-Chapter 10-

A Path Found

Note: Sorry for the slight delay on this Chapter, the plan is still a chapter a week, just had my birthday last week that I was celebrating which took some of my time up. Hope you guys enjoy this one, almost through the intro!

"Another elevator, I hate elevators." Wrex muttered as the lift rapidly ascended to the Citadel Tower, the meeting area for the Council.

The elevator was filled with the previous members of the party, along with Ambassador Udina and Captain Anderson.

"When we get to the Petitioner's Stage, let me do the talking, at least to start with." Udina began. "I have to smooth over the previous transgression you caused before we begin presenting the evidence."

"I would have assumed you'd want to shove it in their face, show them we were right." Shepard disguised his snide tone with a cough.

Udina scowled. "As much as I'd like to Shepard, the Council is the law in Citadel space, anything that happens here goes through them."

"And, if we want a shot for a seat on the Council itself, we'll need to stay on their good side." Anderson added.

"That is also of utmost importance." Udina began to adjust his suit, wiping it down and smoothing any creases out to make sure he was presentable.

The elevator came to a smooth stop and the door slid open. Everyone stepped into a large chamber that looked distinctly different from both the levels below. While the floors remained consistent with the Presidiums white, the rest was tinted a warm amber, mainly due to the large amount of what looked like autumn trees to Jared surrounding the chamber. The leaves were a bright hue of orange making the whole room feel more natural, rather than the fake, plastic feeling of the Wards. Although the environment was more inviting, the inhabitants were not. This is where the most influential individuals on the Citadel gathered to discuss the latest in galactic affairs, and also seemed to judge every individual that dared step foot into the tower. As they walked closer toward the back, Jared could feel the eyes of them glaring at the group, it made it obvious they were not a part of the usual people that visited the tower. As the team marched up the many stairs, they slowly came upon the back of the tower, where the Council stood and decided on many different problems and issues facing Citadel space. They stood over a large window that led to a small nature feature at the bottom while their backs faced a large window, showcasing the elegance of the nebula outside. Jared felt a sense of ease pass over him as he saw the view, but was still intimidated by the Council itself.

There were three individuals that composed the Citadel Council. The first was a Turian who had brown plates with white markings adorning his face. He had a stern look, more stern than Jared had seen on a Turian before. This was unlike the one to the left of him, an Asari that exuded a sense of grace and kindness, though he assumed this was a disguise of her true nature. She wore a red dress with beige accents, which complemented her blue skin wonderfully. Finally, to the left of her was a Salarian, Jared could not get a read on this one, partly due to the hooded outfit they wore which was shading his face.

"Ambassador Udina" the Asari Councilor began to speak. "You supposedly have evidence for the egregious claims you presented earlier?"

Udina stepped out of line and took center stage on the platform. "Yes, indeed Councilor, and we humbly apologize for the impromptu meeting as well as our conduct during the first hearing." Udina finished, bowing slightly.

"Yes, we understand." The Turian Councilor quickly stated. "Please present this 'evidence' that you have." He did not seem pleased with this affair.

"Of course, as you wish." Udina turned around. "If Miss Tali' Zorah would please play the recording?" Udina then motioned for Tali to take his place on the platform.

Tali seemed a little surprised by this fact, and frantically pulled the holographic device on her hand out, stepped forward and began to speak. "Recently on a mission in the Crescent Nebula, I was able to retrieve a Geth data core undamaged. This core contained this recording."

Saren's voice quickly began to emanate throughout the chamber. During the recording, Jared noticed that the councilors' faces never changed expression once, most likely a skill honed through years of political temperament.

Once it had ended, the Salarian councilor began to speak. "It seems we were incorrect in our initial judgment." He began to type on a holographic screen in front of him. "Saren will have his Spectre status revoked immediately."

"That's not enough." Shepard began to speak as he stepped forward. "He plans to bring back the Reapers, simply taking away his tools isn't going to stop him."

"Ah yes, the Reapers. The boogeymen of the galaxy." The Turian councilor gestured. "We deemed them myth quite some time ago."

Better get used to that Shepard.

Jared glanced over at the rest of the group and saw that Anderson seemed to be getting angry, although his face was still rigid, he had his fist in a tight ball.

"But they're not!" Shepard began to raise his voice. "You heard the recording, and that's what my vision was, it was the Reapers wiping the Protheans out, and if Saren succeeds, they'll do the same to us."

The Turian councilor began to speak, until the Asari councilor quickly put her hand up. "We understand your concern Commander, but we simply cannot accept dreams as proof towards their existence."

"Either way, Saren needs to be stopped!" Anderson blurted out. "That bastard is a menace to the galaxy, send a fleet after him!"

"Saren is in the Traverse, that is outside of Citadel jurisdiction, a fleet would be seen as an act of war." The Salarian councilor added.

A look of contemplation spread across Shepard's face, he needed to choose his next words carefully.

"Then send me after him." He stated.

"Excuse me?" The Turian councilor exclaimed.

"Send me after him." Shepard crossed his arms. "We both get what we want that way, I stop Saren from bringing the Reapers back, and you get your rouge Spectre problem taken care of."

The Council was quiet for a moment as they exchanged looks, all of them seemingly approaching an agreement without conversing. They turned back toward the stand as the Asari councilor began to speak.

"Very well, Commander Shepard, please step forward."

A look of confusion spread across Shepard's face as he began to move and the Asari Councilor began to speak once more. "It is the decision of the Council that you be granted all the powers and privileges of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel."

Shepard slowly looked back towards the party but more specifically at Jared, he was stunned, his prediction was true.

As she spoke, a large crowd of people had begun to form around balconies that surrounded the meeting area.

"Spectres are not trained" The Salarian Councilor picked up where the Asari left off. " but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle; those whose actions elevate them above the rank and file.

The Asari spoke again. "Spectres are an ideal, a symbol. The embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the council, instruments of our will."

The Turian now had a turn. "Spectres bear a great burden. They are protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defense. The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold."

"You are the first human Spectre, Commander. This is a great accomplishment for you and your entire species." The Asari concluded.

"Thank you, it is a great honor." Shepard said with a humble nod.

"We will be sending you into the Traverse after Saren, and you will be given access to resources and tools to stop him. He is a fugitive of justice, you are authorized to use any means necessary to apprehend or eliminate him." The Salarian confirmed for everyone what the mission was.

"My team and I will find him, I will guarantee you that." Shepard nodded.

The council looked between each other once more. "This meeting is adjourned." The Asari said curtly before the Council members departed the stage.

The group quickly left the speaking platform as well and descended the first pair of stairs behind them. Once at the bottom, Anderson and Udina took Shepard aside to debrief him on the mission. The rest of the group stood toward the side and waited.

"Spectre." Garrus exhaled. "Did not expect to see a human given that today. At least we'll have the tools to take Saren down."

Wrex laughed. "You expect the Council to actually uphold their promise? All they're going to do is reprimand us once the job is finished."

"You're still sticking around?" Garrus asked. "I expected you'd be gone now that we've dealt with Fist."

Wrex looks back towards Shepard. "I'm not sure what's going to happen, but that human and Saren are going to shake the galaxy to its core." Wrex turned back toward Garrus. "I'm not missing out on this."

"I'll just be glad Saren is finally getting some justice.." Garrus said. "This isn't the first time he's gone off the book. This is just the first time the Council hasn't covered for him."

Jared was lost in thought, he felt strange being in a normal conversation with these people, it would take some time for him to be able to accept this situation.

"What about you Quarian?" Wrex asked, turning towards Tali. "You staying too?"

"My name is Tali." She strongly stated. "And, if Saren is working with the Geth, I have to. The Geth working with an organic, it's unheard of, I need to figure out why they've decided to follow him."

"Sounds like we're all along for the ride then." Wrex chuckled. "This'll be fun."

As he said this he moved his eye over to Jared. "Oh yeah, I forgot about you kid." Wrex sized him up. "You don't look like much, no guns, not much muscle, you even want to do this?"

Well it all really depends if Shepard will bring me or not, seems like he's already decided on you guys. To be fair, I did say I was psychic and all that shit but still.

Jared shook the thought out of his head, breathed in and looked up at Wrex. "He's my one chance back home, I need to."

As he finished speaking, Shepard began walking back over as Udina and Anderson began making their way towards the entrance.

"Thanks for waiting guys," He said as he got closer. "We need to make our way to the docking bay now, we're getting out of here."

Shepard scanned over the group and landed on Jared. As he did, his face became a bit more stiff. "Actually, I need you guys to wait a bit longer, I need to talk with Jared real quick."

Yeah I saw this coming, non-psychically of course.

"Okay, whatever you say." Jared said as Shepard dragged him by the arm toward a quiet corner.

As they got there, Shepard moved in closer to Jared and began to speak quickly. "How the hell did you know that was going to happen?"

Jared swallowed and steeled himself. "I told you. I'm psychic."

Shepard backed up from Jared and took a deep breath. "Okay, I guess, for now, I have to believe you."

Oh thank fucking god! That was way too much work.

"Thank you, I'm glad you decided to come around." He said calmly with a slight smile. "Does this mean I can travel with you now?"

Shepard looked away from him for a moment, thinking. "Do you have any combat experience at all?"

"No I do not." Jared said plainly.

"Military training?"

"No."

"Engineering, science, or medical knowledge?"

Jared pondered for a second. "I guess I was a Computer Scientist there for a little bit but that definitely would not apply to anything we come across."

Shepard sighed. "So, outside of your psychicness, you can't really do much?"

"Not really no." Jared stated. "I can cook a little bit though, well, depending on the ingredients."

Shepard perked up hearing this. "Okay, I can actually work with that."

I don't like the sound of that.

"Well then," he continued. "welcome aboard Jared."