There is much for thee to see
Of a world beyond the glimmering steel
And pontification
Endless. Quaint
And yet, broken
As one befitting of theeeeeeeee
– █̶̧̱͇̗̺̜͍̱̦̱̭͈͎̺̺̩̬̜̼̖̎̿̑͒̀͗̈́͆̉̐͊̆͂̆̄̀̆͑͘͜͝ͅ█̴̖̗͂͛̇͑͒̒͑͊̓͠͝͝█̶̠̮̜̼͋͆̈́̓̌̊͒̅̽̾̓̎̾█̶̡͚̭̙̺͍͉̪͖̥̘̖̞̱̻͇̰̗͙͔̏͒̓͑͐̐̎͆̓͋̎͝█̵̢̯̠̳̫͔̝͚͕̞̺̬͎͒̌̀͊̆͂̄͋̑̓̈̄̊͌̂͐̇̋̉̕͠͝͠͝͠█̷̡̱̠̪̹̙̯̮̻̩̰̭̞̖̮̩̩̍͑̃̋͛̕͜͠͝͝ͅͅ█̴̨̢̨̺̙̗͔̠͙̰͓̞̤̗͔͓̰̠͔͍̤͕̗̖̙̠̹͔͗͊͜█̸̛͙͖̲̠̏̽̆̔̿́̾͌̈́͝͠█̴̢̢̬͎̥͙̰̦̲͓̟͉̺̞̝̻͓̬̔̉̾͒͜ͅ█̶̛̮͈̮̫̣̤͈̦̤͙͎̤̈́̀̅̉̄̐̅́̑̒̔̃͆̒̂̃̾̐̅̔̀̇̃̔̈́͊͌͘
Page 3
From endless dreams, she awakes.
A flash of golden light. A warmth that spreads throughout her body.
So familiar. So comforting.
As is the faint conversation heard in her waking slumber.
"What. Was. That?" an asari's voice, bewildered.
"It was exactly as I said it was," a male, confident and assured.
"Then… what you said earlier… It was true?"
"Yes."
She reached out in her mind—to that familiar voice. To that distant light.
"Arch… er," she mumbled, voice hoarse.
A shuffling of feet could be heard coming near her, followed by heavy footsteps.
"Hey. You should be fine now."
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm just seeing if she's actually awake."
"Don't just walk up to her like that, you might scare her!"
"From the way you described her, I'd imagine she was made of tougher stuff."
A new set of footsteps.
"Uh, ma'am…"
"Alright, alright. Stop pulling me."
"Only if you promise to stop being so crude! Ugh, I can't believe I was so polite to you earlier."
"That's not nice," she could almost feel him smirking. "Wasn't I the one who saved her? Twice, for that matter."
"Guys…!"
"Why do I feel like you're gonna hang this above my head?"
"Hoh? And why would I do that? I've only been the most gracious guest here."
"'Gracious' my shapely ass. You can't just storm in and out whenever you please…!"
"Like how you didn't just storm in C-Sec Headquarters earlier?"
"That's dif–"
"GUYS!"
Her eyes slowly opened.
Rays of the rising sun peeked through the thick curtains as three figures stood before her.
"Lady Tevos!" she heard her most trusted commando yell out. She nearly dashed to her side, pushing the other two away.
"And she tells me to not be crude…" she heard the male mumble.
"Are you feeling alright, Lady Tevos? Do you need some water? Of course you do. Mira! Get her some water!" she snapped at the third occupant.
The lieutenant sighed but went on her way, "Yes, ma'am."
"Lady Tevos, can you hear me?"
She couldn't help but chuckle at the antics. When was the last time she had seen Azalea like this?
Azalea's expression stood still yet, a sight unseemly in the natural order of the world.
"Yes, dear. I can hear you," she spoke out gently, her throat course.
Even through her adjusting eyes, Tevos could just about make out the matron's features. And in it, she saw the worry—so naked and apparent.
"My lady…!" the hardened commando sprung in for a hug, surprising the newly awakened patient.
The Councilor's eyes fully widened as she felt the wetness pool at her collar bone, her hand hovering behind the matron's back…
…before she gently pressed down to return her embrace.
Tevos was sat upright on her bed as she sipped gracefully from her cup of water—eyes closed in contemplation.
Dutifully, Azalea stood quietly by—waiting.
In the meantime, the commando's thoughts drifted to the man in red.
When she first heard of her lady's savior held captive by C-Sec, she knew she had to return the favor somehow. As Lady Tevos's protector, she was utterly grateful to him, in spite of the tumultuous feelings she had for her matriarch's state at the time—she was utterly grateful.
But upon seeing her lady in such a state, she couldn't bear to feel grateful still. Miracles don't happen twice, after all.
Or so she thought.
"Do you trust me?"
He said.
She shouldn't have. Conventional wisdom would have erred to the side of caution for a matter like this.
But in those eyes—she saw it.
A second miracle. One he bid her keep secret.
For her sake, she agreed. She would have agreed to nearly anything at that point. But in doing so—she bore witness to the extraordinary.
To see her live and breathe then, with eyes open once more—it was a debt she can never repay.
If only she woke to happier circumstances.
My lady is taking it well, after all. If it were me, I wouldn't know what to do.
But then again, this is why she's the Councilor, and I, the bodyguard.
But almost vigorously, the matron shook her head.
No. I can't think like that. The last time I did, she ended up...
"Lady Tevos…?"
"Yes?"
The hardened commando looked down, failing to meet her eyes. She bit her lower lip, feeling like a young maiden again caught in her first bonding.
"That night… when you… fell… from the window…" she took a silent and deep breath, fearful of what her words would be. Fearful—and another part angry.
At who, she couldn't say.
But she had to know. Needed to know.
"Why?"
Softly, Tevos opened her eyes, trailing the rim with an immaculate fingertip.
"I… lost heart," her voice barely above a whisper.
"Lost… heart?"
There was a touch of defeat in Lady Tevos's expression. Almost as if she were bearing witness to memories of a past played out before her.
Her words were a painted hue seldom ever heard.
"To get to where I am now, I had to do things—tossed people aside and… destroyed lives… for the sake of an ambition. My ambition."
She faced the window, the artificial sun peaking over the cityscape. It was a… beautiful.
"Perhaps it all simply caught up to me. It's hard to say 'why?' just that… it happened."
"Madam, I…" Azalea hadn't the words to express herself.
"Do you know what the hardest thing to live with as a leader?"
"No."
"It's the act of living with your failures."
"But, my lady! Forgive me for saying this out in the open, but you, yourself have made plenty of blunders in the past! I've seen it. But you kept moving forward despite it all!"
So cute.
"Because there are only two paths to take, dear Azalea. Failures exist, in part, as a way to test our resolve. No one in this universe could know everything. We can only make decisions and choices with the scant information we're presented with, and if we fail to capitalize on it fully, or worse, fail to act, then there is a price to pay as a result. A result that remains even if we learn from them."
She lowered her head, remembering the conversation she had when first adopted.
"Drive can only push you forward for so long—the only path to take when presented with two. But as you rise up higher and higher in the ranks, so does the price of each failure increase.
"We've lived for so long under the ideal set before us by our people. We made this Council, despite what some of our contemporaries say. And in a rush of my ambitions, I lost sight of what I had once held dear to my heart.
"Commander Shepard… reminded me of that past. And even when I thought I was doing my best as a leader, as a Councilor and representative for billions and billions of people—I didn't. And I failed. With that failure, thousands of people paid the price. That along with our finest Spectre."
"Madam…"
"It's… easy to look at a document and only see a number. It's easy to fall under the illusion of justification when it doesn't involve the people closest to you.
"But to know, to see it with your own eyes, the price of your choice. To see it repeated again and again, thinking you've outgrown it when in reality, there was no difference between then and now. It's…"
The matriarch closed her eyes.
"It's only fair that the Chamber of Matriarchs were made aware of my past dealings. If the price of my failures—of my sins—was my position in the Council, then I came off lightly."
"But it won't just be your position!"
Tevos, startled, looked up and towards her most loyal protector, frustration evident in her face.
"They won't just settle for stripping you of your position! They'll put you on house arrest, probably elevate your sister as the new High Matriarch, and subvert all the good you've done in the galaxy, then probably have you 'disappear' when the attention dies down!"
Oh, sweet, sweet Azalea.
"I know."
"Then why?!"
"Because I deserve it."
The commando slapped the upper part of her sleeve. Drawing attention to the emblem that lay there.
"Do you know why I wear this? Why I chose this symbol to represent the guard?"
Tevos Nariaus did.
She was so shy. So new to all of it at the time. She remembered the day Azalea, at the cusp of matronhood, presented the symbol before her with a mixture of pride and anticipation.
The White Aegis.
"Because you gave me a chance! A chance to prove myself despite my beliefs and the persecution that came attached with it. Despite the controversy of allowing someone from the fallen pantheon to serve you—you didn't care. A lowly maiden that was cast down because of her beliefs. When my own parent looked away in disgust, you took me in."
"I remember."
"Then you remember how I rose to the challenge. Trained until my fingers bled and was finally able to rise up the ranks until I became the Captain of your Guard. Because of you, Lady Tevos!
"Because of you…" her voice growing soft.
"Because of you, I'm here."
You saved me.
The hardened commando. Who she had once stood up to a pack of Krogan veterans alone, was trying hard to hold back the tears.
But fall they did.
You have become strong, Azalea.
"Thank you," she smiled.
The commando looked up from her tears.
"But I cannot turn their summons down; despite what you or I feel on the matter. I must face judgment."
"But, Lady Tevos–!"
"Captain Rais."
The commando froze at the sound of her proper name and title.
"At this fork, I am limited in options. Knowing the High Matriarchs and what I would do in their place, the planning would have taken some time ago. The press would have been given a copy of my crimes through an anonymous channel, with information selectively picked to create a narrative that somehow explains my mental health. A way to indicate that I am unfit for duty as a member of the Council.
"And as you said, I'll be stripped of my status as a Councilor, extradited to the Republics, and be held in an enclosed area, such as the family estate, until they summon me in for judgment.
"With their shells covered, I cannot hope to challenge their authority, not if they have evidence of my past actions to counter whatever I would say. To defy them then, would only make myself more complicit in my crimes."
"How do you know all of this?"
"Because that is what I would do."
Azalea blinked, scrambling in her mind to think of a solution.
"What about the other Council members? Certainly, Councilor Valern and Sparatus can vouch for you?" the matron desperately pleaded.
Tevos shook her head. "To them, this is an asari matter. And with the High Matriarchs voting unanimously to bring me in would indicate a unified front. Them at their most dangerous. A united Chamber would use every means available to pressure the Council if they would object. It's simply too venomous an issue for them to coil with, no matter what they would think."
"But then… what should we…" the commando mumbled, hanging her head.
"I will go to them. I will speak to my sister and hear the charges myself."
"No… if you go, then you'll be at their…"
…mercy.
"Please, Azalea," she looked up, determined. "Let me do this. I want to do this."
Their eyes met and she peered into them.
A plea—something she had never seen or heard her do before.
Azalea couldn't bear to hold her gaze and turned away, leaving the room.
The Councilor—or rather, the former Councilor—lowered her head.
There was a time when she would have fought back. Hells, she would have used incriminating information she had, threatening the Chamber and risk-taking down the asari people with her in doing so.
But that was her then.
"We all have a choice," she whispered to herself.
.
.
.
.
.
Footsteps, deliberate and clear, came near her.
"It's probably better this way," he said.
She didn't deign to look up, even knowing who it was.
.
.
.
.
.
"Do you think it was a waste?" she whispered.
"Hm? A waste of what?" the man in red asked.
"Saving me."
Though she kept her head down, she felt his eyes analyze her—a distinct pressure that was uniquely his.
"No."
A second passed as she stared at the faint reflection in the cup, a stranger all but looking back.
.
.
.
"I see."
.
.
.
"We all have our regrets," he ambled to her side, gently placing an old pendant on her lap. "It's how we move forward with them that matters."
The man known as Archer walked away, the weight of his boots creaking with every step.
There was a ripple that broke the water's surface—her gaze sunk deeply into the red of that familiar, familiar jewel.
Archer found the commando alone in the lobby, peering far out through the translucent panels overlooking the cityscape.
He casually walked up and stood by her, taking the time to admire the alien, yet familiar view.
They stood there for minutes at a time, alone, with not a word spoken to each other.
Come to think of it, what was the cuisine like in the future? He didn't see much on the aircar ride here to the hospital, but from what he's seen at C-Sec Headquarters, there were humans.
And with humans, meant edible food. Hopefully, the art of cooking has advanced as much as cars have.
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"Hmm?"
She let out a frustrated sigh and crossed her arms, tapping her foot relentlessly.
He went back to admiring the skyline. Hopefully, he could try out the local cuisine soon.
Maybe I should try out some asari food first. They do look like humans, so maybe it could work out?
I hope it isn't all blue. Wait, is that racist?
"I don't get you."
Archer raised a white eyebrow, side-eying the asari next to him.
"I don't get you," she repeated. "Why linger? Why even be here?"
"You did drive me here, remember?" the man in red answered back.
"I…" she ran a frustrated hand over her crest.
"Not what I mean." She shook her head and uncrossed her arms.
The commando turned and stomped her way to the middle of the lobby.
"That emblem on your arm. What does it mean?"
Confused at the random question, she turned around to look back at the man, but his gaze was still to the city proper.
"What does it matter?" she nearly spat out, looking away from him.
"Every emblem is meant to represent something. To my people, at least, shields are weapons. Though one that defends, rather than attack."
Azalea breathed out an exasperated sigh, but relented. "It's the same thing. To us, I mean. To the asari. This particular shield though…" a hand hovered over her upper arm, as if afraid to touch it.
"It's called the White Aegis, the shield of Verah. Verah was a Goddess of the… old… pantheon of my people.
"A Goddess of war."
"The Goddess of war. Represented by a shield, huh." He seemed amused by the concept.
"Yes. That was her only tool. There were legends and stories my… mother had told me as a little girl. Stories of how she would stride into battle with nothing but her shield and biotics.
"To us, war meant more than just striking out at our enemies. I don't know much about the human perspective for waging it, but to the asari, war is but an extended means of, 'talk', or diplomacy nowadays."
A weak smile spread across her face, remembering how she imagined the stories of her childhood.
"We believe that war is a cause worth dying for. It is both a terrifying and frightening thing, but one that deserves our full commitment and respect when decided upon. We're not particularly fond of the glory for it, not like the turians or krogans, but to us, to go to battle meant there was a truly just cause for us to take up arms. To fight for what we all deemed was right. Not for the sake of national interest, or conquest, or even defense—but for what's right."
"War for the sake of justice, eh?" he murmured.
"Yes. It was an ideal that inspired me. It's why I chose this symbol, because with her, with Lady Tevos…"
"She is your justice."
An image of a king. Golden, and magnificent in her splendor, flashed in his mind.
"I…" she turned away, somehow feeling embarrassed.
The red knight smirked. She would have liked you.
"Argh!" he ruffled his hair in frustration. "This is all so complicated."
Goddammit, Alaya. What the hell did you throw me into this time?
"Uh, is everything alright?"
Archer breathed out a defeated sigh, ignoring her words, and turned to her.
Suddenly, she felt some sort of static discharge run across her skin as a flash of red energy burst from the man, engulfing the entirety of the hospital lobby.
Everything felt weird—unnaturally so—as if she were put into a vacuum.
"Azalea Rais," he turned to her, but he was different this time.
No. Rather, it was like last time.
His eyes, once more, glowed like that of burnished steel, even in this mundane setting, she couldn't turn away.
"Before I answer your question," his voice did not change in pitch or tone, and yet, there was a power behind it. "Let me ask you once more—"
"Do you trust me?"
There were a million questions in the back of her mind. A human who lived and breathed mystery like nothing else.
To her, he was an anomaly. A man who had saved the most important person of her life. A man who brought forth the light of a miracle to save her once again.
Two miracles in one day.
But those details would be revealed in time, she felt.
For now…
She swallowed her doubts and stood her ground—to accept the challenge of those ancient eyes of his and give him the answer she did last time.
"I do."
Their gazes held—one piercing, and the other—immovable.
A clash of sword and shield.
"Good."
And just like that—it ended.
The pressure she felt vanished so suddenly, she nearly stumbled.
"Huh?!"
Archer smirked, a hand on his hip as he waited for her to catch her breath.
"What in the Goddess was that?!"
"Hm? What do you mean? I just asked if you trusted me or not."
"That's not…! You know…! Ugh!"
She folded her arms and turned away, pouting.
"But to answer your question, I'm here because of her," pointing his chin down the hallway.
"Lady Tevos? How so?"
"For now, let's just say that she's called me here."
"Called you here…? That barely explains anything."
He shrugged. "It's the truth. Even I don't have the whole context of it all. But let's just say that I'm here for her behalf."
"So then… you have a contract with her?"
Archer turned to face her, surprised.
"I've read your background," she stated. "It says you're a freelancer."
The man hardened his expression for a moment before shrugging again.
"Sure." He brought a hand up, already knowing how unsatisfied she was with his explanation.
"I'll explain more in the future. For now, just think of me as a kind of…" he tucked a finger under his chin.
"...servant, of sorts."
"A servant." She deadpanned.
He simply smirked.
"Well, I'll hold you to that, for saving Lady Tevos and all. But…" memories of that conversation appeared in her mind, "... I'm not sure you'll find much work with how things are looking."
"I'm not so sure about that."
Huh?
"What do you mean?"
He was summoned here for a reason. If he was merely brought here just to escort her to some sort of botched trial because of politics and see her live the rest of her life in some villa, then he wouldn't have been needed.
No. There's far more going on than anyone here knows.
Like my supposed 'background.'
"Well, let's just see where all this goes first."
The salarian's head was blown clean off. Normally, he would've savored the feeling of that win. Of another monster taken off the streets—but there are other, more pressing matters to attend.
Like ducking.
A round nearly clipped his crest from where his head was just at. Garrus knew then this spot was no good.
He crouch-rushed down the other end of this long balcony barrier as more rounds whizzed above him, pinging the wall far back.
How could it all have gone wrong?
The turian nearly dived at the other end of the barrier then pressed his back against it.
How could Sidonis betray us all like that?
Switching firing stances. He peered from the left side, sighted his target, and fired. Fired. Fired. And fired again.
More and more dropped to his unerring accuracy before the mercenaries had even realized he was picking them off once more.
He should've listened to his father. Should've stuck with his Spectre training and used his position to push the preparations needed for the oncoming Reaper invasion.
He made a vorcha's head explode in a mist of red.
If he had, then perhaps, his team would've been alive.
"...ar…"
Someone from the comms.
"..aru…"
He hid back behind the barrier, pressing on the haptic device that came to life around his head.
"This is Garrus Vakarian, do you read me. Over."
Static.
"This is Garrus Vakarian," he repeated more deliberately, "do you–"
"...and by…f…dro…str…"
Stand by… for drone strike?
.
.
.
Oh, shit.
.
.
.
He was barely able to brace himself before a series of explosions rocked his world.
Note to self. Invest in new kinetic barriers.
Time seemed to slow down as he was half-convinced that the explosions were somehow getting closer.
Wait, they are getting closer.
But before he was about to take off—the explosions stopped.
The silence that came after was deafening, but he peaked out nonetheless.
There was a massive cloud that blanketed where the bridge once was, but from what he could see, debris was scattered everywhere.
"Ser Garrus Vakarian."
With lightning reflexes, he pulled a holstered pistol and turned behind him, already having sighted the figure that spoke his name.
How did she…?
"Impressive. I dare say the reports undersold your abilities."
She was unarmed and wore an all-black bodysuit. Skintight, with hips most turian women would die for.
A biotic maybe…?
"Well, what can I say. I have a knack for impressing the ladies."
The human woman seemed unimpressed with his quip but stood without fear despite the gun pointed at her head.
"My name is Miranda Lawson, and I have a proposal for you."
"Miranda, eh. It doesn't take a genius to know that the pretty fireworks were from you, so thanks for that. But knowing your types, whatever you want to sell me, I'm not interested."
"Oh? You won't hear me out? Not after saving you and your team's lives?"
Garrus's handle of his pistol nearly faltered.
"What…?"
"Go ahead. The jamming signal should be down so you should be able to connect with them."
He kept quiet and glared, his aim still holding true. Slowly, he brought his arm up and pressed the haptic comms device.
"This is Garrus Vakarian. Does anyone read me?"
"Garrus?!" he felt a wave of relief at the sound of her voice. "Oh, thank the Goddess you're alive! We were worried when we heard that the big three were gathering to flush you out!"
"Let's just say that I'm too good for that," he chuckled. "But enough about me. How is everyone?"
"Everyone's fine. Well, everyone who was at the base. No one's heard anything from Sidonis."
"What happened?"
"Well, Weaver received a message earlier from an unknown sender about an imminent attack. We didn't want to take any chances, so we fled, retreating through our assigned routes, knowing that the area had been compromised. I think they had a contingency and brought people in to hunt us all down."
Dammit, Sidonis.
"But we were rescued, and you won't believe this, by Cerberus, of all people! And they even had the courtesy to escorted us to our designated rallying points."
"Really hard to believe," he deadpanned, glaring at the woman. "And I'm guessing no one's made the effort to leave the station just yet, have they?"
"No. When they heard of what happened to you, they wanted to rush in there for a rescue, but one of their leaders told us to hang back and that they already have a unit moving onto your location."
"Okay, thanks for the sitrep. I'll call back in a bit before we make our next move. But first, Garrus, out."
He knew a hostage situation when he heard one, and this was a planned good one. But then again, she did pull them out from a sticky situation, so, just this once...
The former C-Sec officer slowly lowered his gun.
"You've made your point. Now, what do you want?"
Miranda Lawson smiled.
It had always amazed her just how realistically warm the artificial light of the Citadel had felt.
It would have been nice to see it as well.
Though, even if she were offered cybernetic eyes now, she would keep to her old answer and refused them.
Ah, the choices we must live with.
As she mused, healers and chirurgeons shuffled away from her and bowed—a reverence she could also feel through her other senses as she made her way down the hallway.
She had long stopped telling others to raise their heads and learned that reverence was not so much a test of one's humbleness, but an allowance to showcase their respect.
A warmth in its own way.
Still, Rika T'lain has much to learn as a new Valyer.
Hm? Interesting.
Yes. A rather interesting person had decided to reveal himself.
She nodded at the guards standing by the lobby entrance and walked through the doors.
All so heavily armed. One would expect a siege anytime soon with the amount of firepower they possess.
"Messer Rika," Azalea came to greet her. She was followed by another guard, but what drew her attention was not Tevos' detail, but the human man standing to the side, his arms crossed and leaning by the corner of the room.
But he could wait. As she was informed earlier, Tevos Nariaus had just woken not too long ago.
"Lady Tevos. Serah Rais," she bowed her head in turn, "I take it you are ready?"
Azalea blinked in confusion.
"I am."
The captain turned around, not expecting her lady to be there.
Quietly, she entered the scene. Her steps were light and steady as she tried her best to hide her weakened stature.
"Lady Tevos…!" she nearly dashed to her side but was stopped.
"Captain Rais. It is fine. I am well enough to move on my own."
"But…" she mumbled, but relented, stepping back.
"I am ready, Messer Rika."
Valyer bowed, formally. "I am glad to see you well enough."
The matriarch gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
"Arrangements have been made," informed the Vayer. "If it pleases you, I shall guide you there. But first, let me ask," turning to a particular corner of the room.
"Will he be attending you?"
Interestingly, the matriarch looked to him as well.
"I am," he spoke with a voice that brokered no argument, unfolding his arms.
"If I may," Rika inquired, tilting her head to the Councilor, "what is his relationship to you?"
But interestingly enough, Tevos herself was giving the man a hard stare, evaluating him and his words.
After a few seconds of silence, the asari commando stepped up. "He is a—"
"He is a friend," Tevos interrupted, stern—but trailed off softly. "One I had not seen in a long time."
The Valyer's eyes widened behind her veil, "I… see."
Interesting.
"Please," she bowed, "allow me a moment to inform my associates."
"What for?"
"A precaution and a courtesy. Thanks to Lady Selica Naraius, we have a record of every person listed under your service presently at the station."
The Valyer could almost see the surprised expression of the captain and the other guard as she walked back through the lobby doors for privacy.
Her omni-tool was activated. A burst signal through a private channel bounced across 112 comm buoys spread throughout the galaxy before reaching its intended target.
Rika T'lain took a deep breath before the call connected.
"Hellooo~?" a cheerful voice greeted on the other end of the line.
"Greetings, my lady, it's–"
"Oh, poo! I told you, Rika! We're friends! None of this 'my lady' stuff, okay?"
"I…" she felt the corners of her lips curl.
Ever the child.
"Of course. How silly of me."
"Yes, how silly of you! Now then, as much as I want to tell you about this cute flower crown Alani made for me, there's something you wanted to tell me first, huh?"
"As you might have guessed, yes. It concerns an… unexpected guest."
"Ooooh? Do pray tell!" she crooned.
"A human man. At least, from what I can tell. One, an esteemed Lady Tevos calls, 'a friend.'"
Shuffling could be heard from the other end, then some kind of glass shattering.
"Whaaaaa? A friend!? Silly, Rika! Tevos doesn't have any 'friends!'"
She brought a hand up to cover an amused smile.
"Are you sure she isn't just saying that? She can be quite the actor~"
The Valyer thought back to that scene, how she interrupted her captain and how the Councilor's words trailed off.
"Well…"
A man in the dark took a savored sip of his scotch, pleased with the latest successful operation.
A beep—a new report. One made a priority.
The one called the Illusive Man skimmed it within seconds, laying the pieces of information out in his mind.
A supposed suicide attempt by the asari councilor of all people.
Interesting.
Their latest psych evals of her show no indication of depression, or any sort of mental illness that their experts could identify.
From the scattered tidbits of her latest council session—one made classified, strange enough—he would have expected the batarians to be involved.
Though, it is a possibility that can't be ruled out.
Sending out orders to acquire said document, he continued his ponderings.
There's been movement coming from Thessia's Great Houses themselves and with the recent arrival of one of their Valyer's to the Citadel, the seas are in flux—as the asari would say.
Tevos has all been stripped of her power if this report can be corroborated. And her biggest supporters are either being questioned, called back or have simply vanished.
A failed assassination attempt? Or maybe a bigger play behind the scenes. It's certainly more activity than Great Houses normally partake in.
He took a drag out of his cigar.
But another thing of note was this mysterious human.
A man dressed in red, whom even the human officers found strange.
No omni-tool. Bare-bones background. Retrieved by the Shield of Tevos herself. He's appeared out of nowhere, saved the Councilor by… catching her? Though there are some doubts brewing amongst the investigators whether he caught her from the ground floor or…
Forensics say that the imprints left on the sidewalk could only be made by falling from incredible heights. Not even the assigned Spectre on the case could figure out how that worked.
Strangely enough, the cameras overlooking that area were disabled at that precise time as well.
No human could survive that fall. Not without some sort of equipment, biotics, or…?
No.
It can't be.
He tapped a screen and made a call.
†
Author's Note—
Thanks for reading, and make sure to leave a review~