Chapter 5: Citadel Conspiracies
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The Citadel
Garrus was frustrated.
He felt like he was the only one besides the Humans that wanted to take down Saren. He was working the case but before he could turn anything up Executor Pallin stepped in and effectively shut him down.
But Garrus was also determined.
Which is how he found himself here.
A Med clinic in the Wards run by Dr. Michel. He had a tip that she had information that could be useful in taking down Saren, but based on her current circumstance he could guess that he wasn't the only one to have gotten the tip.
There were five armed thugs harassing her. He heard one of them mention his name but couldn't tell clearly what they were talking about from his cover. Just then he heard the door open to none other than Commander Shepard, an Alliance marine he had met earlier, his two compatriots, and a big Krogan with an array of facial scars that he remembered seeing at C-Sec a couple of hours ago. The thugs took notice of the three human soldiers and the Krogan, giving Garrus the perfect opportunity. Timing it perfectly, he quickly turned out of cover and shot the thug, who was using Dr. Michel as a human shield directly in between the eyes, leaving the Doctor unharmed.
Shepard noticed their opening instantly. "Take them out!" He said commandingly to his squad.
The rest of their opposition fell without much trouble. Garrus was the first to speak. "Perfect timing, Shepard. Gave me a clear shot at that idiot." He voiced, feeling confident about his performance.
The N7 nodded his head in approval. "Nice shot. Got him down clean."
"Yeah, well sometimes you get lucky." The Turian responded.
In the back, Ashley leaned over to get Kaidan's attention. "With aim like that, I'd bet he gets 'lucky' often." She whispered, making finger quotes. Kaidan couldn't help but agree; the Turian definitely looked like he knew what he was doing.
Garrus turned to the doctor with the Turian equivalent of concern on his face. "Dr. Michel, are you hurt?"
She turned to face Shepard and Garrus as she responded. "No. I'm okay, thanks to you. All of you." Still sounding very shaken but gratitude was noticeable in her voice.
Shepard decided to ask his own questions and see if he could get a better idea of what exactly was going on here. "Who did they work for? Why were they questioning you?"
The Doctor was happy to help in any way she could and responded quickly. "They work, or worked, for Fist. They wanted to shut me up, keep me from telling Garrus about the Quarian." She answered, still shaken.
Hearing of a Quarian piqued Wrex's interest, causing him to walk up to Shepard, Garrus, and The Doctor and insert himself into the conversation. "Not many Quarians on the Citadel, Shepard. Let alone connected to Fist, this has to be the same one I told you about." He said in his normal baritone voice. Shepard nodded in agreement. Pleased that everything was starting to make more sense, but wary not knowing exactly what information this Quarian had that made her such a threat.
Kaidan and Ashley also heard pieces being put together and also joined the group. "What else can you tell us about this Quarian?" The Human Biotic questioned, knowing the potential urgency of all this.
"A few days ago, she came by my office. She'd been shot, but wouldn't tell me who did it. I could tell she was scared, probably on the run. She asked me about the Shadow Broker. She wanted to trade information in exchange for a safe place to hide." Dr. Michel vocalized in her French accent.
"Ok, so what happened next?" The Gunnery Chief asked.
"I put her in contact with Fist. He's an agent for the Shadow Broker." Dr. Michel replied, still trying to make sense of this herself.
The Commander instantly realized the issue and took point. "Except not anymore. According to Wrex, he turned traitor and works for Saren now."
"The Shadow Broker is not happy about it." Garrus added.
The Doctor was not expecting that, and it showed in her voice. "Wait, Fist betrayed the Shadow Broker? That's stupid, even for him. Saren must've made him quite the offer."
Ashley had been listening intently to everyone talking, taking mental notes for important points to remember for later. But she had to admit to herself that this was all a bit much for her to process, considering everything she'd been through within the past 48 hours. Still, she knew that right now her job was to help prove Saren's guilt, so she contributed any way she could. "Barla Von said that the Shadow Broker was the most powerful information Broker in the galaxy, whatever this Quarian has must be worth a lot for Saren to do something as drastic as getting on his bad side." The female sharpshooter observed, piecing together the puzzle.
Shepard nodded in agreement and added his hypothesis. "The most logical assumption is that whatever she has proves Saren's a traitor." He then turned to the Doctor as he continued. "Did the Quarian mention anything about Saren? Or the Geth?"
Dr. Michel's eyes widened slightly, having just remembered a key detail that would help the soldiers. "She did! The information she was going to trade. She said it had something to do with the Geth."
The Lieutenant spoke up, beginning to voice the group's thoughts. "The information she has must link Saren to the Geth."
Garrus, sensing where the Biotic was going, finished the thought. "If she really does have what everyone's claiming she does, there's no way the Council can ignore this!"
Shepard looked towards his three squadmates. "I think it's about time we paid Fist a visit." He said, cracking his neck.
"Enjoy your final hours, Fist. I will end you." Wrex vocalized to no one in particular.
Shepard turned to leave when suddenly he felt a three-taloned hand lightly grab his shoulder. "This is your show, Shepard. But I wanna bring Saren down just as much as you do. I wanna come with you!" The Turian stated emphatically.
The Commander was visibly confused by Garrus' request and decided to ask the most obvious question first. "But you're a Turian. Why do you wanna bring him down?"
I couldn't find the proof I needed in my investigation. But I knew what was really going on. Saren's a traitor to the Council and a disgrace to my people!" The C-Sec agent voiced with utter conviction.
The N7, appreciating the help, but not 100% sure he could trust the Turian, replied. "You can come with us, but I'm keeping an eye on you."
Wrex, getting impatient, interjected. "All right, let's go! I'd hate to keep Fist waiting." The Krogan stated as his mouth formed a devilish smirk.
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The team of five had made it down to Chora's Den when they realized something was amiss.
"All the lights are off, it looks closed." Commented Ashley.
Shepard knew this could only mean one thing…
"Everyone get your guns out. Something tells me Fist knows we're coming." The Commander ordered.
Wrex then started chuckling at the implications of what the N7 had just said and voiced his thoughts in a dark, yet joyous tone "Then we're in for a good fight!"
Once everyone had their weapon of choice out, the Commander signaled for Kaiden to open the door. Immediately they were ambushed by a barrage of gunfire coming from all directions, causing the five-man team to scatter for cover by the various flipped tables and furniture.
Luckily, Shepard realized these thugs, aside from the two Krogan roaming the premises, would be little threat to the squad they'd assembled. "Williams! You and Wrex go left. Alenko! Take Vakarian around the right side." He ordered.
"What about you, sir?" The Gunnery Chief asked over the gunfire.
"I'm gonna see if I can get up there." He then pointed up to the round stage in the middle of the room as he continued. "After I get up, we all overwhelm them from our positions and go from there."
"Sounds like a plan." Was the Turian's reply.
"All right, Shepard. On you."The Lieutenant stated.
The N7 nodded his head in the affirmative and looked down the scope of his sniper rifle. "On my mark…" he said, setting his sights on the human target that was currently blocking his advance.
He watched the thug turn to face his left flank and immediately pulled the trigger, putting a hole through the thug's forehead.
Alenko was on Shepard's right flank, getting ready to move with the Turian when he heard a sniper round hit something. "Go go go!" Was all he heard Shepard's voice say and he and Garrus jumped the table they were behind. He started glowing blue, charging his biotics.
"You set them up, I'll knock em down." Garrus told his new teammate, liking their odds.
The human biotic let loose a lift, capturing two human thugs. His partner wasted no time lining up shots and taking them both out.
"Scratch one!" He exclaimed.
"Nice!" His Human squadmate encouraged.
The two proceeded to advance to their next opponents, seeing one of them drop from an apparent headshot.
Kaidan turned to face his accomplice "Was that-"
"Wasn't me." Garrus shrugged.
The two of them turned to their left to see the Commander looking down his sights.
"Ahhhh.." The two said simultaneously.
Before they could take care of the remaining thugs, a lifeless Krogan body with multiple bullet wounds in his torso and face soared in from the left of them, knocking both of them down.
On the left side…
Ashley was advancing down the left side with Wrex when they saw a Krogan and five human thugs in their way. Wrex hit the krogan with a stasis, stalling him for now.
The soldier took note of this and looked at her partner bewildered. "I'm a biotic. Big deal. Let's kill these Pyjaks!" Was all Wrex said before pulling out his shotgun and killing his first foe.
Williams followed suit, getting her own shotgun and firing a Carnage round through the chest of one of the thugs. She then shot another one in the head, instantly killing him and injuring another one in the arm.
Just then the Krogan thug broke free of his stasis and charged at the other Wrex. "Watch out, Wrex!" Chief Williams called out, attempting to warn her alien teammate. She then fired another carnage round at him, stunning him for a second.
Wrex realized this and fired one himself. The two then repeatedly shot him with their Shotguns before Wrex started glowing again and hit him with a throw, sending him flying somewhere towards the right side of the room.
Ashley, wiping her brow with the back of her hand, turned to her right to look at the Krogan as she spoke. "Not bad."
Wrex grunted and replied. "Yeah… you're not bad either… for a human. And a female at that."
She was about to retort when she looked over and saw Shepard eyeing them from his position with pure confusion on his face and his hands in the air in a questioning manner.
Down the middle…
Shepard had just sniped one of the thugs blocking Alenko and Vakarian's advance when he saw a dead Krogan fly past him, watching it knock down his right flank. Seeing the remaining three thugs try to make their way to his squadmates, who were attempting to get out from under an eight hundred pound carcass, he jumped down from his elevated position while switching out his sniper rifle for his pistol. He ran, shooting six successive shots, hitting each thug in the head twice, killing them. He then looked over to see where the Krogan had originated from and realized it must've come from Williams and Wrex's location.
"We've got a lot of work to do.." The N7 muttered to himself, shaking his head as he went to help Kaiden and Garrus.
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"Shoot him in the groin. That'll get him to talk." Was all Shepard had to say to Williams to get Fist to talk.
"The Merc's eyes went wide at the instruction. "Wait! Wait! I don't know where the quarian is, but I know where you can find her." Attempting to avoid eye contact with the Commander and his affiliates from his compromised position on the ground as he continued. "The quarian isn't here. Said she'd only deal with the Shadow Broker himself."
Wrex immediately noticed the glaring hole in what Fist had just said and decided to voice his thoughts. "Face to face? Impossible! Even I was hired through an agent."
Fist got up so he could explain himself. "Nobody meets the Shadow Broker. Ever. Even I don't know his true identity. But she didn't know that. I told her I'd set a meeting up. But when she shows up, it'll be Saren's men waiting for her."
Shepard's iritance at Fist's vagueness was evident as he pulled his pistol back out, pointed it at Fist's chin, and threatened him once more. "Tell me where that meeting is before I blow your lying head off!"
"Here on the wards, the back alley by the markets. She's supposed to meet them right now, but you can make it if you hurry." He complied.
With all the possible information on the quarian's whereabouts extracted, Wrex, without hesitation, pulled out his shotgun and sent a carnage round through Fist's chest.
Fist's eyes rolled back as his body collapsed due to the gaping hole where his heart should be.
Garrus, shocked at what had just unfolded, raised his rifle towards Fist's killer. "What are you doing!? Put the gun down Krogan!" He yelled.
"The Shadow Broker paid me to kill him. I don't leave jobs half-done." He said plainly, unfazed by the Turian threatening his life.
The Commander decided to step in. "Wrex and I had an agreement. A lot of people died because of him, he had it coming." he reasoned, signaling for Garrus to put the gun down. He looked at his human teammates as he continued "Now let's move! We have to save that quarian!"
The Gunnery Chief nodded at her CO. "Aye, aye, Commander!"
"Right behind you, sir!" The Lieutenant affirmed.
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"Fist set me up! I knew I couldn't trust him!" The quarian exclaimed.
"Were you hurt in the fight?" The Commander asked.
"I know how to look after myself, not that I don't appreciate the help. Who are you?"
"I'm Lieutenant-Commander John Shepard from the Alliance ship Normandy." He stated. He then gestured at his compatriots to introduce themselves.
"Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, also from the Normandy." The human biotic had a friendly expression on his face as he introduced himself.
"Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams from the Normandy as well." The female soldier said proudly, emphasizing the word 'Normandy' as she was getting used to being able to say she finally had a shipboard posting.
"Urdnot Wrex, mercenary." The krogan commented in his usual gruff voice.
"Garrus Vakarian, C-sec." The turian added, rounding out the group.
The N7 continued. "We're looking for evidence to prove Saren's a traitor."
"Then I have a chance to repay you for saving my life. But not here. We need to go somewhere safe." The quarian said through her filtered voice.
Ashley decided to voice her opinion. "We could take her to the embassy. Ambassador Udina will probably wanna see this anyway." She shrugged.
"Good Idea." Shepard agreed. "Come on, let's get moving."
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"A citadel fleet could secure the entire region! Keep the geth from attacking any more of our colonies!" Ambassador Udina yelled to the council, clearly irate with the current situation.
The turian councilor, Spartacus, was quick to retort. "Or it could trigger a war with the Terminus Systems! We won't be dragged into a galactic confrontation over a few dozen human colonies!"
Before either the asari or salarian councilor could step in to try to diffuse the argument, Shepard stepped in with an idea. "Send me. I can take Saren down." He stated emphatically.
Tevos, the asari councilor, seemed to nod in agreement as she spoke. "The Commander's right." She turned towards Sparatus as she continued. "There is a way to stop Saren that doesn't require fleets or armies."
Once the turian councilor realized what she was insinuating, he didn't try to hide his displeasure. "No! It's too soon! Humanity is not ready for the responsibilities that come with joining the Spectres!"
"You don't have to send a fleet into the traverse, and the Ambassador gets his human Spectre. Everyone's happy." The Commander reasoned.
A few seconds went by, then the three councilors tapped something on the consoles in front of their respective positions.
"Commander - Shepard, step forward." the asari councilor stated.
Shepard looked at his CO, who nodded to him to do as the counselor said. So with a deep breath, he took a few steps forward. As he did so, time seemed to slow down. He could feel his heart beating and felt dozens of pairs of eyes on him. You couldn't tell from his always stoic exterior, but Shepard was as nervous as during his last N7 evaluation, which was years ago.
Tevos began. "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."
The salarian councilor, Valern, continued. "Spectres are not trained but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle; those whose actions elevate them above the rank and file."
"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." Tevos said, picking up where Valern left off seamlessly. Seems they've given this speech more than a few times. Ashley thought as she watched everything unfold with the rest of the squad.
"Spectres bear a great burden. They are the protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defense. The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold." Sparatus concluded.
The asari councilor then began to speak again. "You are the first human Spectre, Commander. This is a great accomplishment for you and your entire species."
Shepard, not knowing really what to do with himself, did a little half-bow as he started talking. "I'm honored, Councilor."
"We're sending you into the Traverse after Saren. He's a fugitive from justice, so you are authorized to use any means necessary to apprehend or eliminate him." The salarian councilor advised.
The commander's face took one of determination as he nodded at the Council. "I'll find him."
Tevos, satisfied with the outcome, wrapped things up. "This meeting of the Council is adjourned." she said as the councilors made their exit.
Captain Anderson walked over to his XO. "Congratulations, Commander. You've earned this." He told him, giving him a proud nod and a handshake.
"Thank you, Captain." Shepard answered, graciously.
Ambassador Udina on the other hand went straight to business. "We've got a lot of work to do Shepard. You're going to need a ship, a crew, supplies…"
"You'll get access to special equipment and training now. You should go down to the C-Sec Academy and speak to the Spectre requisitions officer." The Captain interjected, trying not to overwhelm the Commander.
Already having started walking away, Udina called back to the elder N7. "Anderson! Come with me. I'll need your help to set all this up."
As they walked away, Shepard went over to his team, who all seemed confused at the interaction they had just watched play out between the three human men. It was the Gunnery Chief that spoke up. "Not even a thank you from the Ambassador."
"What do you expect from a politician?" He asked rhetorically. He then gestured with his head toward the stairs. "Come on, we've got work to do."
"We're right behind you, Commander." Kaidan assured.
A/N: Well that took way longer than expected, but I finally have the next chapter ready for y'all. School was kicking me but now that it's summer, I'll have more time on my hands.
Hope you guys enjoy!
Chapter 6 coming soon…