A/N: Aaaah, and now I -with the significant aid of fellow author Uzumaki Crossover-turn my eye to the realm of Mass Effect once more. Were it not for him and his significant poking and prodding, I never would've bothered to dig myself out of Skyrim and focus on this story. It truly pays to have friends like that. Someone to give you a good swift kick in the seat when you need it, eh? Ah, but I digress. I've been away from this story for far too long, so as part of my weekly updates...
...We humbly present you with the next chapter. May the Mass Effect be ever with you!
"Wait, we're doing what? With who?"
~Naruto.
Allies
"You're not making my life easy, Shepard." Were the first words Naruto heard upon stepping into the ambassador's office. "Firefights in the wards, an all out assault on Chora's Den-" He cut himself off when he noticed Tali, and finally, Naruto. "Who's this? A quarian?" His eyes narrowed as they settled upon the bloodied blond. "A duct rat?"
"Who's this?" Naruto scoffed under his breath, "Another self-serving, pompous asshole?"
He had the succinct pleasure of watching Donnel Udina's face drain of color.
Anderson arched an eyebrow, the slightest of smiles playing across his lips. "Interesting friend you have there, Shepard."
The red head looked a little uncomfortable at that statement. Naruto was not really a friend yet and he was somewhat abrasive, but she could tell that the blond was looking out for the quarian.
Udina shook his head and said, "What are you up to Shepard?"
"Making your day ambassador." Shepard stated, "She has information linking Saren to the Geth."
Like anyone dealing with politics for a living, Udina was skeptical. "Really? Maybe you better start from the beginning, Miss….?"
"My name is Tali. Tali nar Rayya." She said before gesturing over to the blond who looked a little tired from his fight with Wrex, but was recovering quickly. Still,Shepard thought, he looked like he could use a nap. "And this is my…boyfriend." She still had trouble finally processing that information. "His name is Naruto Uzumaki nar Alari."
The collective group of beings in the room all blinked owlishly at the human and quarian name for the blond. It was Shepard who asked the question. "Why does he have a quarian name as well?"
"That's because when I was in the Terminus Systems, our ship was attacked by the re-emerging Geth." Naruto begrudgingly offered. "I escaped along with a friend, but we got separated. I ended up running into the flotilla and they took me as one of their own after I told them what happened." He finished with a shrug. "I've been living with the Quarians ever since."
"I see." Udina replied, wondering in the back of his mind how he would be able to use this. Anderson was just glad the kid was still sane...or at least as close to it as humanly possible. "In any case, we don't see may Quarians here…nor are they accompanied by a human like him. Why did you leave the flotilla?"
Tali was the one to offer up a reply.
"We are on our pilgrimage, our rite of passage into adulthood, but in my opinion, Naruto doesn't need it since he comes and goes as he pleases and he has helped us immensely."
"Meh, I don't mind the tradition all that much." Naruto shrugged.
Shepard nodded at the cultural tradition. She really wanted to ask about it, but she decided that Saren and the Geth were more important. She was speak her mind later on the ship if these two join her. "Please tell us what you found."
"When we set off, Naruto's information network gave him reports of more Geth sightings. We decided to check it out while we were away. I was personally curious because they drove us into exile. We tracked them to an uncharted world, jumped out and extracted the information out of one via its memory core."
Captain Anderson looked confused at this. "I thought the Geth fried their memory cores when they died. Some kind of defense mechanism."
"How did you manage to preserve the memory core?" Shepard asked, genuinely curious.
"It wasn't easy, but Tali's people made them, so they can salvage the stuff when necessary." Naruto replied. "I helped a bit, seeing I learned a lot from them and with the help of my arm, it was easier…but still only a few things were recovered."
"Arm?" Shepard asked, the statement get the better of her curiosity while also peaking the other humans' curiosity as well.
Naruto scowled. "Dumb mistake on my part. When I left my friend in a pod, I swore I would find her again and I ran to help the remaining crew fight off the Geth. I lost my arm and this one is made of Geth parts."
Captain Anderson blinked at that. He thought that was pretty useful. Still, they had to focus on the now. "What did you salvage?"
"Just a few audio files." Tali replied as she tapped a few buttons on her omni-tool. With the audio file up and running, Saren's voice rang out through the room.
"Eden Prime was a major victory! The beaconhas brought us one step closer to finding the Conduit."
Anderson's eyes widened at that. "That is Saren's voice! This proves he was behind the attack.
"Saren won't get out of this one." Shepard replied, happy they finally got some evidence.
"Wait, there's more." Tali interrupted, "Saren wasn't working alone." Pressing a few more buttons on the omni-tool, she started the recording again.
"Eden Prime was a major victory! The beacon has brought us one step closer to finding the Conduit." Saren voice rang out again.
But the next voice was unknown and female. "And one step closer to the return of the Reapers."
"I feel like I have heard that voice before." Naruto mumbled to himself, wondering who this person could be.
Udina saw that Naruto was having trouble recognizing the voice, so he began to talk himself. "I don't recognize that other voice, the once talking about the Reapers.
"Are they some kind of new alien species?" Shepard asked.
"According to the memory core, the Reapers were a hyper advanced machine race that existed 50,000 years ago. The Reaper hunted the Protheans to total destruction and then they vanished. At least, that what the Geth believe."
"So…not new." Naruto replied as he leaned against the wall next to Wrex. "However, they are new to us."
"Sounds a little far fetched." Udina replied.
Shepard rubbed her head as she thought about the beacon's vision. "The vision on Eden Prime…I understand it now. I saw the Protheans being wiped out by the Reapers."
"Vision huh?" Naruto asked. "Only Asari really care about that, the other races could care less about that crap, but the Geth do revere the Reapers as Gods, the pinnacle of non-organic life. And they believe that Saren knows how to bring them back. I would rather not risk died by them, but I wonder how good they are in a fight, eh Wrex?"
The Krogan chuckled. "Oh, I would count on them being truly tough, though I doubt you could beat one if you can't even beat me."
Naruto's eye twitched. "Hey, I beat that other Krogan!"
"A young idiot is all he was." Wrex grunted, making Naruto growl.
"The council is just going to love this." Udina sighed at all the revealed information.
Shepard glared at the man and said, "The Reapers are a threat to every species in Citadel space. We have to tell them."
"Don't forget the rest of the galaxy. The Terminus Space will be in trouble too….but they are a bunch of badasses, so not by much." Naruto replied with a glare.
"No matter what they think about the rest of this, those audio files prove Saren's a traitor!" Captain Anderson replied.
"The captain's right. We need to present this to the council right away." Udine stated.
"What about Naruto and Quarian?" Wrex asked.
"My name is Tali." She replied forcefully, still not liking him because of his fight with Naruto. "So saw what we could do in the ally Commander, you know what we can do. "Let us come with you!"
"Wait what?" Naruto asked, knowing how this was going to end.
"I'll take all the help I can get." Shepard replied with a small smile. She turned her head to Naruto and smile. "From both of you."
"Great….go on a pilgrimage and end up going on a man hunt to save the galaxy from a mad man wanting to bring the Reapers back to kill us all. Fun." Naruto grunted.
"Oh quit your bitching." Wrex replied, slapping the boy on his back, almost making him fall on his face. "I am sure you will get to fight some strong beings."
Tali smiled behind her mask. Naruto's way of thinking was a little morbid, but she had heard what he did on his own and this was not much different. "Thanks, you won't regret bringing us aboard."
"Anderson and I will go ahead and get things ready with the council. Take a few minutes to collect yourself and meet us in the Tower." Udina replied as he and the captain walked out of the office.
"Great, we get to meet more stuffy politicians." Naruto grumbled, making Wrex laugh out loud.
"Welcome to the Citadel kid!" Wrex laughed, getting a smile from Shepard as well.
"Ugh, I'd rather deal with Omega…" Naruto groaned.
As they made their way up the steps to the Council chambers, Anderson met them half way. "Come on, Udina's presenting the Quarian's evidence to the Council." As they followed the man, they indeed heard the familiar voice of Saren talking to the mystery voice.
With a dramatic flair of his hand, Udina shouted, "You wanted proof, there it is!"
One look at the council showed that they were truly not happy. Not happy at all. The Turian councilor was the most pissed off due to Saren being one of his own. Shaking his head he said, "This evidence is irrefutable, Ambassador. Saren will be stripped of his Spectre statues and all efforts will be made to bring in to answer for his crimes."
The Asari spoke up as well, looking down. "I recognize the other voice, the one speaking with Saren. Matriarch Benezia."
"I feel like I have met her once before." Naruto mumbled again.
Shepard rose an eyebrow and asked, "Who's she?"
The Asari Councilor was more than happy to answer that question. "Matriarchs are powerful Asari who have entered the final stage of their lives. Revered for their wisdom and experience, they serve as guides and mentors to my people. Matriarch Benezia is a powerful biotic, and she had many followers. She will make a formidable ally for Saren."
Finally, the Salarian councilor spoke up after being quiet for so long. "I am more interested in the Reapers, what do you know about them?"
"Only what was extracted from the Geth's memory core." Captain Anderson began, but all this droll was boring Naruto to hell, so he thought he would talk as well.
"Oh you know, the usual about them being responsible for wiping out the Protheans 50,000 years ago and then vanishing, where did they go? Nobody knows. Hell they are machines, they could be anywhere." Naruto replied, being all theatric like Udina was. It was fun, but still not his thing.
The Asari councilor widened her eyes upon seeing him, not knowing him personally, but knowing of him. Before she could speak, Shepard finished for him. "The Geth believe the Reapers are Gods and Saren is the Prophet of their return."
"We think the Conduit is the key to bringing them back. Saren's searching for it. That's way he attacked Eden Prime." Captain Anderson offered.
"Do we even know what this Conduit is?" The Salarian councilor asked.
Shepard shook her head and said, "Saren thinks it can bring back the Reapers. That's bad enough."
Like usual, politics got in the way and those in it always wanted proof. For that, the Turian Councilor spoke up. "Listen to what you're saying! Saren wants to bring back machines that wiped out all life in the galaxy? Impossible, it has to be! Where did the Reapers go? Why did they vanish? How come we have found no trace of their existence? If they were real, we would have found something!"
I wouldn't be too sure about that. Naruto thought as he pictured his old home. He existed, so they must have too. This situation with the Reapers is the same damn thing in his opinion. That brought another question into all of this. When did he start caring about all this?
Ignoring Naruto's inner thoughts for the moment, Shepard grew annoyed with the Turian's constant disbelief of their words. "I tried to warn you able Saren and you refused to hear the truth. Don't make the same mistake again."
The Asari Councilor shook her head. "This is different. You proved Saren betrayed the council. We all agree he is using the Geth to search for the Conduit, but we don't really know why."
"The Reapers are obviously just a myth, Commander." The Salarian councilor replied. "A convenient lie to cover Saren's true purpose. A legend he is using to bend the Geth to his will."
"Fifty thousand years ago the Reaper wiped out all galactic civilization. If Saren finds the Conduit, it will happen again!" Shepard announced, still fighting the council on this.
"Saren is a rogue agen on the run for his life." The angry Turian Councilor replied, "He no longer has the rights or resources of a spectre. The Council has stripped him of his position."
"That is not good enough!" Udina growled out as he clenched his fist. "You know he is hiding in the Traverse. Send your fleet in!"
"A fleet cannot track down one man." The Salarian Councilor replied, believing that was over kill.
Udina sighed. "A Citadel fleet could secure an entire region. Keep the Geth from attacking any more of our colonies!"
The Turian Council countered with his own paranoia, "Or it could trigger a war with the Terminus Systems. We won't be dragged into a confrontation over a few dozen human colonies!"
"Or." Naruto's voice rang out once more, "send one person with a crew full of us aliens to show him what's what. I say send Shepard since she knows what she is doing and what is already going on. And if you are that worried about the Terminus Systems attacking you, for a little mobilization, don't. You know Aria's saying, Don't Fuck with her. If you don't actively attacker and for her men, then she would bother doing shit."
"I have been meaning to ask this, but you are Naruto Uzumaki, correct?" The Asari Councilor asked.
"Yeah, that's me." Naruto replied with a shrug, not seeing how important that was, but a little put off that they already knew his name.
"I have heard a lot about you from Aria. I heard she made you her Spectre equivalent." That sent all eyes, even Tali's, to him and a hush went through out the room. "Also that you are a human that has lived with the Quarians for a good portion of your life. I can see why she did such a thing with a multicultural person."
"Yeah….." Naruto sighed but then got an idea. "If you want to play that card then how about we do this. Since I am the Phantom of the Terminus Systems, I recommend that you make Shepard here your Spectre. Like I said, she knows what she is doing and with me on board, this could be a joint mission between Citadel Space and the Terminus Systems to take down Saren before he brings hell to the Galaxy and we all die. I mean, if Aria can trust me, why can you trust Shepard?" I still don't but this could be a good bonding experience…bah! I am just in it for the fights!
The Asari Councilor smiled. "The Phantom is right. This why we don't have to require the use of our fleets or armies."
"No! It's too soon." The Turian Councilor replied, not liking this idea. He was surprised that Aria of all people choose a human to do her own dirty work. "Humanity is not yet ready for the responsibilities that come with joining the Spectres!"
Despite the Turian's words, Shepard was smiling. Not only because of the Asari Councilor's support but also because of someone she just met with the Quarian. "You don't have to send a fleet into the Traverse and the Ambassador gets his Spectre. Everybody's happy." She replied.
The councilors all looked at each other in silent conversation. Mostly it was the Salarian and Asari Councilors staring at the Turian until he begrudgingly nodded. He didn't have to like this decision. So with that, the three made their decisions on their datapads and stood ready to let Shepard be their Spectre.
"Commander Shepard, step forward." The Asari commanded.
Shepard and Anderson looked at each other before nodding. Shepard stepped forward as she put her hands behind her back as a sign of attention and respect. This event was monumental to all of humanity. All eyes were on her now. She had to be respectful.
The Asari spoke once more. "It is the decision of the Council that you be granted all the powers and privileges of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel.
The Salarian Councilor folded his arms and said, "Spectres are not trained, they are chosen. Individuals forged in the line of service and battle, those whose actions elevate them above rank and file.
"Spectres are an ideal, a symbol. The embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the Council, instruments of out will." The Asari continued.
Begrudgingly, the Turian spoke next, "Spectres bear a great burden. They are protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defence. The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold."
"You are the first human Spectre, Commander." The Asari spoke again. "This is a great accomplishment for your people and your entire species."
Shepard bowed and said, "I'm honored, Councilor."
The Salarian spoke next. "We're sending you into the Traverse after Saren. He's a fugitive from justice and as such, you are authorized to use any means necessary to apprehend or eliminate him."
"I'll find him." Shepard replied with her own brand of determination.
"This meeting of the Council is adjourned. Good luck commander with your Phantom counterpart." The Asari stated before she and her fellow councilors left the stage.
Once she and the others were gone, Naruto spoke up once more. "Good god! I swear all politics are over-dramatic acting." He shook his head with a weariness that Shepard found alarming in his age. said. "Serious, all Aria did was say that I was her Phantom and bam! It was done and over with!"
"That's politics." Udina replied, a little ticked off having had his profession slandered.
Anderson ignored Udina's silent fuming and shook Commander Shepard hand. "Congratulations Commander."
"We've got a lot of work to do Shepard. You're going to need a ship, a crew, supplies…"
"You get access to special equipment and training now. You should go down to C-Sec Academy and speak to the Spectre Requisitions officer." Anderson offered.
"Anderson, come with me. I'll need your help to set all this up!" Udina ordered, acting like business was usual.
As they walked away, Tali spoke her mind to Shepard. "I thought the Ambassador would have been a little more grateful. He didn't even thank you." She risked a glance at Naruto, but for all intensive purposes her new boyfriend seemed to be keeping his own counsel at the moment. He had a strange gleam in his eye-one that said he wasn't entirely pleased by this outcome. But what could've gotten under his skin in such a short time afterward? One could only wonder.
Shepard sighed, breaking the quarian from her thoughts.
"Until I find Saren, I haven't done anything."
Naruto chose that moment to mutter something under his breath. Shepard didn't hear it. Tali, with her sensitive hearing, did.
"You say something?" She asked, falling back into step with him.
The blond nodded and flexed the fingers of his geth arm as they continued on behind Shepard. Tali contemplated the artificial artifice for a moment. He'd been complaining of pains in his newfound limb as of late; she'd wondered if they were what preoccupied his mind now.
"Just a feeling."
"A feeling?" Tali sidled up to him, her shoulder brushing with his. Under most circumstances she wasn't used to such contact, but now that they were, well, together...she just couldn't explain it. She felt a need to be by his side, so powerful it was almost physical. And she wasn't adverse to it. Slowly, tentatively, she reached for his hand, meshing her fingers within his own. Naurto smiled slightly at this contact, the storm clouds slowly fleeing from his vision. He nodded for a second time.
"I think this is gonna be one loooong pilgrimage."
Tali couldn't help but to agree with him.
"Oh, its not so bad." she nudged him aside with an elbow. "You do have some friends, remember? We have Wrex, Shepard...
She half-turned, gazing at him across her shoulder, fumbling with the words behind her helmet.
...and you have me."
"That I do, Tali." Naruto's smile bloomed from a slight smirk to a beatific grin. Then he tugged her towards him. Before Tali could protest he drew her into a strong embrace, leaned forward, and pressed both lips to her helmet. It was the closest they could ever come to kissing without risking an infection on her part and although it was a far cry from a true kiss-the way he held her in that instant sent her heart hammering like a dozen drums the pounding of which resonated somewhere deep inside her like the rhythym of a great symphony, crescendoing higher and higher until it was all she could do not to remove her mask and kiss him breathless. It might even be worth risking an infection...
Keelah!
Tali shook herself and pulled away from him. Rather, she tried. But her body didn't listen, she stroked his face with a three-fingered hand, caressing his whiskered cheek in fascination. They were so smooth...
"Hey," Naruto purred, "That feels nice." He dipped an arm lower around
Stop stop stop! Tali desperately tried to muster her flagging self control. Because she didn't want him to now, not ever-
"W-We should be going." she sputtered, her cheeks flushing violet behind her helm. "Wouldn't want them to leave us behind...
"Yeah, guess you're right." Naruto conceded. He still didn't release her hand, even when she allowed him to lead.
They walked that way in silence, simply holding hands, enjoying one another's company.
A bittersweet thought pierced Naruto's mind, intruding upon their happy moment. Jack. Once again thought of her came roaring back. Where was she now? What was she doing? Was she still alive? Was she dead? Dear god, did she think he was dead? What would she think of him and Tali? Try as he'd might, he couldn't bring himself to push these thoughts from his mind. Not entirely. They hung there like a bad aftertaste, condemning him for being happy while she was out there somewhere; probably lost and alone and it was his fault and oh how he missed her-
"Naruto?"
The former jinchuuriki blinked, shook his head. Tali didn't know how felt about Jack. She could never know. Because he cared for her. Deeply. Dearly. By the ancestors...he might even love her. This thought chilled him to the core. He was starting to realize just what he felt for Tali. But how did he feel about Jack? They'd spent years in captivity together under the thumb of Cerberus, only to be separated. He'd only caught of a glimpse of her and that glimpse had been enough to stir old feelings up, mixing them into a maelstrom of nostalgia and emotion. He would find her, he promised himself. And when he did he would square things with her and of course Tali, ridding himself of this monkey on his back; this neverending guilt that came back to plague him at the worst of times.
"Naruto?" Tali was looking at him with concern now. He needed to placate her.
"No, its nothing." Naruto replied. "Just pre-mission jitters, I guess. Never gone after a Spectre before". Liar, his subconcsious hissed. it wasn't jitters. He'd faced down worse than this and come out on top. He hated not being able to tell her the truth; because he didn't think she'd be able to bear it. And he didn't want to lose what they'd only just found in one another. Just a little while longer, Naruto. he told himself. You will be able to tell her soon, someday soon...
He swore to himself for a final time that he would make things right between himself and Jack the moment he found her. He would tell her what had happened with him and Tali, would make her understand, and all this damned anxiety would turn out fine and dandy. Then this guilt would be just a memory.
"Just a memory." the words were soft, unheard even by Tali.
Steeling himself, Naruto held tight to Tali's hand and continued after Shepard...
...taking one more step towards his destiny.
A/N: And there we go. I had originally intended to make this chapter longer, but work has been INTENSELY demanding of late, and I barely have the time anymore. Events pick up rapidly as of the next chappy: we meet Liara, chaos and hilarity ensues, and much much more where Naruto is involved. As one can tell he's hardly a pushover in this story, but feels obligated to help Shepard after all that has happened. And he's right. This is gonna be a looooong pilrgimage. And DAAAAAW for Tali and Naruto! The question is...how long will it last? Find out next time...
...on Bring Down the Sky!
And of course, in the immortal words of Atlas...
...REVIEW, WOULD YA KINDLY?
R&R! =D