The group assembled outside the Normandy was suspended in disbelief, everyone frozen in the wake of Selene's confession. Bailey and his officers stared blankly at the Commander while she remained the perfect picture of calm and patient, smiling coolly at them. An odd tension formed between the two teams as they waited for the C-Sec Captain's response.
Bailey's eyes shifted between Thane and Garrus flanking Selene, appearing equally as calm as their Commander. A fierce debate raged within the man, wondering if he should take her in with him or whether he should respect her position as a Specter.
Her authority on the Citadel was above the law, after all. If she had chosen to kill Tallied, it was a reasonable assumption that she had her reasons; the righteousness of her actions was inconsequential in the face of her Specter status.
Bailey was a bit disappointed in himself for possibly misjudging Selene as a fair vigilante.
Her intentions appeared to be noble when she had initially inquired about any leads on the whereabouts of her associate's son. When she had managed to get Kelham to talk about his involvement with the assassination plans for Tallied, Bailey had been truly impressed with her skill.
He had assumed that Selene and her crew would stop the boy from going through with the act. However, he had not expected Shepard to complete it for him. She had essentially murdered an innocent man in cold blood, and he genuinely wondered what the purpose had been. What was he missing?
Deep down, Bailey knew the Commander was not going to submit for questioning. He also knew she had never intended for Bailey to question Kolyat.
Now, Bailey was faced with a decision: insist to speak with the boy regardless of risking the Specter's wrath, or he could walk away and file his report under Specter business.
Balancing on a precipice, Bailey decided to press a little further. At least he could say he tried.
"Alright, Shepard. Let's say I believe you," he heaved a sigh. "Why did you kill him?"
"Thane, do you still have that data pad?" Selene questioned, turning to her friend.
Thane pulled the data pad from within his jacket, a look of disgust apparent on his face long enough for only Selene to notice. Her face grew serious as she took the pad from him and offered it to Bailey. The small metal device held all of Tallied's crimes and known associates.
Garrus had used his C-Sec expertise to extract and compile the evidence of Tallied's crimes while Shepard and Thane had gone after Kolyat.
Bailey moved forward to take the pad from her outstretched hand. Silently, he skimmed through the readings. His brow furrowed as the moments passed by, his mouth pinched in a disapproving frown. As Bailey finished reviewing the collected evidence, nobody moved.
There was an unspoken understanding between the two leaders.
Shepard had not gone entirely rouge afterall. He could respect the woman for fulfilling her duties with the conviction of a Specter.
Shepard shook her head as Bailey tried to return the data pad, she pushed the device back gently into his hands.
"Keep it. Tallied's operation is still running somewhere in council space. You should have more than enough information there to stop it."
Bailey nodded in the affirmative, passing the pad off to one of his officers behind him.
"I apologize for this inconvenience, Commander Shepard," Bailey offered, reaching out to shake Selene's hand firmly. "Thank you for your service in dealing out justice."
Shepard nodded her head but remained silent.
"Would you like to give a statement on the matter?" Bailey asked. "Considering the substantial amount of evidence you've provided to us, it probably won't be necessary. However, the public might start asking the council some questions after its leaked that one of their Specters killed a rising political figure."
"Thank you, Captain Bailey. I trust you to inform the council about Tallied's . . . activities, and how they've extended well into their jurisdiction," she paused, but there was a mischievous glint in her silver-green eyes. "You can also tell them that it was through my own investigation that led me to the Citadel and I am sure they are more than equipped to handle any questions directed towards them."
Bailey nodded in understanding, observing that the Commander was still covering for the drell's son as she took credit for her examination into Tallied's activities. He also noted with amusement, her refusal to lend the council a hand in the media storm coming their way.
"Understood. Carry on, Commander. I extend my gratitude for your compliance in the matter," Bailey bid the commander and her team farewell before turning sharply and returning to C-Sec.
Selene turned her back on the ship and returned to the CIC with Thane and Garrus. Her crew waited in the cockpit, side-eyeing Selene as she maintained her earlier position leaning against the bulkhead. She turned to Thane beside her, a thin smile quirking her lips.
"Well?" she asked.
Thane was clearly pleased with the outcome of their meeting with Bailey, as pleased as he could beneath his stoic mask. A small smile graced his face finally, and gratitude shone in his eyes.
"Thank you, Shepard," Thane breathed with visible relief. "You have preformed a great service for Kolyat and me. We are forever in your debt." The drell bowed deeply at the waist, conveying his respect to her.
"Thane, you don't owe me anything," Selene said simply. "This is how friends help each other. Friends are always there for each other."
She placed a reassuring hand on the older man's arm and squeezed affectionately.
"Besides," Selene continued. "You agreed to take on a suicide mission before you even knew me. I think it's safe to say that any debt between us is considered even."
Thane chose not to point out the inevitability of his accelerated death due to the advanced stage of his Kepral Syndrome. Truthfully, his agreeing to the suicide mission had not been a difficult choice, but it always made Selene sad when his illness was mentioned.
He tried to internalize her kind words, knowing that deep within he could never fully repay her for the selflessness she had shown by helping him and Kolyat.
"I wouldn't be making any declarations of life debts too soon, Krios," Joker called over to him, disrupting the show of friendship and respect between the two. "I'm not sure your son is going to agree with you after what Shepard put him through."
Shepard laughed and nodded in agreement. Kolyat had been pretty angry with her before, and she could not imagine he would be able to diffuse that quickly in the wake of being unwillingly reunited with his estranged father.
Thane chuckled, his deep baritone reverberating deep within his chest.
"I disagree, Mr. Moreau," Thane shook his head at Joker. "I have confidence that Kolyat will come to the same conclusion as I have. He is more hurt by my actions than anything Shepard has done."
His smile sobered, and Shepard gave him a sharp look. She was almost certain that she would be infuriated if someone had tried to toy with her the way she had with Kolyat. To be fair, she had quite the temper sometimes, she had no right to judge Kolyat.
Before the commander could continue her conversation with Thane, the blue drell emerged from the elevator down the hall.
As Kolyat stepped through the open doors, Selene immediately took stock of the man. His arm was freshly bandaged, and his face looked severely less bruised. A medi-gel treatment had almost restored him to complete health.
As the he made his way through the CIC towards their group, Shepard noted his confident stride. He moved like his father, but he lacked the grace and stealth of an assassin. With his leather jacket removed, Shepard noticed the same markings on his face, also wound their way down his defined arms.
His shoulders were broad and strong, but without the muscle mass that came from brutal combat training. If he applied himself, Selene was sure he could be as strikingly intimidating as Thane. He towered above most of them, and he had a quiet demeanor that gave him a mysterious aura.
The hints of inexperience and youth of the young drell was obvious. He had yet to acquire the discipline and emotional maturity that made other members of her team truly dangerous. But he had shown initiative by taking the contract on Tallied, and refusing to run from Shepard showed courage. Maybe if Selene had not disrupted his mission, he might have had a chance at growing that potential.
If he had managed to survive the experience.
As Kolyat drew closer, Shepard was internally relieved that he appeared more relaxed, his face less openly hostile. A curiosity burned in his large eyes as he took in the interior of the cockpit.
Kelly was right, Kolyat was a handsome man. Especially when he was not glaring or sulking every five seconds.
Kolyat paused before the group, nervousness making his movements stiff now that he was in front of them.
The blue drell awkwardly cleared his throat before speaking, turning his attention to Shepard, "Commander, I just wanted to thank you for what you have done for me today."
Shepard was not often caught off guard, but Kolyat apologizing to her was certainly unexpected. Her brows subtly lifted toward her hairline, before she schooled her expression back into neutrality.
It seemed that she and Joker might have judged him too harshly. Another wave of relief washed through her, the last thing she had wanted was to cause a rift between Thane and his son because Kolyat hated her.
"Like I told your father, Kolyat," Shepard offered a warm smile. An olive branch had been extended, who was she to turn it away? "I was happy to do it. I was coming to the aid of a friend."
Again, Kolyat questioned the exact nature of his father's relationship with Shepard. It was difficult to determine whether they were just friends as the Commander had said. She did appear a little too young for his father, but he was no expert when it came to judging humans' ages. If he had to guess, she was closer to his own age than Thane's.
Still his suspicions nagged at him, causing his irritation to flare.
However, he had spoken the truth to the Commander. He was thankful for her interference, regardless of the pain he might have suffered during it. Kolyat wondered if his father had asked the Commander about his request.
The blue drell turned towards the older man, lifting a brow ridge in curiosity, "Have you asked her already?"
Thane's jaw noticeably tightened, his unreadable mask sliding into place. In the wake of Bailey's sudden arrival, and his relief at knowing Kolyat would not be going to prison, Thane had pushed his son's question to the back of his mind.
Selene's face showed mild curiosity as she turned her attention to Kolyat. She implored the young man to ask his question himself, rather than through his father.
"Ask me what?" she questioned, refusing to let the subject matter drop again.
Kolyat grew more nervous, his eyes fixed to the ground as he struggled to find the words. If she wants me to be direct, I can be direct, he thought to himself.
Lifting his gaze, his eyes bored into hers unflinchingly.
"I want to join your crew."
Author's Note: First three chapters are up and I am curious about everyone's thoughts.
Hopefully, my sister and I can post a chapter or two a week. Since we have the completed story already, most of what we are doing is heavy editing and revisions. However, that still takes time and we do have personal lives. We promise we will NOT be abandoning this story; I believe that we are both dedicated to seeing this project through.
Hope you all enjoy, see you next week 3
SeverMariaBlack + Friends