This is a work of fanfiction. Disclaimer in place: I do not own ME or the characters, universe, writing, etc.
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Ronin followed the disturbance of worried citizens down the ward way. The presidium teamed with wealthy and politically essential bodies. Merchants busied themselves with attracting concerned customers to their stalls.
Several groups gravitated toward the guarded area, all of them reporting to c-sec. He heard the news but couldn't believe it. It seems to be an annual problem for shit to spiral out of control when it concerns the Shepards. There's only one day left before the so-called station's celebrations about the reapers' defeat and their galactic hero who stopped them.
Only now, she's become a suspect. Her core values that were iron forged from the alliance crumbled away to reveal a woman protecting her child. Everyone seemed confused or unmoved by the events Shepard caused while she was busy attacking her superiors and going rogue, only to find the alliance more divided than Cerberus.
Humans acted too individually from their goals. Too unpredictable. But the galaxy welcomed them anyway. And now he's dealing with whatever Shepard has once again left in her wake of despair and chaos. So much like her daughter.
His mind wandered to her again, how she felt, how she tasted in that elevator. He shook it all away. Then, forcing himself to remember Jain and how good it felt to hold her—laying in Janie's arms when they slept together, feeling the warmth of her body.
And sometimes listen to her shouting at Kauven for being such a useless turian.
Ronin chuckled, looking up to an asari hastily walking his way. He stood now, outside the lobby entrance of the posh apartments that Shepard lived in. The gift from a grateful citadel. "Are you c-sec?" She asked, huffing from such a brisk run.
"You could say that. What happened here?" He wondered.
The asari looked behind her, pointing to the cab port. "It was right there. A group of them, alliance, I believe. They had soldiers, and there was a woman in uniform. She was giving the orders and looked in charge of the team."
His witness settled herself down, hands to hips with a confident expression. "I used to be a commando, working during the reaper war. So I'd know a woman in charge when I see one."
Walking to the port, Ronin brought out his omni-tool. Scanning the area, bringing up the local camera systems. "How long ago was this?"
"An hour or so.", the retired commando replied.
He found the footage, knowing full well who that woman was. Shit. Is the entire alliance behind this? Ronin turned off his tool, glancing to the asari and around him. "Anything else?"
She shook her head to that question. "We heard a kid's voice. But it was so quick before any of us here could catch it."
With a sigh, Ronin reached out to shake her callused blue hand. Whatever she did as a commando demanded hard work. "Thanks."
Leaving him behind, the asari returned to a few news reporters as the spectre proceeded forward through the lobby and up the stairs. There were no scuff marks from boots on the floor. Unlike the family to be compliant when a hostile situation formed.
The information about a kid worried him. Taking quick steps up the stairwell, Ronin spotted the hall their home entrance was built in. A c-sec guard stood by, letting him through upon a quick scan at the front door that had been closed but not locked.
Once he stepped in, his trained gaze took in the scene. There was nothing out of the ordinary—no sign of a struggle or any injuries. Knowing the family, neither of them would go without a fight. Unless. He called out to the guard. "Is there any kind of footage from the stair?"
The guard presented his omni-tool, sending what he had from the corner camera in the lobby. Ronin watched it closely, seeing them take Shepard out between five marines. She didn't fight.
Was the rest of the family present? Ronin had made up his mind to return to the council. But, first, he needed to speak with the human-Khalee. Spirits know just what in the hell is going on.
The marines guarded Shepard's every step, only not in defense.
They were prepared to take her on if she so much as flinched the wrong way. But she wouldn't do that. So instead, Shepard would wait patiently to pounce and become the monster they all fear.
At least what Ruth and Grey feared. Maybe a few of the alliance, who knows.
All Shepard can focus on at this time is what will happen to her little family. Will they tell her crew on the Normandy that she is a villain? Will they believe it? Who will captain the ship? Ashley or maybe someone else?
They stepped inside the lift at one of the lower ward docks. A place for storage of the many goods each world sent for creds. Dirtier, fouler than the presidium. The warehouse docks were a place that many of the less-than-fortunate citizens lived.
It could almost pass for Omega.
Ahead on the docking station, a freighter hovered, latched in place by placement tethers, waiting to steal her away. She remembered all those times Satima had been taken off into unknown areas. Away from her family and friends, labeled an unstable experiment, shunned, and even hated.
For what Shepard did to find and save her daughter, the sudden rush of understanding filled her to the core. No wonder her hybrid daughter could not stand being with them. She couldn't bear the shame, and neither can Shepard.
As they stood on the walkway, Ruth used her coded access to open the side hatch of the ship. "What are you going to do me?" Shepard's words echoed. The woman turned slightly, glaring before resuming her irritated stare into the hatchway. "Putting you away."
Pushed on, the captain had no choice but to comply. She walked in line with the group—her days of military marches syncing her in tune with the marines. "Once you're on earth, neither the council nor your spectre friends can interfere. You'll never leave home. And if justice is served, you'll stay locked away until you die."
Ruth's words echoed out in such vitriol towards Shepard. She hated them both. The hybrid especially. But Shepard smirked in mockery to herself. The same promises were made to Satima, no doubt.
Once inside the dimmed bay, the small team of marines continued to lead the shamed captain to her temporary quarters. Shoved through, she turned to the sound of the door closing to a tight lock. Loud pinging from the coded entry echoed.
Ruth stood outside the door, completely satisfied. All that was left was to secure the hybrid. As soon as both women are locked on board, the journey to earth will be swift.
Shepard stared ahead. There was nothing in this room—no chair or cot. Not even a bucket in case a person needed to relieve themselves. Yet, the admiral and her chief went out of their way, it seems, to give her a luxurious setting—a single tattered blanket on the floor.
Laughing aloud, the soon-to-be ex-captain and spectre, leaned on the nearby wall, sliding down to sit defeat. If Ruth gets her way, Satima will be held in a dark cell on this boat, and Shepard could not have that. So she'll gladly serve time again as long as her hybrid child is left out of it.
Shepard can do nothing but wait with no way to communicate, thanks to a hack on the omni-tool from the marine who shoved her in the cell.
Natalie tried everything to get away from the scary soldier. He gripped her wrist so tight; she felt it might crack and break!
Pulling her to the front desk of this embassy area, he rudely caught the receptionist's attention. A sapphire-skinned asari responded with an equally irritated tone. All the while, Natalie pulled and wrenched, even resorting to biting his arm.
He slapped her face, causing a surge of shock through Natalie's mind. Then, as he continued to argue with the asari, she buried those hurt feelings to clear her mind. Satima wouldn't let anyone do that to her. And if her new dad saw what this guy did, he would be toast!
Natalie waited for the marine to be distracted again and sank her teeth into a small opened part of flesh between thick fabric and his gloved hand; he yelped, letting her go briefly. That was her chance. Natalie darted out from under him only to stumble, falling to her knees. His shouts echoed a panic in her. Her legs felt heavier suddenly, and she couldn't run!
Shaking, Natalie crawled forward, finding the strength to get to her family. She stood up quickly, running. This station was always so big to her. It was too many places to remember, and without her parents or a caretaker to guide her, she was hopeless.
She was darting around smaller crowds, further down the white-walled walkway, pushing past many species of bodies. Finally, Natalie spotted another cab port. Typing in to see the areas she could escape to.
The marine, as that awful lady called him, shouted towards her. He was angrily stomping in her direction. Natalie's fingers shook from terror, making it more difficult to accept a destination.
She didn't have time to make a better decision. Punching whatever it would lead her to. Now hopping in the available skycar, Natalie watched it rise away from the raging soldier. It was directly proceeding through sky traffic with efficient haste.
Maybe she'll find Satima wandering around the landing area? Or perhaps more marines.
Natalie buried her head in shaking hands. Tears crept in the corners of her eyes as she sobbed. This is such a nightmare; it's terrible! She wished her mother was with her, but the nasty lady and her marines took them away.
...
Joker had returned from the mess on deck three. There is a fresh cup of hot coffee in one hand and a datapad with the latest news in the other.
His quick run to the markets took enough energy from him, causing a sharpened pain in his lower back. Joker knows it's his body alerting him to the intense pain he should be feeling in his legs.
That's something else he'll deal with later. Now that there is one. Careful, slow steps were his pace now. He ended up getting used to the last two days being slow and quiet. But that's what happens when the ship is docked until further notice.
Not that he's complaining about the extra rest or not looking forward to taking in the station's many attractions. There're no reapers, no wars, only what Shepard has created, which is equivalent to a ginormous shit storm. Of sorts.
And as with all little shits, the alliance must turn up its nose and act clueless to the fact Argos existed.
He never really trusted or liked anyone that made more than him. But, after the reaper war, the alliance was doing better out here, picking up the slack, forging bonds between species.
Joker glanced about as EDI stared away at her controls but gave a quick nod to him.
Taking a sip of his coffee and finally sitting to his console, Joker opened the extranet. News poured through fast. Everyone's view on the alliance was souring. Not a surprise.
The council defended Shepard as a spectre capable of stopping injustice and illegal actives from all governments, including when it concerns herself. Well, it seems Khalee wasted no time in clearing the captain's name.
He didn't know how to feel about it all. If his child were cruelly pinned as the source of everyone's bad luck, he'd be more than a little pissed too. But, Satima doesn't have it in her to be evil, anyhow. Joker knows these things.
There's too much of the overly pleasing child trying to fit in and make her parents happy. Which sucks. He betted the real Satima is a total badass. And would probably end up besties with Jack.
That could be disastrous—Scratch that.
Joker looked over to EDI with a random but valid question. "Hey, EDI. Why did you help Shepard go rogue? Isn't it against your protocols to hurt anyone that's not a physical threat to you?"
EDI stopped typing for a few seconds, then resumed with the smoothest fluid motions of her silver-tipped fingers. "I view their perspectives on the hybrid known as Satima negatively. When do they decide that I, too, am a liability? A danger to the galaxy."
He chuckled, "Yeah, they already do. Since a living A.I. is illegal." Joker dismissed the idea of her being taken away and most likely pulled apart like some machine. "But the alliance hasn't pursued that; you've helped in the war. You opposed the reapers, unlike those "heretic geth."
She stopped typing again, turning herself to face him. "Shepard came to me in despair for her offspring. She asked for my help. What she does with my help is no one's business but the captains."
Except for the alliance and the council, oh, and there's also the rest of the known galaxy!
Joker scoffed in surprise. "Yeah, but... EDI! What if Shepard became unstable and "accidentally" killed someone. Claiming it was self-defense? I've known her for so long, but... you can't deny there's something lose up there right now.", he argued with a finger pointed to the temple.
It was relieving to say it finally, and what he thought about it all. But he couldn't help to feel a little awful for talking out loud about it. Shepard has been through so much. She was prepared to die for them. Then Satima happened.
And like that, the massive light bulb in his head went off. Satima took away her sacrifice. Now there's only guilt and resentment left. A reaper gift. Indifference.
...
The cab ride started quiet. Satima leaned on the door with an elbow, propping a hand to cradle her cheek, staring out to watch the countless neon signs and holographic announcements of the ward.
Sky traffic was a little heavy. Garrus opts to drive them home personally. He kept glancing at her solemn features, wondering how melancholy she had gotten. The memories she spoke of earlier caused unwanted pain of the past.
He wished so badly that he could make it all better.
"Satima.", he began. Then, feeling all the more awkward about the stupid idea he was thinking. "I have something I'd like to show you."
She turned her head to his voice, dark teal eyes reflecting the many shop signs of this ward. "What is it?"
Facing the traffic ahead, he laughed lightly. "It's a surprise.', Garrus smiled.
Spirits, he hopes this will work. He'll need to stop by the gun shop first, get something with blanks and good balance. She'll enjoy it. Shepard did. Just, minus the whole romantic airs of that time. Is this more a fatherly outreach?
Spirits.
Anyways, it would give him a chance to strengthen their friendship. And maybe help tighten her aim.
His hybrid daughter presented an eager grin. Satima relished the thought of spending more time with him. Talking or walking, it was nice to connect without someone shooting at them.
The minutes of endless traffic became suspicious when Garrus noticed one of the skycars behind moving closer than usual. He didn't want to give in to his paranoid thinking. It was a bad habit, though.
Garrus kept a close eye as they passed one of the ports he intended to land on, not wanting to cause an alert to Satima. She continued to space out comfortably. But they moved close, now. The tip of the front end could practically kiss their tail.
Satima let out a soft sigh, glancing at him, noticing how uneasy he drove—continuously tapping for the back camera to show the behind of their ride.
"You have missed your destination. Please turn around.", the VI announced.
Turning to the back, she noticed the closeness of the cab. "What's going on?"
Garrus urged the ride forward, now raising the speed. "I don't know.", he answered honestly.
Satima could feel her heart beating faster. Something is wrong. She moved herself to watch them, only to notice a whining engine sound coming closer from her right side. Quickly, the hybrid faced the window and the front of another cab charging at them.
She reached out, gripping his arm. "Dad!"
The cab hit her side with as much force as a ton of metal and engine could bring, knocking the skycar out of its course. Glass burst inward, flying around the cockpit of their ride like shards of shrapnel, cutting, slicing, and floating in dangerous motion.
Garrus hit the top of his fringed head on the inside roof, with Satima slamming into him before being hit by the force of the other cab.
They careened down, spinning only twice, now striking the hulled floor of a ward level. People were screaming, shouting, scrambling over each other to get out the way.
With a loud piercing sound, the cab skidded a few feet, hitting the jutting basin of a small flower bed, sending it toppling over itself, again and again until it slammed into the wall further back on the level.
Sitting upright, the battered cab sat in silence. Smoke rose in wisps above the vehicle as a hissing sound from the engine trailed with the damaged sound of the VI, urging immediate medical help. Her voice cracked with half-finished sentences.
Two of the offending cabs landed on the near-empty deck. Their solid-colored outer hulls were scuffed and dented. The front of the first cab had bowed in from the collision of the vehicles. It wouldn't be serviceable anymore.
Dark figures piled out with a few doctoring minor injuries. It was clear they were soldiers, showing off their quick and plentiful supply of medi-gel. The group stepped forward to the crash scene.
One of them hovered over the broken vehicle as he ordered the door to be pulled open. This human wasn't in the similar uniformed attire or armor as the others. But a simple brown-colored jacket over broad shoulders and a smirk on his middle-aged face were evident to one person.
Watching from a nearly crushed seat, glass blown out in front of his avian gaze, Garrus attempted a groan of disapproval. But, unfortunately, it didn't sound coherent enough to him, and probably not to them, either.
The man tapped his ear as comms came on, "What happened?!" The tone of a woman in command spoke loudly.
"It looks like our marines were a little too overzealous in obtaining the target. There was another passenger.", he replied.
"Who?"
Harkin stepped back, walking to the side as the hybrid, all bloody and bruised, had been pulled out. "The father." He smirked. "Seems like he's pretty banged up, could be serious."
Ruth's not-so-happy voice shouted in irritation. "This compromises us!"
The ex-Fade paced around the other end when the marines brought the cab car from the wall, revealing the door to open. Garrus fell out but remained conscious somehow. Such a tricky bastard. He narrowed his turian gaze around him. Barely able to speak. All he could say was the name of his hybrid child.
"I wouldn't say so. If we leave him here, it might be the medics don't reach him in time. Might be he dies, and then there's a bigger investigation."
"Fine. Bring the turian. Patch him up, set him out. Then we proceed with the target."
The comm call ended.
Harkin stood over his old c-sec "friend" as the turian's eyes struggled to stay open. Then, leaning down, he gave a treacherous stare. "It's good to see you again, my old friend. I told Shepard that little stunt with those alliance will cost her." A cold, grim smile played across his hardened features. " Don't worry." Harkin's rough laugh sent a chill to Garrus. " They don't want to make an example out of you." He leaned down on one knee quickly, "Doesn't mean we can't have a little fun along the way, though."
Garrus couldn't fight the intense pain anymore as warm blood trailed down his face. His head pounded in agony while glimpsing Satima's limp body being dragged off into one of the cab cars.
The fight to stay aware and capable was quickly drained from him. His eyes began to close slowly, fading out the scene of the crash into a nightmarish memory.
…...…..
She could feel every bump, every scratch on the surface of a floor, as someone dragged her like a sack. Although her right arm was a little numb, a stinging sensation went up the same side of her back.
Satima forced herself to open a gaze, revealing a dim ceiling overhead. Damp and rust-colored walls surrounded them. She could hear loud, large fans circulating in a slow rhythm.
Where was she? Where's Garrus?
Two bodies loomed over, picking her up with ease and setting her unceremoniously in a chair. Clamps were locked over the wrist and ankles.
The hybrid's wits were regaining as they stepped back. A large industrial door opened in front of them, with bright light blinding her. Then it closed. Hasty footsteps came forward as a female figure stood in front of Satima.
"Look at this thing. Made to resemble us, but so flawed and so dangerous."
Satima swallowed a dry throat, licking parched lips. She tasted mercury instead of sweat. "Listen..." Her cough interrupted. "I don't know why you attacked us..."
Her words were cut short when a hand gave a firm knock across her jaw. Teeth rattled from the shock. Satima spits out blood but doesn't waver. Instead, an angered stare settled on the woman before her. It was Ruth.
One of the marines leaned into the Chief Admiral's ear, whispering. Her eyes widened for a second before she sighed in irritation.
Satima gulped down again, trying to prepare for another assault. The woman paced around her, hands behind the back in such military fashion. Her alliance uniform had been expertly pressed. The blue was almost illuminated from the lights, dim they may be.
"We have secured your mother. She's awaiting you in a cell in an un-named freighter."
The hybrid thought about the last state she left her mother in. Natalie was there! "My sister? Did you take her too?!", Satima demanded.
Ruth only stopped with a negative nod, "That child is not your sister. No more than you are fully human. She'll be with the embassy for a time until your "father" can be safely released."
Released? From where?
"What do you mean by all this?" Satima struggled against her restraints.
"I mean for you and your mother to be put away. Forever. Once the galaxy understands the peace in both your absences, inquiries will stop. The alliance has put up with enough of your mother's rogue-like tendencies. Her past is too much a part of the duties she promised to uphold."
Ruth stood to the girl's right side. She glanced at the bruised, swollen arm. "And as for you.", now continuing to pace forward. "Reaper experiments cannot be allowed to jeopardize the continued efforts of this galaxy and her people. You are too unpredictable, and your abilities too terrifying. Even Archer pointed that out."
Here it was. The betrayal she feared from someone whom she should've never trusted. Archer had played them all. He accomplished much with all the available time the alliance gave him.
The humans are blinded and incapable of realizing the intentions of such a clever snake like him. Satima felt guilty too. She knew it would turn sour on her end, but still, she hoped.
"Shepard is not like me. She just needs help.", Satima tried. But even her own words sounded full of doubt. Ruth brought herself face to face with the hybrid. If there was pity in her body, it did not show in those fiery glazed eyes. "You want to protect your family. I respect it. I understand this feeling more than you know."
Resuming, she turned around to leave. "That's what I'm doing. Protecting."
She stopped at the door to nod to a silent figure in the shadows. After the Chief Admiral made her exit, Satima's panic elevated when she heard the pained groan of her father.
Just a few feet away in the dimmed warehouse, the hybrid spotted him. Garrus had been equally tethered to a chair; head bent over with a steady drip of his turian blood falling to the floor. His injuries were evident and could turn fatal. No. Not again. Please, not again.
Everyone started piling out, leaving in the same fashion as Satima shouted. "Dad! Can you hear me?" She didn't say his name this time. Instead, the sudden rush of adrenaline in upset made her louder. "DAD!"
Her voice shook with thick emotion, tears welling up in her eyes, as a distressed Satima desperately tried to rouse him. Finally, she screamed, thrashing herself in the chair to move it, but the legs of her seat had been welded down.
"Dammit!" She swore; raging violence overtook her senses. "Sons of bitches!"
The last person out smirked, closing the door to the fading voice of the hybrid. Ruth waited further down the walkway of the under ward.
Harkin stifled a laugh. He was standing before her. "It seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.", he mused aloud.
Chief Admiral did not look amused. "Shepard comes from such a background." Her new agent could not agree.
"You don't go back with her "father" as I do. That hot-headed idiot had such a mouth; his own CO suspended him for a week. But, of course, that's all in part to the fact, Garrus here couldn't help beating the information out of a stupid smuggler."
Ruth crossed her arms. "Harkin. I want full guards on this level. No one is to interfere. Once the turian is stable enough to be moved, do so. And promptly. We have to leave this station before their celebrations start."
She looked around the area in a squirrely manner. Not a tactic most alliance display. Harkin wondered what it was she scanned for before agreeing. "Alright. I'll set up my men, but too many rifles waltzing around will look mighty suspicious."
"Then make sure it doesn't."
Chief Admiral Ruth hastily left them. Along with most of her marines. He was eager to get the ball rolling himself, but first, he gets to play. So yeah, Ruth gave him orders. But so, did Grey.
Little pieces for Shepard to treasure were all she hinted at. Harkin knows precisely what she wants.
