Chapter 64: The Other Son

34 years ago, The moon of Klendagon:

Saren stared at the one picture he had left of Desolas wondering, what would he do right now? This particular picture of him with Saren was right before the twenty five year old deployed to Shanxi. The grin on his own face made him realize how ignorant of a ten year old he truly was. Desolas' expression was serious yet he was clearly trying to hide his fear for Saren's benefit. Looking back, how often had his brother been able to hide how dire their situation always was? It was the last time he would see him before Harper and his goons tore him apart and laughed at the corpse. How had he managed to work with the smug son of a bitch for so long?

Proving the Harpers were ultimately behind the abductions instead of Oraka had been easy, if you were motivated to find the evidence. However, the Alliance's Ambassador, Goyle something's public statements made him sick. Things like, 'We'll see soon enough,' and, 'An internal investigation will be launched' were code for he's getting away with it. Human's first instinct was to protect their own instead of taking responsibility for their species reckless racism. The question Saren was faced with was whether or not to let that happen. Primarch Fedorian's nomination for him to join the SPECTREs was sitting on his desk. He could take the first shuttle off of this backwater colony back to the Citadel at any point and leave all of this behind. But, then the chances that Desolas' spirit could never rest lacking true retribution for his death. If he left, he would never be able to find Harper again. The disgusting Human was only still here because his disgusting wife was too pregnant to travel.

So, what was holding him back from going to kill him? His first major problem was a fear of getting caught. Attempting to kill a dozen Humans wouldn't just reflect badly on him, but on Desolas' memory as well as the Vakarian's standing. Mom, Dad, and especially Solana didn't deserve that after everything they've done for him. Second, they were keeping Harper in a secure medical facility because his wife was due to spawn another horrid abomination any day now. If it only contained just the two of them, Saren wouldn't hesitate, but countless innocent civilians frequented that establishment. Not all of the Human population was as morally bankrupt as the Harpers and their friends. Last but not least, his CO in the cabal was also spending a lot of time in the base. Many of the others in his unit found it odd he was spending a majority of his time in a Human centric medical facility but, he just thought they were blind to what was right in front of them.

He glanced at the picture of Desolas again and remembered his brother telling him to never give up, "Your right, I have to keep going. I'm so close to avenging you my brother..." After a few seconds, he spoke louder, "Avina, contact Commander Victus on a secure channel, audio only."

A static voice of the Turian came from the ceiling, "What are you still doing here Saren? I released you from the cabal, the Citadel is about a thousand light years away."

Saren moved about his small temporary apartment trying to not sound distracted, "What are you doing right now?"

Adrien said nothing for a few seconds, "Going to the clinic, like I've done since we caught Harper and have time off. You didn't answer my question though."

Saren pretended to look at the weather, "You know, I've heard it's a beautiful night tonight. Maybe you should take her out for dinner or something...?"

Adrien sounded irritated now, "Saren, we are on a moon with no atmosphere. There's nowhere nice to take someone even if I was visiting a particular person. Cut the bullshit, why are you calling?"

Before he had made this call, Saren had been convinced of what he needed to do tonight. Now that he was actually facing tough questions, he didn't know what to say. Adrien was definitely smart enough to catch him in a lie that he didn't truly feel anyways. On the other hand, if his now former CO felt differently about the Harpers than he did, he would surely be stopped before he had the opportunity to complete his plan. Again, Saren was tempted to lie and tell him Shepard was in danger with Harper but, the slightly older Turian would see right through him. A rational person would call him crazy, or suicidal, or both but Saren knew his only chance was convincing Victus that Harper had to die.

Saren scoffed, "Please, we both know that you and the mission's second in command were dancing around each other long before her husband was killed and will continue long after. So, let's both cut the bullshit. Have you seen Ambassador Goyle's comments?"

A single word came back, "Yes."

Saren pressed his advantage, "He's going to get off Adrien and you know it.-"

Adrien cut him off, "Hannah was there just like you were Saren, just like I was. Our testimony will sink him no matter what back room deals he's trying to make now."

Saren rolled his eyes at the ceiling, "A man that has conducted that many experiments under the radar while framing someone else for the crime and investigating it is useful for their government. They'll need him in the future and not care that he almost started a war."

Adrien argued back, "The Alliance believes in justice and making those responsible for bloodshed suffer for many years. Why else would they order her to capture him?"

Saren wanted to growl at him but kept it down, "Tell that to my brother Adrien."

The Turian sounded tired now, "We've been over this Saren. It's your word against his, Alec Ryder's, and Gilbert Leng's. After ten years their isn't any evidence on Shanxi to prove anyone right."

Saren couldn't help but let his anger bubble up, "Let me remind you that all three of those men were part of the same conspiracy we just stopped. A conspiracy that almost caused another galaxy wide conflict ten years after we were just in one. And yet, the Alliance still believes them over my testimony regarding Shanxi. Adrien, Desolas' spirit deserves to rest and we both know that the Alliance won't give him justice."

While everything he just said was true, Saren couldn't help but feel it was a desperate plea. He had no idea if Adrien was religious so, his bit about the spirits could fall on deaf ears. Truth be told, he hadn't started believing in the dominant Turian religion until he learned he would be a part of an investigation with Jack Harper. It was as though the spirits themselves had given him the opportunity to avenge his brother. When he was able to reveal Harper had been behind everything all along, it was just icing on the cake. He had a justified reason to go after him other than Shanxi. He knew that if the situation was reverse, the Turians would root out the terrorist responsible for all this violence. Hopefully, Adrien felt as strongly about justice as his own adoptive father.

He could hear Turian talons drumming on something next to the microphone, "What do you need from me?"

The wave of relief rolling through Saren almost made him forget what he had planned on asking, "I need you to take her away from the clinic tonight for twenty minutes while I go do what we both know has to happen."

Adrien left a few uncomfortable seconds of silence hang in the air, "Promise me something first. Promise me no one else in that facility will be harmed and you'll turn yourself in immediately after."

Saren looked at himself in the mirror knowing this was the last chance he had to forget about this. He was wearing overly large armor and a helmet Humans wore painted in Alliance colors. Adrien assumed like many that an eye for an eye was the worst kind of revenge you could commit but, Saren saw that as simple minded. Once he had met Harper and his Alliance squad, he had decided he was going to make the man suffer in the same way he had suffered. His plan was to frame the man for the death of his pregnant wife and the rest of his 'friends.' A few credits to the prison warden could go a long way in making sure a perfectly behaved inmate appeared to have escaped on vid feeds. The picture of Desolas was urging him forward, everything else was in motion anyways, what was one more lie?

He let a pause seem like he was conflicted and just now came to a decision, "I promise. Now, go take Shepard out of that clinic, I'll be waiting on your signal."

_o0o_

Now:

Miranda's voice came to him as they travelled up an elevator to the Turian dreadnought's bridge, "What makes you think he'll listen to you after Klendagon?"

He admitted to himself that was an extremely good question. When he volunteered to go talk to Adrien, it was more to take pressure off of Shepard who obviously was struggling to come up with a plan. Saren hadn't lied though, he and Adrien were technically close but, it was their connection on Klendagon that made them so. The Turian could've ended any chance he had at becoming a SPECTRE if he had just gave the same story Hannah had, yet, he hadn't. He instead called her crazy and delusional for thinking Saren could do such a thing even though he had been with her to 'rescue' Harper. Adrien knew just as well as he did that Harper was a threat to galactic security, he just had to remind him.

Saren watched their progress up the elevator making sure he had time to speak, "Because I had the best chance of getting us out of here peacefully. Unlike the plan your psychopathic friend was hatching up."

Miranda laughed at him very amused, "Leng isn't my friend, he's a work associate that I've never quite seen eye to eye with. I believe Humanity needs a larger role in galactic policy, he thinks we should have the only role."

Saren gazed at her curiously, "Are you sure that's what Harper believes? Or is he more in line with your 'associate?'"

Miranda wouldn't look at him directly, "I used to know the answer to that question but, ever since Shepard got into the picture I'm not sure anymore.."

Saren smirked having found a weak spot, "Maybe you should ask yourself why your staying in a company that keeps people like Leng and Cora around."

Miranda was an interesting creature Saren thought to himself. She didn't treat everyone like family which was all the Shepard's problem but, she also wasn't as bloodthirsty as the others in Cerberus. It was clear she had principles and lines she would not cross. How could a person like that get swept up in Harper's crusade anyways? The answer didn't matter to him really, all that mattered was sewing doubt in her mind. If they had any chance of getting away from Cerberus like Shepard planned, she was going to have to be onboard. Not because he enjoyed her company, he frankly hated everything she represented but, because her biotic ability rivaled his own. He didn't want to be tangled up in a fight with her while that assassin was going to be running around. Unfortunately, further conversion was going to have to wait, they were here.

The sights and sounds of a fully staffed Turian bridge was something Saren hadn't known he missed until now. Since he was part of the cabal and then fast tracked into becoming a SPECTRE, the only time he had actually served on a ship like this were his early academy days. The crew was apparently ignoring him, maybe they didn't recognize him anymore with his fringe torn off? Looking around more, Saren realized they were in full battle ready mode and were preparing for more combat. Saren couldn't tell if it was a good or bad sign for his cause that Victus was already getting ready to fight. The sixty five year old Turian was sitting at his command desk looking over scrolling Collector data with his irritated son sitting beside him.

Tarquin ignored Saren as he approached too wrapped up with his father, "It doesn't matter if he's right. He started a war and you can't possibly even begin to understand all that data in twenty minutes."

Saren took the opportunity to make himself known, "Then maybe I can help, I've been around the Reapers for years. What do you want to know?"

The entire room seemed to stop what it was doing after hearing his iconic voice. Saren wondered if this was the best way to make an entrance considering the galaxy believed he had been dead for two years but, they didn't have time to do this the politically correct way. What he hadn't been expecting was the bridge crew to draw guns on him, however, it made sense. Similar to the Quarian-Geth situation, he had surely created a negative image for Turians across the galaxy due to his work with Sovereign. His mind thought about trying to tell everyone in here that his actions were the result of long term indoctrination but, he would've sounded like a crazy person. It was better to let his current actions speak for themselves.

Tarquin was the first to recover from the shock of seeing him, "Spirits, is the entire Normandy crew just the most famous terrorists Cerberus could find? Next your going to tell me your hiding Mandaria Lanex on that ship. Security, get them out of here back to their ship."

Adrien held up a hand while glaring directly at him, "Hold that order for a moment, I'd very much like to know why Saren Arterius thinks he has the right to come on my bridge without an invitation."

Saren stood tall showing no regret for what he had done on Klendagon, "I'm here to tell you the Reapers are real, and to convince you to let us go after them."

Tarquin stepped in front of his father, "If the Reapers are real, if they really do want to kill all life in our galaxy, why would you help them do it? I thought SPECTREs were supposed to protect us from things like that?"

Saren didn't pay much attention to him other than to say, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Just like the Council didn't take my word but, you don't have to. All of that data proves everything Shepard has been claiming is true."

Adrien stood up, "It's data that could be easily faked to fool a general like myself. And now I learn it's partially coming from you. Why should I trust you at all? After what you've done."

He was frankly getting annoyed with Adrien's holier than thou attitude. Yes, he hadn't led an army of Geth to attack the Citadel but, he wasn't a saint either. He had seduced a married woman into an affair, accidentally got her husband killed, and then had a child with her only to leave her because of political changes in the Hierarchy. Saren doubted anyone in this room knew this history so to imply he was the only liar in the room was laughable. Adrien had been better than to hide behind political convenience back when he knew him well. Being the potential next Primarch certainly changed a person if he was a good example to go by. Unlike the Council meeting though, Saren wasn't going to lie down and take it. The consequences for doing nothing were too big to not use every card he had at his disposal.

His mandibles flared as he pushed past Tarquin, "Cut the shit, I know you've engaged the Collector dreadnought because I was fighting on it. You know it's more advanced than anything in either one of our life times. This is real."

Adrien glanced at the table and walked around it to get some distance between them, "The Collector ship was advanced but, finding something like them was bound to happen. It doesn't prove their out to kill all life, just that we're having a bad first contact."

Miranda jumped in, "If you look at the Mass Relay information we obtained you'll be able to see the Collectors went to each world where Human colonists were kidnapped just before it happened, every time. That's far more than a simple coincidence."

Tarquin shot back at her, "Wanna talk coincidences? Why is the Red Rose, a Cerberus ship currently sitting in our loading dock, appearing to go to each site ahead of the Collectors? Jamming Mass Relay communications so the Collectors could sweep in and out before they could call for help?"

Miranda bit her lip getting uncomfortable, "A rogue agent appears to have been working with them for her own twisted ends. Cerberus finished her off and now is trying to clean up her mess."

Tarquin put his hands on his hips and rolled his eyes, "How convenient it was a rogue agent. I'm starting to think the Collectors are just an experiment you people let loose and now your panicking to stop it."

Seeing a few heads around the room nod in agreement, Saren knew he had to go for the hail mary whispering, "Adrien, you owe her this."

It was a theoretical stab to the heart that he had been saving for the last possible moment. He had betrayed Hannah twice in his life, dragging her away from the clinic full of her friends knowing Saren was coming to kill one of them, then lying on his report to throw her under the bus. From Saren's perspective it had been for a good cause, trying to make sure Harper never saw the light of day ever again but, at what cost? It was hard to imagine Adrien wouldn't have left the fleet to be with Hannah if she hadn't been furious with him. How different would Shepard's life have been if he was with both his parents? If the situation was flip flopped he was positive Hannah would've done this for her son. Saren just hoped that Adrien still cared for his son to do the same, otherwise, he made a miscalculation that effected the entire galaxy.

Adrien marched directly into his face, "You have the balls to say that to me after what you did to me? To us?"

Saren didn't budge, "You did that to yourself, you could've turned me in. You didn't because deep down you believed what I did was right! That not everyone could be forgiven for their actions regardless of what she said."

Tarquin's gaze bounced between the two of them, "What is he talking about dad...?"

Adrien snapped in anger, "None of your business Tarquin. Clear the bridge, I need a few minutes alone with Saren."

Tarquin pushed between the two men getting in his father's face, "No, you can't just brush me off like that. Why haven't we reported we've found Shepard yet to the Alliance? What's going on?!"

Adrien glared at him, "I told you if we admit we captured him on Tuchanka the accords are broken and it would be all out war with the Krogan on top of the Terminus! Do you want that?"

Tarquin was clearly becoming more frustrated, "We have made three FTL jumps outside the Krogan DMZ! Three! Surely by now we could say we found the ship drifting in space somewhere out here."

Adrien clenched his hands into fists, "Spirits preserve me... Jack Shepard is your half brother. Are you happy now?"

Saren winced realizing he had caused this rather heated exchange. Despite appearances, Saren hadn't wanted to cause a scene, he just needed to get the Normandy in the air as soon as possible. It was Adrien's fault for not telling his son the hard truth sooner. He had specifically sent a message to Turian High Command about the possibility of this coming out through Cerberus but, it was obvious no one listened to his warnings. The rest of the room had an eerie quiet as if everyone was processing the information at the same time. Yes, if Tarquin and Adrien both died immediately after Primarch Fedorian, Jack Shepard would become the Primarch.

Tarquin stared at him disbelief all over his face, "When? How? Why...?"

Adrien looked down to the ground, "A few years before I met your mother... Now, you can leave and not have to hear the details Saren here is dying to hash out or, you can declare a mutiny if you think I'm compromised." He let his gaze roam across the room to the rest of the bridge crew, "Each and every one of you could if you think my judgement is clouded. However, I'd like to remind you all that instead of sending my son on his way without a word, I'm keeping him here until I can look over this evidence and figure out what to do with him that won't start a war. If anyone has a faster solution I'm all ears."

Tarquin ended the silence obviously still distracted, "D..did Mom know..?"

Another bridge crew member took his arm, "Come on, let's go take a walk before you do something we all regret..."

Tarquin pushed out of his grip, "Answer me! Did Mom know?"

Adrien's eyes fell to the ground not sure where else to look, "Yes, she knew I loved someone else before her. And that I kept loving that person from afar after we got together."

Tarquin was starting to shake with tears in his eyes, "That's why I was never good enough isn't it? Why you never came to any of my academy events? Why you always questioned my every decision and never just loved me for who I was? I mean, how could I ever compete against one of the youngest N7's ever and the first Human SPECTRE?"

Adrien tried to approach him, "Of course I love you! I may not have been there as much as I could have but, I-"

Tarquin spat at his feet, "Save it. I'll be in my quarters, have fun with the son that actually matters to you."

Adrien slumped back into his chair watching Tarquin go, "Does anyone else have something to say to me?" After a short pause, Adrien rubbed his browplates, "Are you happy now that you have destroyed my family? Again?"

Miranda opened her omni tool broadcasting footage from the Collector attack on the Normandy, "Not quite, this is surveillance footage of the Collectors kidnapping our people. The girl here, the one with the tattoos for clothes? That would be Jennifer Summers or Subject Zero. She's the closest thing you'll probably ever have to grandchild on Shepard's side. Him and his husband have been taking care of her for a few months and I can't deny the family dynamic. Our AI predicted she has around sixteen hours left, that's why you have to let us go."

Adrien watched the recording between two fingers as though he had a headache, "She's a fiesty one isn't she...? Shit, I can't just forward this to the Alliance can I?"

Saren smirked at his comment, "She's brave and stupid, just like all the other Shepard's you have attached yourself to. And no, you can't. They won't be able to save her in time, we have to go now."

Adrien stared out the viewport for a long time, "I can't let you leave and start another war... But, I'm not going to doom a sixteen year old to die either so... Navigator, set a new course for the Omega-4 Relay."

The Turian stared at him, "Sir, because of the Terminus' actions, Omega is a warzone right now. Alliance and Batarian forces are clashing over the asteroid."

Adrien stood up with energy in his movement, "It's a good thing this is a warship then. It's time we join the party."

Saren grinned, his and Miranda's pressure worked. It was time to go.