I don't own either AvP or Mass Effect

!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-

The news broadcast had been running for nearly half an hour when they got to the good parts.

"Eden Prime was a major victory. We are one step closer to our goals." The recording stopped and for a moment there was silence. Then-

"And that is it?" The holographic image of Councillor Tevos asked coldly. "A recording of a sentence. And for this Commander Shepard has torn a path of destruction through this station. And for this, and some recording that you claim to have obtained on Eden Prime, you expect this Council to hand over a Spectre to you. Tell me, ambassador, have you taken leave of your senses?"

"I do not appreciate your tone, Councillor, or your choice of words," Ambassador Udina snapped back. "What we have here is evidence, conclusive evidence that one of your Spectres is engaged in a campaign of terrorism against the Alliance of United Systems. Now, we can stand here and argue about the nature of this evidence, or its source, but I do not believe that that would be a productive use of your time or mine. Order Saren Arterius to return to the Citadel so he can answer for his actions. Then we will see whether or not he is guilty."

"Based on what?" Tevos' voice sounded incredulous. "What you call evidence, ambassador amounts to nothing; in fact, it amounts to less than nothing. A few words that you claim were taken from a translation implant. An implant that we cannot examine because the person it belongs to has conveniently disappeared. Have we not gone down this road before? I see that your captain Anderson has joined us here. I remember him well. Hardly surprising, considering that he appeared here once before under near-identical circumstances. Tell me, Captain, did you honestly believe your second attempt to smear the reputation of a Council agent would fare any better than the first?"

The figure of Captain Anderson, standing next to the human ambassador, moved as he made to answer, but Udina held up a hand to silence him. In any case, it didn't seem as though the asari Councillor was interested in hearing a response.

"And based on that, just that, you authorized this... this rabid varren that you call an officer to go on a murder spree throughout the Citadel! I could laugh if it were not for the fact that so many people died at her hands. You come here with accusations, you demand a trial of a Council agent. Yet the real criminal is standing right beside you. Frankly, ambassador, I am strongly considering to revoke the diplomatic protection that you extended her and have Citadel Security arrest her."

"Go ahead. I was getting bored anyway." The third human, clearly Commander Shepard, spoke up for the first time.

"DO NOT SPEAK!" For a moment Tevos seemed genuinely in danger of losing her composure but centuries of diplomatic experience allowed her to control herself. "You are fortunate that we have a higher regard for the value of diplomatic protocol than you have, Commander. Because that is all that stands between you and a death sentence. But to continue our examination of the evidence, let us look at the result of your actions. A single sentence, recorded on an omnitool, copied, or so you claim from a geth datacore. A datacore, which, once again, we cannot examine ourselves. Do you call that evidence? I honestly cannot make up my mind whether you're a fool, or whether you think we would be foolish enough to accept this at face value."

"Considering the origin of this so-called 'evidence', I would say it is less foolishness and more outright dishonesty," Councilor Sparatus added. "Hardly surprising, considering the source. A clever trick, really, to distract us from the fact that once again it is the quarians that have endangered this galaxy through the creation of the geth."

"It was not the quarians that attacked us, Councillor," Udina retorted. "It is not the quarians that used a biological weapon that has left a colony in ruins and thousands of our people dead. Nor was it the quarians that insisted that we leave a major colony undefended and wide open to attack. That was your doing. Curious, I'd say, that a Council Spectre orchestrated an attack on a colony that was left vulnerable on the insistence of this very Council. Perhaps that is why you will not consider the evidence in front of you. People might wonder I this was not your plan all along."

"Only a fool would even consider that a possibility," Councillor Valern answered. "The same sort of fool that would believe this so-called 'conclusive evidence' of yours. This biological weapon you speak off has only ever been found a board a human ship. Are we now to believe that the geth have obtained it independently? Or should we perhaps look once again at humanity? Tell me, ambassador, how many defence laboratoria were there on Eden Prime and what kind of projects did they run? Is it nor far more likely that these creatures were kept on Eden Prime, in some research laboratory, and simply escaped during the attack? To me, that sounds like a rather more believable explanation."

"I agree." Tevos nodded. "In any case, fools will always engage in conspiracy theories. That is is the privilege of the foolish. But this Council will not indulge in such nonsense and we will certainly not shape policy based on it. No ambassador, we will not call in Saren on such a ridiculous charge. His work for this Council is too important to be interrupted in such a fashion and it would set a dangerous precedent to indulge your whims in such a fashion. As to your ridiculous accusations against this Council, no-one forced your people to settle on Eden Prime. They knew the restrictions and the risk that went with it and they went ahead anyway. That is on them. And, I suspect, so is that biological weapon you talk about."

"I see," Udina's voice was once again calm. "Then it is my duty to inform you that the Alliance of United Systems no longer considers itself bound by the demilitarization agreement regarding Eden Prime. From now on, we will maintain a permanent fleet presence over the colony, as well as patrols in the nearby systems. We will NOT be caught off-guard again." A hint of mockery crept into his voice. "And I recommend that you inform whoever is in charge of that little fleet you sent out there to back off. Or something unfortunate might happen to him or his fleet."

There was a moment of silence. The Councillors looked at one another. When Sparatus spoke, it was clear even to a non-turian that he was seething with anger.

"I understand, Commander Shepard, that you promised this... quarian safe passage into the Terminus. I strongly suggest that you go ahead and keep that promise, personally. I want you, and your ship, gone from the Citadel." The holographic image of the Councillor moved slightly. "Detective Vakarian, please escort Commander Shepard to her ship. Now!"

A turian stepped into the frame of the recording, approaching Shepard. She whirled around.

"Keep your claws to yourself, turian, or you'll lose them." She turned back to face the Councillors. "Go ahead then, protect your little pet. But be sure to warn him. Tell him to keep looking over his shoulder. Because one day he'll look, and I'll be standing right behind him. And it will be the last thing he ever sees."

With that parting shot, she turned and stalked away, the turian C-Sec officer following close behind.

The recording stopped.

-0-0-0-

Deep Space

Saren's mandibles clicked softly. "I'll be waiting, Commander Shepard. I'll be waiting." He turned to his companion. "It seems we have a little more time to complete our plans."

Benezia nodded. "Look at them: They have all the evidence they need and yet they cannot see it. Between Tevos' believe in her own intellectual superiority and Sparatus' contempt for quarians, the humans never stood a chance. I almost feel sorry for them, having to argue with those fools. Almost. But then, it has always been this way. The Citadel Council attracts people that believe in maintaining the status quo, people unwilling to take risks, even intellectual risks. Is it any wonder that the power of the Council has eroded over the millennia? Still, we would be wise to move as quickly as possible. The humans will come after us, and the Council will never oppose them in the Traverse."

"Indeed. You understand what that means?"

"Of course." Benezia sighed. "Just have Liara brought to me as soon as possible. I could wish things had not come to this, but we'll need her expertise. I'm sure that I can make her see reason."

-0-0-0-

Unknown Planet

"It seems that the plan remains intact."

"Such as it is."

"True," The first speaker conceded. "There have been some improvisations, but under the circumstances, we will still get the result we were looking for."

"The result you are looking for." The second speaker made an angry gesture. "Do not pretend that you speak for everyone. Yes, many agreed to go ahead with this plan of yours. And, yes, if it succeeds it may well be the beginning of a new era. But there are concerns, many concerns. Do you really believe the humans will just accept their dismissal? If so, you understand nothing about them. This will only make them more determined to find Saren. And if they do, if they capture him alive, they will understand that he had help. And once they know, they will never rest until they have found us."

"And, so?" The first speaker scoffed. "Let them come to us. They will find nothing but death. A good hunter knows how to lure in his prey."

"A good hunter does not let his prey into his own backyard before he starts the hunt!" A third voice cut in. "You are both fools, playing your little games. No, do not interrupt me. Using Saren as a vector to introduce the Kainde Amedha was a good plan, but you should have made sure you could direct his actions. Instead, you were content to observe from a distance and now there is no way for you to control him without breaking cover. And you, when you decided to use the humans to take your petty revenge on your agent on the Citadel, did you ever think of the consequences? Now you complain what the humans might learn from Saren. A shame you did not think of that earlier. If the humans discover us, the rest of the galaxy will soon know as well. Contemplate for one second what that would mean. The Yautja have not preserved secrecy for thousands of years, just to let you throw it all away."

She made a short, angry gesture. "But that is enough. Recriminations can wait. Now, it's time to re-establish control. How good is our surveillance of the humans? Will we know when they make their move.?"

"We will." The second speaker sat down. "The Shadow Broker network still has a representative on the Citadel, who has already provided information to the humans. They will undoubtedly approach him again. Especially, now that they believe that they and the Broker have found a common enemy in Saren. We have also planted an agent on Shepard. We cannot be certain yet, whether that will be successful. Human xenophobia may prevent him from staying in close proximity. But Shepard herself seems open to working with non-humans and may decide to continue the collaboration. In particular, if she has to hunt Saren down outside human-controlled space.

"Good. have him stay as close to Shepard as possible. As for you," She turned toward the first speaker. "Start alerting the clans. We will need hunting parties ready to interfere should the humans get too close to Saren."

"That should be no problem. There are plenty of Unblooded who will be eager to participate." He laughed briefly. "I think we will need a ruling, though. What status shall be conferred on the hunter that kills the Butcher of Torfan?"

"Frankly, I don't care. Ask an Adjudicator to decide. As I said before, we need to re-establish control. That means leaving nothing to chance. I want Elite Hunters standing by as well. By all means, let the Unblooded have a shot at it, but if they fail, we need some insurance."

"There may be an alternative," The second speaker mused. "There are other people who remember the Butcher of Torfan less than fondly. Given the means to enact revenge, they may be able to solve that particular problem for us."

"And you can provide them with the means to do so?"

"I believe so. I believe we have a piece of bait that will draw Shepard in and convince whoever we give it to, to act."

"Then be ready to use it. I want this over and done with."

-0-0-0-

Praesidium docks, the Citadel

"Well, that was an interesting experience," Captain Anderson remarked as they walked out of the elevator.

"Indeed." Shepard nodded. "Time to stop playing politics and get back to work. Mr Pressly?"

"Ma'am." The navigation officer was standing by the docking bridge.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes, ma'am. Normandy is ready to go, as soon as Captain Anderson transfers command to you." He glanced at the silent figure of the quarian girl standing a little to the side, then looked past them to where the turian Detective was standing. "Ma'am, if I may ask-"

"Not yet, Mr Pressly. Not yet. There are still quite a few things we need to discuss but this isn't the place or the time. Just inform the crew that we will be departing within the next few hours."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Initial destination will be Relay 314."

"Understood ma'am. And from there?"

Shepard smiled. "From there we're going to play a game. It's called 'Where in the Galaxy is Saren Arterius?'"

!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-

A/N: First of all, happy 2019. A very short chapter this time, but it worked out that way. Don't worry, the next update is mostly written. It's on the way.