The Battlemaster
"-Dr. Chakwas, I think she's waking up!" The voice only worsened the pounding in her temples. Shepard forced herself to sit up, her vision swimming in the artificial brightness of the room. She was… in the Med Bay, on a cot. Felt like she chugged a bottle of vodka and cracked it over her head… Oh right, an ancient artifact exploded in her face. Wonderful.
"You scared us for a bit, Commander." The Doctor's face came into view when the older British woman gently grabbed her by the chin. She tilted Shepard's head up and flashed a handheld light in her eyes, forcing her to squint. "Hm… good reaction. How do you feel?" Chakwas let her go, and Shepard rubbed her forehead. She caught sight of herself in the reflective wall across from her. Her dark hair, short and cut in a neat bob, looked messy from her unplanned nap with her helmet on. A few cuts marked her dark skin, and she had slight bags under her violet eyes, like she hadn't slept well. But overall she didn't look as half-dead as she felt. Her kinetic shields must've caught any major shrapnel.
"Some throbbing, but other than that I'm fine," she answered. "How long was I out?"
"About 15 hours. That's why we were worried." Oh wow. Kaidan stumbled through an apology about '"setting off the security fields", which Shepard brushed off. No one else died, so no hard feelings. The Captain would have her head for breaking the beacon though, which made her stiffen up as Anderson entered the room a minute later.
"Good to see you up. I won't mince words, things aren't looking good for us." Yeah, she bet they weren't. "The beacon's in pieces, Nihlus is dead, and an entire human colony was left in shambles from a Geth attack." Shepard's grip on the cot tightened. Anderson's gaze flickered to Chakwas and Kaidan. "Do you mind giving us some privacy for a moment?"
To her surprise, the Captain backed her up upon hearing her account of things. He recognized Saren's name too, and they both came to the conclusion that the Spectre was up to something that would end poorly for humanity. The more they spoke, the more sense she made of the strange things the beacon showed her.
War. Death. A message or warning to the future. The images of synthetics attacking meant something dire approached, and Saren wanted it to happen. Shepard just didn't think there was a chance in hell of convincing the Council to arrest their apparent best agent over her Prothean-induced fever dream. They had to try though, and while Anderson called the Alliance Ambassador to get a meeting organized, she wandered up to the helm.
She'd never been to the Citadel before, and watching Joker dock at the massive rotating station easily took her mind off of the upcoming political mess. Their tax dollars at work indeed. They passed by an intimidating squadron of different ships, including a massive Asari Republics dreadnought that resembled some kind of whale, and pulled into the gravity field protecting the designated Alliance docks from the vacuum of space. Customs Officers and other cargo workers filled the bay walkways, some human, but others came in a variety of other shapes. She'd never seen so many different aliens in one place. This was definitely the heart of galactic civilization.
Kaidan and Ashley, who the Captain formally transferred to their ship, hadn't visited the Citadel before either. She opted to take them with her for that reason. Two other witnesses couldn't hurt their already near impossible case either. The squad rode a long elevator up to the Presidium area, where most of the embassies and law enforcement headquarters were stationed. Ambassador Udina was in his office, arguing with a Turian, Asari, and Salarian over a video call. Great.
If that was the Council, that didn't make her feel any better about this so-called "hearing". Shepard dragged it out a bit before heading up the tower, speaking to a few receptionists, government employees, visiting soldiers, and Ambassadors as they toured the Presidium. Quite a few other council-aligned aliens lived and worked on the Citadel, including Hanar, Volus, and Elcor. She knew from news reports that the Human population in the Wards was on the rise now too, the Alliance slowly gaining influence.
One extremely unproductive meeting later, Shepard left the Citadel Tower with a brand new goal to match the foul taste in her mouth: Expose Saren as a traitor.
After hearing how the prejudiced Spectre dragged the Captain's name through the mud years ago, it felt a little more personal. Anderson mentored her from her days on the street all the way up the officer ranks, and she knew he wouldn't lie about something like this. If he said Saren was a threat, she believed him without any evidence needed. She'd dig up every spec of dirt he'd been hiding if that's what it took to get that smug Turian disbarred.
"So uh...what's the plan, Commander?" Kaidan asked as they passed another decorative fountain. "Udina and the Captain had a couple of leads. At least one of them's got to be worth something." She stopped and looked back at her companions. Ashley shared Shepard's annoyance, but Kaidan clung to logic over emotional responses in these situations. At least he lightened the mood a bit.
"I want to check out both," Shepard admitted, breaking her irritated silence. "But we don't have time to waste, so I was thinking we could split up." Ashley perked up at the idea of actually accomplishing something.
"Sounds good to me. Which lead should we take?"
"We need to figure out where Garrus Vakarian is as soon as possible, so you two can go bother Harkin down in Chora's Den. I'll have a chat with Barla Von and see what he's willing to tell us about the Shadow Broker. Someone has to know something about Saren around here…" C-Sec Officer Vakarian was the blue tattooed Turian that had been tasked with gathering evidence for the failed trail, but Shepard caught him arguing with Executor Pallin over blocked files. He had to have found a clue or incident that Saren's status as a Spector kept hidden.
"We're on it, Ma'am." Ashley saluted and took the lead, forcing Kaidan to hurry after her.
"And keep the bar fighting to a minimum!" She called after them. A grin settled on her face as she took an elevator back down. Now where was that banker?
After another impromptu tour of the Presidium due to her awful sense of direction without a map, she found herself in Barla Von's place of business. The Volus sitting behind the desk expected her somehow, and then offered his help for free. His job involved lending out and transferring currency of all kinds, especially for clients that desired to keep their funds "private". Nothing illegal, he claimed. He just knew Citadel trade laws inside and out, which let him bend the rules if necessary.
"The Shadow Broker is quite upset with Saren as of recent news, Commander Shepard," he wheezed through his suit. "It seems the Spectre has double crossed him and paid off one of his many agents. Something about a Quarian with very sensitive data being "misplaced" on the Citadel by a man named Fist." Barla shook his head slowly. "He's a local gang leader in the lower Wards. A mercenary's been hired to kill him in retaliation. A Krogan bounty hunter, to be exact. Perhaps he would know more about Fist's dealings." Now that made an interesting lead. This web of contacts began to make a coherent picture.
"Where can I find the Krogan?" Shepard asked, placing her hands on the desk. If the Volus was threatened or upset, he didn't show it.
"If you're swift, you might catch him at C-Sec Academy. Witnesses saw Officers dragging him away after a failed attempt to break into Fist's place of business." Shepard hurried to thank him and rushed over to the elevator.
She did, in fact, move swiftly enough to catch the man she was looking for. In hindsight, man felt like too small of a word to describe the hulking mercenary in the center of C-Sec's offices. Were Krogan really that big? She'd seen videos and shot at a couple raiders from a distance, but up close, he easily dwarfed the security forces around him.
"Urdnot Wrex," a rare Human Officer said, glaring up at him. "You keep bothering Fist like that, and we really will have to take you in. Get it? Stay away from Chora's Den." Well that was a coincidence.
"You should warn your pal Fist. I will kill him…" the Krogan grunted, narrowing his beady red eyes. He resembled something between a giant turtle and a hump backed dinosaur that forgot it was supposed to be extinct. He was also at least three feet taller than Shepard's modest 5'4" stature. His voice rumbled out from deep in his chest, low and rough. His blood red and black studded hardsuit blended well with the orange helmet-like shell that covered his head, and the thick, scaly skin around his face was a tanner color. A nasty scar covered half his face, reminding her of an old claw mark. Whatever gave it to him, Shepard felt confident assuming it was now turned to paste. "And I'd love to see you try to stop me." He noticed her staring, and then made a dismissive grunting noise as he pushed his way past the C-Sec group. He plodded toward her until they were face to face. People spoke about the Krogan as if they were all short tempered, predisposed to violence, and generally unpleasant to be around. Some of them said that about her species too, so she figured she could give him the benefit of the doubt.
"You have business with me, Human?" Wrex took his time sizing her up, and Shepard kept a steady poker face even as his breath hit her. "Thought they grew you marines a little bigger before they let you leave Earth." She didn't break eye contact with him, even if it began to hurt her neck.
"I'm the runt they send through the vents when the others can't pry the doors open," she answered. One day that habit of joking when nervous would backfire and probably get her killed. She hoped it wasn't this particular day. He paused, and then a low chuckle escaped him. Wrex took a step back.
"Travel-sized soldier, huh? Good to know not everyone around here's got a stick up their ass." He side eyed the officers passing through. "Just most of 'em."
"My name's Commander Shepard, Alliance Navy," she said, standing up a bit straighter. "I heard you were interested in Fist. I need to find him and retrieve some very important intel." And this mercenary clearly knew where Fist was. Wrex's head tilted a little to the left.
"Yeah, the Shadow Broker paid me for his head. And you think I'm going to help you out for free, is that it?" Shepard tried to look nonchalant as she scanned the hall for any eavesdroppers, and then lowered her voice.
"More of an exchange. I don't care what happens to Fist after I'm done with him, and you're struggling to get into his club, but I have two extra soldiers with military grade gear on call." She smiled. "I think we can persuade them to open up."
"Commander Shepard." The scarred up warrior appeared to be deep in thought. "I think I've heard of you. I get Fist after you beat what you want out of him? Hm." Wrex nodded. "...Seek the enemy of your enemy, and you will find a friend." He gave her hand a very firm shake that made her fingers numb. Hell of a grip.
"Welcome to the squad." Her Omni-tool flickered on, indicating a call.
"Commander, we ran into a couple of assassins waiting down here, so I think we're on the right track! We made it inside just fine though," Kaidan explained. "Probably Saren trying to get rid of us."
"This C-Sec dropout's a sexist drunk, but we got him to spill what he knew," Ashley said with a hint of pride in her voice. "Harkin says that Vakarian left for the Upper Wards' Clinic. He thinks the doctor there might be an important witness. Something about a Quarian passing though?" Another confirmation that everything was connected. She felt like they were agonizingly close to solving this mystery.
"Right, I'll head over there and see for myself. Stay by Chora's Den, I'll meet you when I'm finished. Just found some more backup." Shepard cut the call. "Hey Wrex, wanna help me pay the Clinic a visit? Shoot a few buddies of Fist along the way?" The Krogan's grin matched hers.
"A warm-up for my shotgun arm? Don't mind if I do," he drawled.
On the way to the Upper Wards, Shepard noticed the crowds of people began to part much more readily for her. Then she realized they were reacting to Wrex trailing behind, heavy footsteps announcing his presence before he even came into view. Huh.
She knew the basics of historical events pertaining to the Council's formation and development, but the infamous Krogan Rebellions were over a thousand years ago now, weren't they? Yet she didn't actually see many Korgan in the Citadel itself. Almost none of them on the upper levels and small pockets of them in the lower regions. Did she miss something obvious?
"This is the welcome I usually get," Wrex said. He must've noticed her hesitation. "If a Krogan isn't doing bodyguard work around here, he looks suspicious." She heard a hint of disgust in his tone. "C-Sec has a little "chat" with me every time I show up." He snorted. "As long as no one gets in the way of my jobs, I don't really care."
"But why?" Shepard asked. "If you're not breaking any laws, then why are they acting like you're a criminal? Just because of what your people did centuries ago?" He stopped and stared, as if he had trouble processing her words. Maybe that was a bit too blunt.
"...You really don't know anything about Council Space, huh?" Wrex snapped out of it and shook his head. "Contrary to the fancy statue of us they keep in the Presidium, the Krogan are just a nuisance now. Upstarts that the Salarians brought up and the Turians put down. The galaxy has a long memory, Shepard. Longer than I've been alive." Shepard expected him to sound angry, but he seemed tired. "We're not welcome here, just tolerated. Not a threat to anyone anymore, but no one wants to cut deals with us either." He laughed under his breath. "Kind of like the Quarians now." Wrex paused and scratched his armored chin. "And the Batarians, but they just took their ships and went home over you Humans getting the Council's favor. Cowards."
So there was a clear divide between the governments with embassies and the ones that didn't, and even within the Citadel, the species on the Council were the only ones with direct representation. Her mind went back to the Ambassadors Din Korlack and Calyn arguing about the unfairness of the current system. Right now the Earth Systems Alliance fell into a similar position to the Volus and Elcor, except the former pushed much harder for a Council seat.
"I'm starting to think that I really dodged a bullet going into the Navy over politics," Shepard said. It sounded like multiple layers of garbage to constantly keep track of. Which groups were popular or unpopular, how to move up in influence, who to ally with. No wonder Ambassador Udina looked so pissed off.
"Hah! Probably. People like us are Warriors, not diplomats." Something about the way he said that felt off and she couldn't pinpoint why. "People care more about power than they care about honor, fairness, or working together, no matter what they say to your face. Learned that the hard way." Shepard wanted to ask him a few more things, but they arrived at their destination before she could come up with a good way to frame it. Right now, they had an officer to find and another lead to chase deeper into the Wards.
AN: I want to try and fit each introduction into a chapter, but once we leave the Citadel, this format should change up.