Chapter III

The Council

Ahsoka sat in the observation room meditating then she felt a slight shift in the space outside the ship. The Citadel?

She went to the C.I.C. to investigate.

"What are we going to the Citadel for?" Ahsoka asked.

"I got a message from Anderson requesting my presence. And I want you there too." Shepard said.

"Okay."

Since it was the Citadel Ahsoka wore her causal outfit. When they got to the second door a Turian had to let them through.

"Shut it down! What?" he said into his comm. "Do you really think? …Yes, alright." Then he turned to Shepard. "Sorry for the inconvenience sir. The scanners seem to say your dead."

"I was listed as M.I.A. a few years ago." Shepard said.

"Talk with Captain Bailey just beyond this door."

"And I thought security was tight when I left a year and a half ago. Now it's even worse. Bet all you have to do is look at someone the wrong way and suddenly you're a risk for Geth infiltration." Ahsoka said as they walked through the door and approached Captain Armando-Owen Bailey. The captain appeared to be about middle-aged and muscular with military cut blonde hair. "Yes?" he asked his voice slightly gravely, "I see the problem already Commander Shepard. My console says you're dead."

"Your Sargent said you could help with that."

"Usually you'd have to ge through the stations' Security Admistration to reactivate your IDs. Then to Customs and Immigration to regain access to the Citadel itself and maybe a stop by the Treasury. Spending a year dead is popular tax dodge."

Shepard gave Bailey a look that said 'I don't have time for this' and it worked.

"But I can see you're a busy man. So how about I just press this button here and we call it done?"

"Do it."

"Done. You may want to stop by the Presidium. The Council might want to know that one of their dead Specters is still kicking."

"Thanks, I just might do that."

The Presidium...

"Shepard, we were just talking about you." Anderson said.

Ahsoka hung back hopefully to avoid suspicion. Until Shepard brought up the Reapers.

"Ah yes, Reapers! The ancient race of sentiate starships allegedly waiting in dark space. We have dismissed that claim." Sparatas said.

"We have no reason to believe that Sovereign wasn't a Geth war ship." Tevos replied.

They were suddenly distracted when Ahsoka coughed. "I'm sorry I'm allergic to bullshit."

"And who the Hell are you?" Valern asked.

"Ahsoka Tano, a Togruta. Proof that there are other galaxies out there. I come from one."

The Council members eyes widened. Never before had they encountered something from a whole other galaxy.

"And another thing." Ahsoka said, "I've seen the vids and studied the Geth. So you and I both know you're sprouting bullshit to protect your pride cause a human saved your asses! The Reapers are real. And even if they weren't what's your excuse for sitting on your asses while whole colonies are vanishing?" Ahsoka demanded.

The Council couldn't believe they'd been spoken to like that. "You have no right to talk to us like that!" Sparatas shouted.

"I'm not from a Council race nor am I from Citadel space. To me your just another Turian." Ahsoka said.

"Enough." Tevos said calmly, "Shepard's crew is not te purpose of this meeting. Commander Shepard," She continued addressing him directly. "We have decided to reinstate your Specter status so long as you keep to the Terminus systems."

"You can take your offer and cram it!" Shepard said, "If you won't help I'll do it myself."

The council members narrowed their eyes. "This meeting is adjourned." Tevos said ans the holograms dissapered.

"Well," Andeson said, "That went worse than expected."

"Sorry Councilor." Ahsoka said bowing her head slightly, "I am known to speak my mind. Calling Shepard a traitor and Sovereign a Geth warship is bullshit."

"I agree, but who are you?"

"Apologies. I am Ahsoka Tano. I'm from another galaxy. When I was 16 I found my way here through a mass relay six months after Shepard's dissaperence. I was taken in by Garrus and we just joined Shepard's crew."

"Another galaxy? Well, the Reapers are from one so I guess I can belive that." Anderson said and gave Ahsoka a once over. "You seem pretty young to be serving on a military ship.

"I'm 18! And I've been serving in the military from my own galaxy since I was 14!"

That caused Anderson's eyes to widen. What respectable military thrusts a child into war. He wondered.

Then the door opened. "Councilor," Udina said, "we need to talk about...Shepard? What are you doing here?"

"I had a long list of people I didn't want to see today and your name is right at the top." Shepard said to him.

"The feeling is mutual, belive me." Udina said.

"Udina, we just got out of a meeting with the Council." Anderson said.

"What!? Councilor, do the words 'Political Shit Storm' have any meaning to you?"

"Relax. We just decided Shepard can go about his business so long as he stays in the Terminus."

"Yes but we he makes a mess I get stuck cleaning it up."

"That's your job." Ahsoka said.

"Who the hell are you?"

"None of your damn business."

"Come on Ahsoka. We've got colonies to save."

"So what's next?" Ahsoka asked.

"We're looking for a Krogan Warlord named Okeere. We'll be their soon."

"Well, I'll be in the hold or something."

"Hey," Jack said as Ahsoka approached.

"Hey. mind if I work a little down here?"

"Work on what?"

"There was a pair of weapons I used to have. They don't exist here so I'm trying to recreate them." she said as she tinkered with the scrap metal she brought.

"Alright. So, I remember you saying Barriss wasn't the only traitor?"

"Yeah, a few clones, senators, and even another Jedi betrayed the Republic. What about you?"

"I ran with this girl and her boyfriend. Thought there were like me, thought they'd help me. Yeah they helped me, into their bed. And when we finally did take something big they helped themselves to my share of the take. I knew where it was going, so I got them first."

"They were selfish pricks, doesn't mean they were gonna kill you."

"Maybe."

"You know, you should talk to Chambers about this stuff."

"Why would I do that?"

"It helped me." Ahsoka said.

"I don't need help! Or your company!"

"Geology?" Mordin asked.

""Yeah, know any?" Ahsoka asked.

"No, why?"

"I'm looking for a certain kind of crystal."

"Afraid I cannot help you, sorry."

"It's okay."

"Ms. Tano."

"Yes EDI?"

"Shepard just arrived with a cloned Krogan in a pod."

"Where's the pod?"

"In the Port Cargo hold."

"Thanks."

Ahsoka looked at the Krogan in the pod. A clone, like the soldiers she fought with, like the ones that betrayed her.

"Ahsoka?" Sheparad said as he entered. "What are you doing in here?"

"Thinking."

"About?"

"About how I should feel about this clone."

"What do you mean?"

"That Clone Army I told you about, it was a trap. They were to fight with us and earn our trust so that when they were orders to kills us, we wouldn't expect it."

"But his creators is dead and he wasn't cloned from a single template."

"I know... So, we cracking this thing open or what."

"EDI, open the pod."

The pod open and the Krogan fell to his knees as he woke. For a few seconds nothing happened, then the Krogan rushed forward and pinned Shepard to the wall.

"Human, male. Before you die I need a name." The Krogan said.

"I'm Commander Shepard of the Normandy."

"Not your name, mine. I feel nothing for Okeere's clan or his enemies. That imprint failed, he has failed. Okeere, Warlord, Grunt... Grunt was among the last, it has no meaning. It'll do. I am Grunt. Prove you are worthy of your Command and try to destroy me."

"Why do you want me to try and kill you?"

"Want? Nothing in the Tank ever asked what I want."

"I have a strong crew, a strong clan. You's make it stronger."

"Hm... That is... Acceptable. I'll fight for you."

"Glad you saw reason."

"Huh?" Grunt said realizing he had pistol pressed against his stomach and Ahsoka another agaainst the back of his head.

"Heh, offer one hadn but arm the other. Wise Shepard. If I find a clan, if I find... What I want. I will honared to evnetually pit them aganist you."

"Just try not to kill any of the crew." Ahsoka said lowering her pistol.

A/N: Sorry for the long update, I have to type at the library cause my computer broke.