Disclaimer: I don't own Mass Effect

Chapter 5: Citadel

Shepard started to wake up. While he was doing so he heard. "Doc he's waking up. Easy now commander." Ashley said has she told Doctor Chakwas before speaking to him. "She's right commander you were out for about 17 hours now let's check on you and see if there's anything." Chakwas told him. After doing a scan on him she said. "It all checks out however while you were unconscious I picked up some unusual beta waves that normally goes with intense dreaming, was there anything that may be the signs of that while you were asleep?" She asked him. "I'm not sure whatever it did. It made me see what felt like some kind of vision or and an dream or rather a nightmare of some sort. From what I saw it looked like an unknown race of some kind being attacked by synthetics of some kind that were wiping them out. I couldn't tell what the race looked like but from what I could tell the synthetics didn't look like the Geth. From what I can tell it's a warning of some kind but of what it's trying to say is the problem for I could barely understand anything but the few images I told you of." He told her. "I see I'll put it in the report, there may be a answer for what it-oh captain." Chakwas said as she saluted Anderson as he and Nuhlus came in the med bay.

"How's our commander doing?" he asked Chakwas. "He's doing fine but as admitted that the Beacon as indeed affected him in a form, I have just put it in my report for you to look at. Other than that he's clear to leave" She replied to his question. "I see however I wish to speak to Shepard alone." He ordered. "How are you Shepard?" Anderson asked him. "Aside from a light headache I'm fine." he answered. "Chakwas said the Beacon affected you? Do you mind telling me." Anderson asked him. "It had." Shepard said before repenting what he said a couple of minutes ago to Chakwas. "This isn't good if it's indeed a warning then we need to find out what it means. And why Saren was there and has sided with the geth." Nuhlus said. "Nether way with my testimony and that of a dock worker who was nearby and saw all of it, the helmet recordings of you and your squad, and a couple of recovered vids from cameras at the spaceport that were just sent to us a few minutes ago, the council will have to take his Spectre statics away from him." He continued to speak. "We're almost there so head up and tell Joker to pull us into dock when we do get the ground team together and met us at the airlock." Anderson ordered Shepard. Anderson and Nuhlus left the med bay.

Shepard left the med bay and found Ashley sitting at one of the tables of the mess hall. "Commander it's good to see you're alright." She said as she walked up to him. "I'm guessing Anderson decided to have you come along?" He asked her. "Yes sir partly because of me being a witness to what happened and how well I did on Eden Prime. Also I'm sorry about what happened with the Beacon. If I haven't gotten close and triggered a security field this wouldn't had happened." She said as she explained why she was on the Normandy. "It's not your fault someone else could had been caught in it." He told her as he pointed that out to her. "True sir, didn't think of that." she said to him. "Can you go grab Kaiden and meet me at the bridge near the airlock the captain wants us to be there when we get the the Citadel." Shepard told her. "Will do sir." she replied.

Shepard went up the stairs after he put his armor back on and used his Omni tool sent a message to Jenkins to met him at the airlock. He walked through the CIC to the bridge where Joker is at. "Good timing, Commander. I was just about bring us into the Citadel. See that taxpayer money at work." Joker told Shepard as they headed towards the Mass Relay. The ship soon got in range and was sent to the Serpent Nebula. It was a couple of minutes before the Citadel came in sight. The ground team came in the bridge. "Look at the size of that ship." Ashley told the others pointing out the largest ship in the defense fleet for the Citadel. "That the Ascension, the flagship of the Citadel Defense Fleet." Kaiden said as he told them what he knew of the ship. "Well size isn't everything." Joker told them. "Why are you being so touchy about it Joker?" Ashley asked him. "I'm just pointing out you need firepower as well." Joker says trying to defend himself. "Still look at that monster, it's main gun can rip through the barriers of any ship in the Alliance fleet." Ashley tells them more to point out to Joker that it's got the firepower needed. "Still It's a good thing it's on our side then." Jenkins said to them. Joker just shakes his head at them before contacting Citadel Control. "Citadel Control, this is SSV Normandy requesting permission to land." Joker says as he asks them. "Stand by for clearance Normandy." One of the controller's tell them. A minute later. "Clearance granted, you may make your approach, transferring you to a Alliance Operator." "Roger that, Normandy out." Joker tells them. A minute later. "This is Alliance Tower Normandy. Please proceed to docking bay 422." The Alliance Operator tells Joker. "Copy that, heading to docking bay 422." Joker acknowledges the Alliance Operator. A couple of minutes later they arrived and were soon docking in the bay.

The ground team moves to the airlock. A minute later Anderson and Nuhlus joins them. "The ambassador will be waiting for us on the dock." Anderson told them. They walked out and found Ambassador Udina waiting for them. "This is the ground team?" Udina asked Anderson. "Yes they are the ones who were there when it all went down." Anderson answered him. "Good then I'm here to tell you that the hearing is in 4 hours at the Presidium Tower. I'll see to it that you will have access to the council meeting room." Udina told them before leaving. "Alright then, you heard him be at the Presidium Tower in 4 hours, and this is from me but if you find anything that can help us out take it to the embassy till then dismissed." Anderson told them. Shepard and the ground team went to the lift and took it down to C-sec headquarters. After that they split up with Shepard heading to the Wards.

Shepard was going through the Wards looking at some of the different items for sale. While he was checking out an new pistol an Striker IV he saw out of the corner of his eye an Turian going into a med center crouching. He traded in his old pistol an Edge II and payed the difference before going to the med center. He opened the door hand on his pistol. He saw the turian slowly moving around the corner while a doctor was at the end of the counter with a group of thugs. "Ok, I wouldn't say anything about the Quarian." The Doctor said to the thug leader. "That's a wise idea doc, don't tell Garrus or else-what the!" the thug leader said before seeing Shepard. He then grabbed the doctor holding her like a shield in front of him pulling out a pistol, Shepard pulled out his pistol as well. "Who the hell are you!? Get the fuck out of here and don't say anything or I'll kill the doc!" The thug said before the Turian spined out of cover and landed a shot to his head the body falling forcing the doctor down with it. The other 4 thugs took cover in the back which was a bad idea for them when Shepard tossed a grenade with them which killed three of them, the last jumping clear only to get a shot to the head by the Turian. Shepard shook his head at the last thug before rounding on the turian cutting him off when he was about to speak. "Are you a fucking moron? That shot could had hit the doctor! I could tell that if he had moved back a second before you fired you would had killed her." Shepard reprimanded Garrus. "I-I'm sorry I just reacted, Doc Mitchell are you alright?" He asked Mitchell. "I'm fine but thank you Garrus." Mitchell told him. "So doc any reason they were here? I heard some of it but I'm not getting the full picture here?" Shepard asked Mitchell. "They were sent by Fist to keep me from telling Garrus about an Quarian." Mitchell told Shepard and Garrus. "Did the Quarian say anything that would tell us why?" Garrus asked her. "When she came here she was injured but she said she had information the Shadow Broker would be interested in. I sent her to Fist so I don't know why he sent his men here." Mitchell answered him. "Fist doesn't work for the Shadow Broker anymore he turned on him." Garrus told them. "Is he mad, no one does that and live that's asking for death." Mitchell said in shock. "Did the information had anything to do with the Geth?" Shepard asked her. "Yes, she said it had to deal with the Geth." Mitchell told them. "If it's what I think it's about then we need to find her fast." Shepard told Garrus. "If you mean Saren then yes we do." Garrus replied to him. "I got some squad mates I can call in. we will likely need the backup." Shepard told him as they left the Clinic. "Call them we'll need it to fight Fist's men to get to him." Garrus told him.

Shepard called in his squad and Nuhlus telling them to met the pair outside of Chora's Den. it took a few minutes for them to get there. When they did Shepard's squad with Nuhlus and a Krogan was seen by the door. However before the two could join the others. "There they are kill them!" A thug yelled from a air car. The group pulled out their guns and took cover behind the rails while four air cars and a air van landed with the thugs getting out and shooting at the group using the cars they came on as cover. The firefight lasted for couple minutes due to the fact that most of the thugs had shit equipment and little to no training and the few who did have better equipment and/or training didn't last long after the other ones were killed. When the battle ended they regrouped at the door after checking the corpses for anything to tell why they attacked them but only found info of an bounty on them and a couple of new assault rifles for Ashley and Jenkins, a Terminator III and a uncommon Grogon II. "Everyone this is Wrex who was sent by the Shadow Broker to kill Fist. He'll help us out to get his target but will wait till we get the info. Learned of him when I met a informant. He agreed to help us if we help him get Fist" Nuhlus told them of the Krogan who nodded when Nuhlus told them of the agreement. "I don't know if these were Fist's men but there's no doubt they know we are here. So be ready, this won't be easy. The bar goes in two directions with Fist's office at the other end of the room. Ashley, Kaiden and Wrex will go right. Shepard, Jenkins, and I will go left. Garrus hung back some and give us some sniper support." Nuhlus told them. "Open it." he told Garrus who was at the door with a C-sec code ready. Garrus put in the code and moved out of the way of the door. A large amount of gunfight poured through the doorway before stopping which they went through.

There was a pair of barricades put up using tables on both side of the bar with a few men behind both rows and a couple on top of the balcony above the bar. The firefight was a stalemate for several minutes before Garrus got one of the men on the balcony. "Scopled and dropped" he said. After that the fight slowly turned to Shepard and his team taking out five more of Fist's men before Wrex yelled. "That's it! I'm not sitting around anymore." And then charged through the left barricade. He ran through it and started using his shotgun and botics to a deadly effect at close range ripping Fist's forces apart. The rest of them using the carnage that Wrex was doing to get to the barricades and take out Fist's men. After that the fight ended a couple of minutes later with the last thug killed by a burst of fire by Shepard to the head as Wrex killed the Krogan bouncer. They went through the doorway and found a couple of warehouse workers who pointed where Fist's office was before leaving saying. "Fist thought we would help him because he's our boss but we aren't willing to die for him just because of that." one of the men told them. The other one was heard saying under his breath. "He's also a cheap asshole." The group went in to see Fist standing in front of his desk. "Why do I always have to deal with shit like this myself." Fist said pulling out a gun while a turret came out of the floor on both sides of his desk as he jump behind it hitting a button while doing so. The firefight was short with three Overloads from Garrus, Kaiden, and Nuhlus sent to the left turret while two grenades were thrown at the right one. The turrets were taken out with Fist's pistol taken from him by a weak Pull from Kaiden.

"What the hell do you bastards want with me?!" Fist yelled at them. "Where's the Quarian Fist?" Shepard asked him. "I don't know what the hell you are talking about." Fist answered. Shepard fired a shot next to Fist's left leg. "Where's the Quarian or I'll shoot your left knee and then your right one. "He warned Fist. "Ok Ok damn it. I sent her to where I told her she'll meet the Shadow Broker, which isn't true. She'll meet Saren's men and not the Broker who will kill her." Fist told them giving the coordinates to the meeting place. "Now can I leave? I need to get the fuck out of here before the Broker sends someone to deal with me." Fist asks Shepard. "Me? Yes I will. Him? I don't think so, not when he's here to kill you by the Broker." Shepard said pointing at Wrex who grinned at Fist before firing his shotgun blowing Fist's head into a mist of blood. "Come on the meeting is in 15 minutes let's move!" Shepard told them group having them run to the exit.

They ran out of the building following Shepard into the alleyways. They ran through them and reached the area. Shepard looked out and saw a pair of turians leaning on one of the walls and a group of five salarians at a corner. Footsteps are heard coming down the other entrance to the area and the Quarian is seen coming down with another turain and two salarians. The two turians got off the wall. "Get ready people, we got here just on time. Three turians and seven salarians." Shepard told the group that's with him. "Where the Shadow Broker and Fist?" the Quarian asked one of the turians. "Easy now. Got a message that they'll be here in a couple of minutes. You got the info you said you had?" He asked her siding his hand on her. "Back off the deal's off." She told him. The turians pulled out their pistols as salarians turned and pulled out pistols as well when she said that. The Quarian pushed the turian back and tossed an item at the salarians which blew up a couple of seconds later forcing them to split up. "Move!" Shepard yelled. The team went in guns firing. "Ashley Kaiden get over there and keep her safe." Shepard ordered them. "Yes sir! Come on Ash." Kaiden replied. The two moved towards the Quarian. Meanwhile three of the salarians were killed when the group first came in firing after being caught off guard. The remaining seven enemies were now trapped in an cross fire. Nuhlus pulled out a weapon that the others didn't see off his back. When it was formed it was seen as a grenade launcher. "Fire in the hole." He said before shooting once and blew a good chunk of the cover way killing four enemies in one shot. "Holy hell!" Shepard said. The remaining three enemies were killed off quickly after that.

"Where the hell were you hiding that?" Shepard asked Nuhlus having not noticing he had it on him. "Left it behind here before I joined you. Not going to now till this shit is over." Nuhlus explained to Shepard. "Not a bad idea with Saren and the army of Geth he has." Shepard said. They grouped up with Ashley, Kaiden, and the Quarian. "You alright miss? Shepard asked to the Quarian. "Yes and thank you for helping but why did they do this?" She asked him. "Fist betrayed the Shadow Broker and set you up." Shepard answered her. "What I thought something was off but really? Is he that dumb? Anyway my name is Tali'Zorah nar Rayna but you can call me Tali." Tali said as she shook her head at Fist's dumb move. "Is there anyway I can repay you?" She asked them. "We were told that you had info on the Geth and or Saren, can you show it to us? We have been looking for you for that so we can give it to the council." Shepard asked her. "The info? I can show you it now if you want." She replied and started typing on her Omni Tool. "Not here, let's head to the Embassies. It'll be safer there" Nuhlus spoke up. "He's right let's get there now. Tali can you stay in the middle of us? It would be the safest for you till we get there." Shepard asked her. "I can do that." She replied nodding.

A few minutes later found them at the Human Embassy. "I get the fact you were looking for additional info but really? Firefights in the Wards, storming Chora's Den? You aren't making things easy for me are you Shepard?" Udina asked Shepard. However Nuhlus stepped in and spoke. "There's nothing for you to worry about Ambassador used my Spectre Clearance ahead of time for this case. So there will be no trouble heading your way from this." Nuhlus told him. "Well that's something." Udina said to himself before speaking again. "Now you said you had info that can help us with Saren?" He asked Tali. "Yes I do, it's from a Geth's memory core after I tracked one down when I heard reports of them during my travels." She explained. "I thought the Geth fried their memory core as a defense mechanism?" Anderson asked her. "It's in part of my people having made the Geth and being quick and careful you can save some small caches of data. Most of the core was wiped clean but I was able to salvage something from it's audio banks." Tali explained and then played it. 'Eden Prime was a major victory. The beacon as brought us one step closer to finding the Conduit." Saren's voice played. "And one step closer to the return of the Reapers." Another voice spoke after Saren's. "That was all I got." Tali told them. "That was Saren but who was that with him." Nuhlus asked himself. "That's true, but what are those Reapers they spoke of?" Anderson asked Tali. "From what I have been able to recover the Reapers were a hyper-advanced machine race that existed 50,000 years ago. They hunted the Protheans to total extinction, and then vanished. Or so the Geth believe." Tali explained to them the info that she had recovered. 'This sounds familiar. Could it be that the Beacon was trying to tell be this?' Shepard thought to himself. "While it's of some concern of whatever Saren's planning this will help us remove him from the Spectres." Udina said to the group the hearing starts in about a hour so let's go so we won't be late which will not help us." Udina told us as he got up. They all left the room to exit the Embassy and head to the Citadel Tower.

IDSUFT

Sorry if it looked like I had stopped on this. Also this is following canon, it's just being put somewhat differently or in a completely different manner but still going along the same path.