Author's Note:
I had this one in the works for a little while, but after some corrections I feel pretty good about it. Thanks laure for the assistance!
Also, I have a pretty rough week ahead, but I'll try to get my next chapter up around the 21st or 22nd. As always, thanks for reading!
Chapter 2: Hearings and Insights
Screams, gunfire, lungs burning…
"Doctor Chakwas, I think he's waking up!"
Commander Shepard groaned as he felt himself edge out of sleep. Coming to his senses, he tried to rise from the cot he was in only to be hit with a wave of nausea. He opened his eyes, squinting against the harsh light.
He looked around blearily, recognizing the room as the Normandy's medical bay. Karen Chakwas, the Normandy's resident physician, stood across from him in a red and white jumpsuit as she read a data-pad.
Noticing his movement, she looked up as he sat on the side of the cot.
"You had us worried for a moment, Commander. How are you feeling?"
"…Like the morning after shore leave," he groaned, rubbing at his temples. "How long was I out?"
"Just over fifteen hours. You were knocked unconscious shortly after your interaction with the beacon.
"It's my fault that this happened, sir. The beacon exploded, a system overload maybe. I must have triggered some defense mechanism when I got near it," Williams said, stepping into view. "Lieutenant Alenko and I brought you back to the Normandy as soon as we could."
"I appreciate it," he grunted.
"Unfortunately now we'll never know what may have been the cause of the beacon's destruction. Whether due to your experience or sabotage by the geth, the point is rather moot now."
The doctor looked back to her data-pad and several charts.
"What is of more concern to me now is your wellbeing. Physically you're fine, but I detected some unusual brain activity. Abnormal beta waves, as well as an increase in your rapid eye movement while you were asleep, typically a sign of intense dreaming."
The commander stared off into space, not really looking at either of the women in the room as the memories came back.
"I…I'm not sure what I saw. Death…destruction…nothing's really clear," he said, frowning at the mental images.
"Interesting," she intoned, "I'd better add this to my report. Maybe…oh, Captain Anderson."
The Normandy's captain strode into the med bay, glancing between Shepard and the doctor.
"How's our XO holding up?" he asked, prompting Dr. Chakwas to speak.
"All other readings look normal. I think the commander is going to be fine."
"Good to hear," he replied, his focus back on Shepard, "Shepard, I need to speak with you. In private."
Williams gave the captain a crisp salute and filed out of the room along with Dr. Chakwas. Now alone, Anderson brought himself a few steps closer to the commander to continue the conversation.
"Sounds like the beacon hit you pretty hard down there. How're you holding up?"
The commander drew in a breath, readying himself for what he was about to say.
"Honestly? Not that well. I don't like losing soldiers under my command, and I'm pissed off about the geth. We went in blind. If we had more intel Jenkins could still be alive. Hell, we might have been able to get the beacon!"
Shepard's outburst, though unprecedented, did little to deter the captain.
"We can't know that for sure, Shepard, and you know it." Anderson retorted, "I know how you feel about Jenkins, hell I've been in more than my fair share of combat scenarios. Not everyone made it back each time."
"I know, sir, I just…" Although he was still angry, Shepard knew the captain was right. Looking down, he realized that he had clenched his fists when he lashed out.
"I understand," he said, relaxing. Remembering his question, he changed the subject.
"Why is Chief Williams here, sir? She's not part of the Normandy's crew."
"Ashley Williams was reassigned to the Normandy per my request. After her performance on Eden Prime, I thought we could use her skills."
"She's a good soldier," he agreed.
"Lieutenant Alenko agrees with you; that's why I had her reassigned," Anderson said patiently. "But that's not why I'm here."
The captain paused for a moment, a tired look on his face.
"Nihlus is dead," he said solemnly. "The beacon was destroyed and the geth are invading. The Council's going to want answers."
"We didn't do anything wrong done there, Captain. Hopefully the Council can see that."
"I'll stand by you and your report, Shepard," Anderson made his way over to the other side of the room, staring at the wall as he spoke.
"You're a damn hero in my books, but that's not what concerns me most. It's that other turian, Saren. Saren Arterius is a spectre, one of the best. A living legend."
"If he's working with the geth, it means he's gone rogue," he continued, turning to face Shepard. "A rogue spectre is trouble, and Saren is already dangerous as he is anti-human. He thinks we're growing too fast, trying to take over the galaxy, even. A lot of aliens think that way but don't do anything about it. Saren has; attacking one of our colonies with the geth as his allies. I don't know how or why, but I know that it must have had something to do with that beacon."
"You were there right before that beacon self-destructed. Did you see anything? Any clue of what Saren was after?" he asked, searching Shepard's face for answers.
"Just before I blacked out, I saw some kind of...vision," Shepard fumbled, finding it difficult to describe.
"A vision?" Anderson repeated, "A vision of what?"
"There were synthetics… geth maybe. Slaughtering people, razing cities…I couldn't make it all out. I'm not sure I'd even want to, sir."
The captain stood silent for a moment, as if weighing some decision in his head. When he looked at Shepard again, determination shone in his eyes.
"We have to include this in our report to the Council," he said, as if it were the only option.
Shepard blinked in surprise, not quite understanding.
"What? What are we going to tell them, I had a bad dream?" he asked sarcastically.
"We don't know what information was stored on that beacon. Prothean technological advancements, blueprints for a weapon of mass destruction, whatever it was… Saren took it. But I know Saren. I know his reputation, his politics. He believes that humans are a blight on the galaxy. This attack was an act of war."
"He has the knowledge from the beacon," he said, pacing, "And with an army of geth at his demand, he can strike at nearly every human colony we have."
He can't really mean that, could he? Shepard thought. There are billions of humans in the galaxy; Saren wouldn't stand a chance against us with just him and a small army, even the geth. A memory of the colonists impaled on the spikes from the geth made his confidence falter. He did it at Eden Prime, what's to say he couldn't do the same elsewhere?
"He can't just expect to get away with attacking a colony without us gunning to take him down."
"It's not that easy. Saren's a spectre. They can go anywhere, do almost anything. And as the spectres serve as the Council's military arm, only they can have the authority to convict them of this kind of a crime."
"We prove that Saren's gone rogue, and the Council will revoke his spectre status." Shepard thought aloud, agreeing with the captain's plan.
"I'll contact the ambassador and have him request an audience with the Council. He'll want to see us as soon as we reach the Citadel. Which reminds me," he said, bringing up the intercom.
"Joker, bring us into dock once we reach the Citadel! We need to meet with the ambassador as soon as possible, understood?"
"Aye aye, Captain. ETA to the Serpent Nebula five minutes," Joker swiftly replied over the comm.
"You might as well head up to see it. For all the politics that goes on, the Citadel is the galaxy's main hub and seat of power for a reason."
With that, the captain left Shepard in the med bay to return to his quarters. Taking his advice, the commander grunted as he edged off the bed and followed suit, making his way up the stairs that spiraled around either side of the deck to the CIC. When he reached the bridge, he came upon "Joker" in the pilot's seat, making fast but precise movements on the vid-screen before him as he flew the ship.
Taking notice, the flight lieutenant turned and gave a nod and a tug of his cap in his direction before returning to the screen.
"Good timing, Commander. Was just about to bring us in to the Citadel, see that taxpayer money at work."
The Normandy emerged from the relay's transit, the pink and purple Serpent Nebula now surrounding the ship. Looking out the window, he thought he saw a shape in the distance. The glittering light that was obscured by the clouds revealed itself; a space station, massive in size, its five arms spread like a flower's petals as it stood solitary amidst the nebula. Massive doesn't do the Citadel justice, he thought. The Citadel was the largest prothean construct ever found, with ach arm being 43.6 kilometers long and 2.88 km wide, housing several million inhabitants on each. In awe of the station, he was barely aware of Williams and Alenko joining them. He did notice that Williams had slightly less composure than he, nearly pressing her face against the window to get a better look.
The Destiny Ascension, the nearly two kilometer long asari flagship of the Citadel fleet, dwarfed the turian frigates and cruisers as it patrolled the space around the Citadel with them.
I've seen a lot of things as a soldier, Shepard thought, but this is amazing.
"This is an outrage!" roared the human ambassador, "The Council would step in if the geth attacked a turian colony!"
Anderson, Shepard, and the rest of the team waited in the human embassy as Ambassador Donnel Udina fumed before the projections of the alien Council species. The three councilors gave him pensive stares in return.
"The turians do not found colonies on the borders of the Terminus Systems, ambassador," said Councilor Valern, the salarian's amphibian features difficult for Shepard to read.
"Humanity was well aware of the risks when going out into the Attican Traverse," Councilor Tevos agreed, the blue skinned asari speaking in a cordial but firm tone, "The Council cannot send in any fleets without provoking the Terminus Systems and causing a full scale war."
"What about Saren? You can't just ignore a rogue spectre. I demand action!"
"You don't get to make demands to the Council, ambassador," the turian councilor said coldly, "You would do well to remember that."
"Citadel Security is investigating your allegations against Saren. We will discuss these charges at the hearing, not before," the asari said cooly, disconnecting the transmission.
When the holograms winked out, Ambassador Udina exhaled in frustration, turning to the four humans in his office.
"Captain Anderson," he said, "I see you brought half your crew with you."
"Only those part of the ground team on Eden Prime. In case you had any questions for them," he replied.
"I have the mission reports. I assume they're accurate?"
Anderson ignored his pointed question. "Sounds like you've convinced the Council to grant us an audience."
"They were not happy about it, but yes," came the ambassador's reply, though his impatience still shone on his face. "Saren is their top operative. They don't like him being accused of treason."
"It's the truth!" Shepard said heatedly, "Saren is a threat to every human colony out there. The Council has to listen to us. Hell, there was even an eye witness to Saren's attack and him murdering Nihlus!
"Settle down commander. You've already done enough to jeopardize your spectre candidacy. The mission on Eden Prime was a chance to prove yourself to the Council. Instead, Nihlus was killed, and the beacon was destroyed!"
Anderson cut Shepard off before things escalated between them.
"That's Saren's fault, not his! We're on the same side, Udina."
"Then we had better hope that the C-Sec investigation turns up solid evidence that we can use to support our accusations. Otherwise the Council might use this as an excuse to keep you out of the spectres." Motioning to Anderson, Udina moved towards the door as it slid open.
"Captain, come with me. I want to go over a few things before the hearing. Shepard, meet us at the Citadel Tower, top level, in exactly two hours. I'll make sure you and your team have clearance to get in."
Shepard, Alenko, and Williams waited for a moment until they were out of earshot.
"I hate politicians," Williams said with disdain.
"That's what this place is all about, Chief," Alenko voiced, a look of amusement crossing his face. "Of course, it isn't the only thing that goes on at the Citadel. We still have two hours before the hearing if anyone wants to take a look around. It's not every day that we get to be on the Presidium."
"Might as well," Shepard agreed, "Let's head out."
The Presidium Ring, as the circular center structure of the Citadel was named, was where each species' embassy was located, as well as the majority of the office jobs and apartment housing for the wealthy. As such, the three soldiers found themselves walking amongst a kaleidoscope of aliens. Salarians, turians, asari, even hanar drifted by, their pink jellyfish-like bodies glowing as they communicated with each other. Shepard's fascination of the diversity of the species present was matched only by that of the Presidium itself: an artificial lake spanned the center of the construct, its walkways lit by an imitation of a cloudy blue sky above as hundreds of cars flew overhead going about their business.
The market district was abuzz with activity, the stocks for the day displayed on large holo-screens as a multitude of buyers stood around their respective stations. The team weaved in and out of the crowded space as they passed numerous shops, displaying everything from weapons to freshly prepared foods. Shepard's mouth began to water at the tantalizing aromas.
"Big place!" Alenko said nonchalantly as they passed a group of shoppers busily going about making their purchases.
"That your professional opinion, LT?" Williams asked, glancing warily at a group of turians.
"He's right, though," Shepard cut in. "This isn't just a station. It's a city."
"This is the Presidium, it's supposed to be less crowded than the rest of the Citadel. If it's like this here, imagine how packed the Wards must be. C-Sec can't be able to track everyone coming and going."
"Well, we're not exactly out on vacation here, LT. I think we should start to head back. We've still got an hour or so left, but I don't think we-"
Shepard's omnitool suddenly chimed, Anderson's voice coming through.
"Shepard, do you read me? How close are you to the tower?"
"We're in the market district, but we were just beginning to head back. Something wrong?"
Anderson sounded worried, his voice low.
"Saren just contacted the Council. He's trying to avoid having to go through the hearing. C-Sec still hasn't turned up any evidence, and it looks like the Council's might be planning to dismiss the charges. We're stalling the Council right now with the witness from Eden Prime you mentioned, but it won't last long. Get here as fast as you can!" he said, ending the call.
"Slippery turian bastard! They're just going to let him walk!" Williams fumed.
"Change of plans," Shepard said grimly, "Everyone, double time it to the tower!"
Could this elevator go any slower? He wondered as they ascended up through the tower. If they weren't so pressed for time he might have enjoyed the leisurely ride up through the Citadel Tower, the Ward Arms clearly visible through the windows. As things were, however, tourism was the last thing on their minds.
The three of them quickly filed out of the elevator when they reached their destination, walking at a brisk pace across the polished floor. Red leafed trees lined the sides of the chambers, a fountain gently sprinkling water in a reflecting pool in the center. Before them lay two sets of steps, the echoes of conversation reverberating across them as they proceeded through the room. Upon reaching the first, however, they found their path blocked by two turians speaking animatedly. One was clearly upset as he raised his arms in frustration.
"Saren's hiding something! I've got a lead on him, just give me a little more time!" Shepard turned his head sharply to the turian wearing the blue C-Sec armor, apparently one of the officers investigating Saren. The turian wearing a blue and red "suit," shook his head, obviously displeased.
"And further delay the Council? No, Garrus, you've wasted enough time already. Report back to C-Sec once the hearing is through. There's been another robbery in the Wards by Flux, and I don't have enough officers in that area as it is." Without waiting for a reply, the second turian left the officer at the stairs, brushing past them without a glance. Upon approach, the officer motioned towards them and came forward.
"Commander Shepard?" he asked.
"That's me."
"Garrus Vakarian, Citadel Security. I'm the officer in charge of the investigation against Saren."
"Doesn't sound like it's going well." Williams said, a mocking undertone in her voice.
The turian either ignored it or didn't catch the sarcasm, but he looked down at the floor before he spoke again.
"C-Sec's investigation has been limited by Saren's spectre status. Almost everything he touches seems to be classified."
He raised his head again, his eyes set with determination.
"But I think he's slipped up on this, and this lead might be my chance. I'll contact you later if I find anything. In the meantime I'll head down to the Wards to appease the Executor. It's on the way, anyway. Good luck with the hearing; with the way it sounds like it's going, I think you're going to need it."
Giving them a nod on his way out, the officer briskly walked back the same way they came in, his last words lingering in Shepard's mind. The way it sounds like it's going? That means-
"There you are!" Captain Anderson said, relief showing in his face as he jogged down the steps. "Glad you could make it on short notice, but the hearing has already started. Come on!"
With Anderson in the lead, Shepard, Alenko, and Williams hurried up the stairs. The voices from the Council's conversation reached the group, Ambassador Udina clearly audible among them.
"The geth attack on Eden Prime was an act of war! They won't just stop at one colony. What would prevent them from doing the same elsewhere? The salarians and turians have colonized worlds bordering the Traverse, and any number of colonies could be in danger of a surprise attack from a single Mass Relay jump!"
"Is that a threat, Ambassador?"
"Sparatus, please," Tevos interrupted, glaring for a moment at the turian before Valern spoke.
"The geth attack on Eden Prime was an isolated incident, and the C-Sec investigation has of yet to come forth with convincing evidence of your charges against Saren."
Shepard reached the platform where Udina was standing, the three councilors standing across from them separated by a glass covered garden on the lower floor. A hologram of a turian's image on the opposite side of the chambers, his projection large enough for the crowd gathered on the upper levels to witness. Must be Saren, he thought, glancing over at the silver armored turian who looked about the room with disdain. The enlarged projection also made it necessary to look up towards the spectre; whether the psychological effect of him towering over them was intentional or not, the result was the same.
"What about Saren?" Udina was practically ranting at this point, "You all heard the witness. Saren murdered Nihlus in cold blood!"
The turian in question stood with his arms crossed, his voice harsh.
"I resent these accusations! Nihlus was a fellow spectre, and a friend. These claims are but weakly veiled attacks against the integrity of the spectres, and my own."
"The recounting of a single traumatized dock worker does not provide enough evidence on its own," Councilor Tevos said. "And with no other evidence presented, it is simply your word against his."
"Petty," Saren snorted, "but what did you expect from a human?"
At this, Shepard could no longer hold it in.
"Saren hates humans!" he lashed out. "That's why he attacked Eden Prime!"
"Captain Anderson," Saren cast an appraising look at Shepard, "did you really think it wise to bring your protégé responsible for the destruction of the beacon? Or are you still blaming the geth, like you have throughout this hearing?"
"The mission on Eden Prime was top secret," Shepard bristled. "The only way you could know about it was if you were there!"
"Upon Nihlus' death, his spectre files passed to me," he deflected. "I've read the reports, and I must say I'm disappointed. You humans can't even defend your own colonies without the Council's aid. You're not ready to join the Council. You're not even ready to join the spectres."
"He has no right to say that!" Ambassador Udina fumed. "That's not his decision!"
"Commander Shepard's spectre candidacy is not the purpose of this meeting," Councilor Tevos said, ever the peacemaker.
"This meeting has no purpose! As baseless as these claims are, it is insulting that they were even brought forward. You should quit wasting your time, Councilor, and mine," Saren derided.
"Councilors, there is one other outstanding issue," Anderson spoke up. "Shepard's visions. They may have been triggered by the beacon."
"Now they're using dreams as evidence?" Saren scoffed. "How am I supposed to defend my innocence against this kind of testimony?"
"I agree," Councilor Sparatus voiced. "This farce has gone on long enough."
"Do you have anything further to add, Commander Shepard?" Tevos asked, even as the councilor's body language betrayed her personal feelings on the matter. It's over.
"You've made your decision," Shepard said, resigned. "I won't waste my breath."
With a glance at each other, and with a shake of the turian's head, the Council cast their vote on the screens in front of them.
"In light of insufficient evidence, Saren Arterius is cleared of charge," Tevos declared.
"I'm glad to see justice was served," the spectre sneered as his hologram faded away.
Defeated, Ambassador Udina stood at the platform for a moment after the rest of the humans left. With a huff, he turned on his heel. Shepard turned, finding the ambassador shaking with rage, eyes passing over them until they rested on Anderson.
"That was our chance, and they shot it down before it could take flight. You should not have been present for the hearing, Captain. Given your history with Saren, it made them question our motives."
Shepard was stunned, shifting his gaze to Anderson's now troubled features. "Wait, you and Saren worked together?"
The captain hesitated for a moment, as if gauging his answer.
"We had an assignment together once. It… didn't go too well. People died, and I took the blame. Just more blood on Saren's hands," he said bitterly, his tone dissuading further discussion. "It will be nothing compared to what he can do now. Saren is still out there with his geth followers. He could be planning an attack on another colony as we speak - military outposts, Terra Nova, even Earth!"
"As a spectre, he's nearly untouchable," the ambassador said as he drew his hand to stroke his chin in thought. "We would have to find something irrefutable or the Council will ignore it."
"What about that C-Sec officer, Garrus Vakarian?" Alenko asked. "He said he'd be down in the Wards by Flux, he's probably our best bet."
"There might be another lead," Anderson said. "The Shadow Broker might also know what to find."
"The Shadow Broker?" Shepard asked, eyebrows raised.
"He… or she," Anderson conceded, "Is an information dealer, one of the best. No one knows his true identity, but on occasion his intel has been quite helpful to the Alliance. If there's anyone who knows where we could find what we need, it'd be him."
"For a price, of course," Udina chimed in. "No information is free."
"Well, what do you think?" Williams asked Shepard.
"I'd rather not spend too many credits on this. Let's head to the Wards."