifice be in vain. We've got a lot of ground left to cover, and I need to make sure all of you have what you need to handle things in my absence if it comes to it."

Silence descended, spreading through the small space, settling on her shoulders with all the weight of the galaxy.

Garrus cleared his throat. "Have you given further thought to Grundan Krul replacing the Shadow Broker?" He turned to face her, his arms crossed over his chest.

Her brow furrowed and she shook her head. "With everything else … I'd forgotten. You really think he's up for the job?"

Garrus nodded his head. "I do. I think he's the best option we have, Shepard." He reached out, running a hand along her arm. "I know you don't know him well, and he can never replace Liara … but he can do this." He hummed, moving a little closer to her. "And I think he'd be honored to have the chance to prove himself and help in the war."

Shepard pursed her lips and nodded. "Have you talked to him about it yet?" She felt Jane stir, but the other woman remained silent.

"No. I didn't think I should until you'd made up your mind." Garrus rubbed his hand up and down her arm again.

"Alright. We'll talk to him about it tonight, after we're out of here and I've had the chance to fill in the team about the leviathan mess." Shepard let out a heavy sigh as the elevator opened, stepping out in the CIC, leaving Dr. Chakwas behind.

The crew already started filtering in, disappointment dragging at their faces. She'd promised them a few more hours of shore leave, and now she couldn't even tell them why she made them come back aboard early. Sure, she could tell them the Council was considering arresting her for treason, and she could tell them Anderson gave her orders to hightail it out of there before they made up their minds … but she didn't think piling on maybes and what-ifs would do any of them any good right now. She needed them all focused, not finding new reasons to worry about her.

Mordin waved her over when she entered the tech labs. Shepard nodded Garrus and Thane on toward the comm room and crossed the floor to lean against Mordin's table. The salarian opened his omni-tool and scanned her. She frowned, but kept quiet, figuring the sooner she let him get whatever data he needed, the sooner she'd get on with her evening.

"Reviewed EDI and Legion's report." Mordin looked at the data readout on his omni-tool's screen. "Interesting concepts, show possibility. No way to prove." He shook his head, scanning her again before looking at his screen again. "Cortisol levels high. Adrenaline. Norepinephrine."

She cut him off before he got very far down that track. "I'm alright, just got out of a stressful meeting with the councilor on the heels of a very stressful meeting with the Illusive Man." Shepard shifted her weight, leaning forward a little more until he met her gaze again. "You think EDI and Legion might be right?"

Mordin blinked at her. "Theory is sound. Would take many years, dedicated research … with asari lifespan, perhaps. Still, irrelevant without data from triggering event. Many multiverse theories, none considered scientific fact. Suppositions made in report reflective of several theories. Have diagrams, can explain—." Mordin trailed off when the door to the tech lab opened, letting in a giggling Kasumi hanging from the arm of a laughing James.

Shepard smiled, happy for the interruption. Mordin could talk for days on the topic and she wouldn't be any closer to understanding. She got what she needed: a potential answer to how. How didn't do her much good without a 'how to stop', though, and she knew Mordin didn't have the answer. "Maybe later, Mordin. I need to do the debriefing. You're going to want to be in there when I start. You'll get to hear all about how the leviathans fucked me over."

Mordin beamed at her, taking the change of subject in stride as he walked with her to the comm room. "Ah, yes. Very excited to hear about the experience. Also interested in learning Council's reaction. Assume you told Council in meeting?"

"As much as I could without discussing Jane." Shepard lifted a shoulder.

They stepped into the comm room, and Shepard took a quick glance around. They were still missing Tali, Kal, Jack, and Grunt. The crowd parted, clearing her usual space, and she made her way to the table, resting her palms on the surface.

"EDI, when Tali and Kal arrive, please ask them to make sure Joker has the current coordinates for the Migrant Fleet." She glanced at Lia and Legion, standing side by side, as always. "We'll head to their location when we leave the Citadel."

EDI's hologram popped up in the middle of the table. "Tali and Kal are approaching the Normandy now, Shepard. I have relayed your request. Jack and Grunt are also on their way and should be arriving shortly."

"Thanks, EDI." Shepard nodded absently at the hologram.

"You're welcome, Shepard." The hologram collapsed in on itself, leaving the space empty once more.

A few minutes later Shepard felt the Normandy pulling away from the Citadel. She let out a heavy sigh, and steeled herself for whatever might come. The others entered the comm room, moving to fill in whatever empty spaces were available. All eyes turned to Shepard, watching her expectantly.

"Sorry to cut your shore leave short." She held her hand up to quite the soft grumbles and smiled. "It's what you get for agreeing to work with a Spectre." That earned her a couple of chuckles at least. "We're on our way to the Migrant Fleet to discuss some matters of a sensitive nature, as they pertain to the quarians and the geth, with the Admiralty Board. It shouldn't take too terribly long."

"We're nearing the final push for the collector base. There are still some things we need to take care of before then, and I hoped to have more time … but I don't think that's going to be the case." She took a deep breath, splaying her palms out on the table.

Anderson's words echoed in the back of her head. Unwanted memories swirled with a whole new list of concerns tugged at her mind, derailing her thoughts. Hanging her head, she squeezed her eyes closed, taking deep, steadying breaths. She heard murmurs rising, the sounds of her crew shifting with unease.

"Just tell them. They deserve that much from us," Jane said.

"Shepard?" Garrus put a hand on her shoulder, a light, tentative touch.

She shook her head. "I can't do this."

Garrus moved a little closer, ducking his head down closer to hers. "Do what?"

She looked up, her gaze roaming over her crew. The men and women … and AI's who'd entrusted her with their lives, and the lives of the entire galaxy. She couldn't keep telling herself the only thing that really mattered was finding a way to defeat the reapers permanently and end her own cycle. She'd be risking their lives to save her own. Before, facing a few months on house arrest with the Alliance wasn't too big of a deal, and she'd managed to work around it so far. But had she been charged for the Bahak system, the others would've all gone their separate ways. They'd go on to live their lives, growing as people, some of them finding redemption through their own good deeds.

Being charged with treason by the Council would be different … and they wouldn't just come after her. Each and every person on the Normandy stood the risk of being held accountable if they declared her rogue. How could she not warn them? How could she not give them the chance to back out?

"I wasn't going to tell you this yet," she said, the words coming out slow and disjointed, "but I can't justify risking any of you getting in trouble without even knowing what you're going into."

"Commander, what are you talking about?" Miranda pushed against the table, leaning toward Shepard.

She licked her lips, letting her gaze continue to roam, unable to meet and hold anyone's gaze. "Councilor Anderson just came here to warn me the Council is considering charging me with treason."

Their responses came immediately; everything she might've expected. A flurry of hissed questions flew her way, surprised gasps, grunts and grumbles, filling her head with an explosion of noise—sources coming from both outside and within. Garrus shifted beside her, and her head jerked to the side, her gaze latching on to him.

"Everyone, that's enough!" Miranda's voice cut through the din. "Commander? Treason for what?"

She held Garrus' gaze as she spoke, using him as her life raft in the storm. "I don't think they're entirely sure just yet. News of the leviathan's response on Despoina upset them. They're worried the leviathans will seize this opportunity to attack the galaxy." She licked her lips, dragging her gaze away from Garrus and looked back at Miranda. "Personally, I think it's highly unlikely. The leviathans have spent all this time hiding from the reapers, doing everything in their power to keep from being found. Starting a war with the galaxy when they know the reapers have already begun this cycle's harvest would do nothing but draw the reapers' attention."

"But, I can't easily explain my certainty to the Council … I can't tell them about Jane," she said, stopping to swallow and lick her lips, "and the others. So all they really know is I made contact with an ancient race, once powerful enough to force every other species in the galaxy to pay homage to them, and who are responsible for creating the reapers. I asked this race to join us in the fight against the reapers, and they forcefully declined, fleeing the planet instead."

She rubbed her forehead. "It's possible … I guess, the leviathans might have decided to go to another inhabited planet, enthrall the people who live there, and use them to help hide their presence."

"This is why you called us back?" Grunt shifted, crossing his meaty arms over his chest. "Because the Council is pissing themselves over the idea of greater enemies to fight?"

"She called us back because she's running instead of sticking around to be arrested." Jack smirked. "Smartest fucking thing she can do."

Jane snorted with amusement.

Shepard winced. "Anderson came to warn me of the Council's discussions. He risked himself so we have the chance to get away from the Citadel before they make up their mind and come for me."

James sucked in a noisy breath, letting it out with a whistle. "They're going to arrest Anderson for this, aren't they?"

Shepard turned her head to look at him and nodded. "Most likely."

"Damn." He shook his head. "Damn, Ídolo. What do you need from us?"

Shepard smiled, a wry thing tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I need all of you to decide whether or not you want to stick around for this. If the Council charges me with treason, and I don't come in to answer those charges, I'll be branded as a rogue Spectre—no better than Saren." She glanced across the room, letting her gaze connect with each person present. "Chances are … they'll hold each of you in the same light if you stick around."

Jack let out a loud bark of laughter. "Who gives a fuck about the Council? We're on a fucking Cerberus ship, and the Council would gladly lock me away for life anyway."

"As much as I hate to say it, Jack's right, Shepard." Jacob crossed his arms over his chest.

Jack snorted. "Fuck you."

"I'm just saying, look around you." Jacob made a show of looking over their motely group. "Most of us in this room are already on the Council's wanted list. The only thing keeping us safe in Council space is the fact you're a Spectre and you've claimed us as your crew."

Shepard shook her head. "Maybe … but not all of you." She looked pointedly at Samara standing next to Jacob before letting her gaze drift to the quarians, Mordin, Grunt, James, Grundan Krul, and Zaeed before finally settling on Garrus.

Garrus chuffed, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "Don't bother. You know there's nothing you can say that's going to make me leave."

"Garrus …."

"No, Shepard."

"Well I'm not going anywhere, Shepard," Grunt said, drawing her attention back to him. "Krogan don't leave their battlemasters, especially not when things are just starting to get interesting."

Shepard snorted, smiling despite herself.

"I have sworn my oath to you, Shepard." Samara stepped forward, resting her fingertips on the table. "I am not bound to the Council's laws; I am bound only to my Code and my Oath. I see no justice in their charging you with treason. I find no dishonor in staying with you for this mission."

"Thank you, Samara." Shepard dipped her head to the Justicar.

"Well I don't give a good goddamn fuck about the Council." Zaeed shrugged. "So long as you keep payin' me, I don't have any reason to leave."

"Quarian's technically aren't bound by Council laws, well beyond what any outsider coming into Council Space is while inside Council Space." Tali glanced between Kal and Lia, getting a short nod from each of them before turning her attention back to Shepard. "We're governed by the Migrant Fleet." Tali shrugged. "Unless the Admiralty Board tells us to leave the Normandy, we have no intentions of leaving you, Shepard."

She sighed, studying Tali with narrowed eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, Shepard." Tali shifted. "Besides, if everything works out the way you expect it to, I think the Migrant Fleet will feel indebted to you enough to provide you with safe harbor if you asked for it."

Shepard chuckled, shaking her head and rubbing her brow, trying to imagine herself living aboard the Migrant Fleet or settling down on Rannoch. She let out a sigh and turned her attention to Grundan Krul.

He lifted his shoulder, tilting his head a little to meet it partway. "I'm batarian," he said, as if it should tell her all she needed to know.

She supposed it did. The Hegemony removed themselves from Council control long ago, and Grundan Krul never considered himself a part of the Hegemony, either. Besides, if Garrus was right, it'd soon be irrelevant, and Grundan Krul would be the galaxies next Shadow Broker. She nodded, offering him a smile of gratitude. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he returned the nod.

Mordin blinked at her when she turned her gaze to him; once, twice, three times, and when she didn't look away from him, he sniffed disdainfully. "Can't leave. Too much to do. Has to be me, someone else might get it wrong."

Shepard closed her eyes, shoving away the flood of memories brought on by the old, familiar phrase. Mordin was not going to die this time. She'd already made sure of it. She sighed, opening her eyes and turning to James. "Vega?"

James scratched at a scar beneath his left eye. "I mean … they haven't even charged you with anything yet."

She pressed her lips together into a thin line. "I think the chances of them doing so are high."

"But I'm not with you under Council orders. I'm with you under the Alliance's orders. I'm just a marine, a grunt. I follow orders, do what I'm told … so until the Alliance changes those orders …."

An odd sense of relief and disappointment washed over her. She didn't really want for James to disobey any orders from the Alliance, if they told him to leave, she'd be ready to kick his ass out of the airlock … but some part of her kind of wanted him to be willing to, to risk it all to stay with the Normandy until the bitter end.

Shepard swallowed and nodded her head. "Alright. You're all probably crazy, but alright."

It broke the tension, earning her a round of laughter and reassuring smiles. She risked a glance at Garrus, who watched her, his gaze intense, his mandibles tight against his jaw. She knew he'd have an earful for her when they left the comm room, but she needed to give him the same out she did everyone else. He didn't know how great he really was, he didn't know how important he'd truly be to his people when the reapers hit. How important he'd be if the Council did manage to pull the rug out from under her feet.

She turned her attention back to the group. "So, leviathan debriefing. Sorry it's a little late."

She spent the next hour or so going over everything that happened with the leviathans—in far greater detail than she'd like, for Mordin's sake. Unsurprisingly, he had more questions than she could really answer, but she did her best; describing their appearance, their method of communications, their enthrallment, and the severe pain they'd caused her. He took notes and then asked her double check them to be certain he'd recorded everything right. Although the others showed initial interest, even asking a few questions of their own, she knew Mordin would keep her talking for hours still if she let him, and the others were getting restless.

Shepard finally laid a hand on the salarian's shoulder to silence him. "I think that's enough for now, Mordin. If you have more questions, send me a list, and I'll try to answer them. Grundan Krul, I need to speak to you for a moment. Everyone else, dismissed."

"Want me to stick around?" Garrus asked, pulling her into him and pressing his forehead against hers.

She thought about it for a second. "Nah, we seem to do alright talking when things are quiet around us." She didn't mention she also didn't want Grundan Krul to be influenced by Garrus' presence. She knew eventually the two would talk about it in private, but she wanted to make it clear this needed to be Grundan Krul's choice, because the responsibility and power she offered was far too heavy to take on for any other reason.

"Alright." He kissed her, just a quick press of his mouth against hers. "Come talk to me later?"

She nodded, kissing him again before pulling away from his embrace. The others had mostly already left the room, and soon it was quiet, leaving her alone with Grundan Krul. She glanced at the batarian before pushing herself up to sit on the table.

Shepard turned, pulling her feet up to cross them at the ankle, and looped her arms around her knees, barely leaving herself any space between her ass and the edges of the ringed surface. "Sit with me. It can hold both our weight."

The batarian moved over to the table, pulling himself up a few feet from her and waited in silence. It had to be one of the things she'd most come to enjoy about Grundan Krul; he seemed to be a bottomless fount of patience, content to let her say what she wanted to say in her own time.

She scraped her teeth over her bottom lip, trying to decide where to start. "You've heard us talk about Liara?"

He nodded, turning a little on the table to more easily look at her. "She was a part of your old crew. She died when the last ship was attacked."

Shepard nodded, ignoring the twinge of pain that came with the reminder. "That's never happened before." She paused putting her thoughts together. "Liara's never died during the collector attack. But I always do. Normally, she's the one to get my body back from the Shadow Broker's thugs and give me to Cerberus to bring me back to life."

She watched Grundan Krul for a moment, he didn't say anything, and she didn't expect him to. She took a deep breath and continued, "Liara would've replaced the Shadow Broker. Her efforts as the Shadow Broker to help in the war were absolutely invaluable, but perhaps more than anything, having someone we knew and trusted not to work against us in the war for profit's sake …."

His black eyes moved, his gaze searching her face. She saw he'd begun to puzzle it out, putting the pieces together and preparing himself for what she was about to say next. Shepard smiled.

"We need someone to take her place. Someone who is capable of managing the Shadow Broker's resources and agents. No one—well mostly no one—knows who the Shadow Broker really is, and he uses sophisticated equipment and networking to keep his identity secret." She waved a hand at him. "Garrus thinks you're up to the task." She felt Jane focused on the vigilante, watching him through her eyes, weighing out his reactions just as much as she was.

His jaw dropped a little, his eyelids fluttering over all four eyes. "Archangel wants me to be the Shadow Broker?"

Shepard grinned, loving the reaction, no matter how subtle. "Does he make you still call him Archangel?"

Grundan Krul cracked a smile, chuckling lightly, the sound almost reminding her of a cat coughing. "No," he said, shaking his head, "it's just what I'm used to."

Jane sighed. "I really hope he's the right choice. Nothing against the guy personally, but we don't really know him."

"But we trust Garrus' judgement," Shepard thought.

"Fair enough," Jane said.

Her smile softened. "This has to be your call, Grundan Krul. You've got a little time to think about it, and I'll tell you everything I can about what to expect and what I'd need from you. But in the end, I know it's a huge thing I'm asking … and I understand if it's more than you want to take on."

He looked down at his lap, his brow furrowing. "You're sure you want me to do this?"

Jane stirred, remorse rolling off of her. "Tell him I'm sorry, for what I said before. It was heartless, and unnecessary."

"Jane wants me to tell you she's sorry for what she said to you before. She says it was heartless and unnecessary." Shepard bit the inside of her cheek, watching him.

He met her gaze, and gave her a slight shake of his head. "That's not what I mean."

Shepard swallowed, realizing he meant their past; everything he'd told her about Mindoir, who his father was …. "You're not responsible for what your father did, Grundan Krul." She dropped her legs from the table, standing up and facing him with crossed arms. "I don't judge people by the fucked up things their families do. You came to me with that information on your own, you didn't have to do it; most wouldn't have. That alone tells me a lot about what kind of man you are."

Lifting her shoulders, she smirked. "Trust me; I'm far more thrown by not having thousands of memories of you to sift through than I am what your father did. I guess I'm a little spoiled for the intel Jane provides. But you come with a damn good reference. If Garrus trusts you, so do I."

Grundan Krul held her gaze, his eyes searching her own. Finally, he nodded his head and slipped down from the table, extending his hand to Shepard. "I'll do it."