Chapter 3: The Citadel Looks a Little Reaper-y
Okay. I've been updating MLTI VRSE non-stop. I'm finally free to update this story. Then I'm, probably going to go update that story at least one more time. After that happens, I'll start Verser Age: Origins and focus on this fic and that one. Any who, I'm glad people are liking this. It gives me hope for my current stories and any future projects I might write. Having ResurgentClone help me brainstorm is an added bonus. So shout out to him. And as a reminder to any who haven't read The Curse of Absolute Power or MLTI VRSE, any other author is allowed to write a story where they are a Multiverser. I haven't patented it or anything like that. In fact, I've implied other self-inserts ARE Multiversers on some level, but don't know it. Might never know. That's those stories authors' choice. Just inform me first and give me a sample of the first story. Now. Begin your reading, you glorious people you.
"So… Joker we meet again." I said.
"So we do." He said.
"You gonna tell me now why you're so negative? It's really been bugging me."
"You try living your entire life where if you move ANY limb too fast, it'll break. Once you do that, then I'll smile like a little school girl all the time."
"Ah." Man, his teen years must have REALLY sucked if he couldn't move his arm too fast. Poor guy.
It had been a rather slow trip. Space travel is cool and all, but it takes forever. It is in no way as fast as the game shows the player. I slept well though, one of my other lives definitely did too, resistant as he might have been at first to a three-way. Unlikely that I'll ever have that kind of luck with women anywhere else. Oh well, I can live with that.
We were approaching the Citadel in a few minutes. Nihlus was somewhere on the ship, preparing to give his testimony against Saren. I had a feeling it wouldn't work. And besides, I had to pick up Wrex, Garrus, and of course Tali. Without them, this ship would be really dull.
Kaiden and Ashley came into the cockpit as soon as the Citadel came into view. 'If you look at it REAL closely, doesn't it seem like the Reapers made it? Am I the only one who sees this?'
"Oh, wow!" Ashley awed at The Destiny Ascension.
"The Ascension. Flagship of the Citadel Fleet." Kaiden told her.
Joker wasn't impressed. Ashley said he was touchy. But Joker had a point, the behemoth of a ship was slow. Without the Alliance Navy to rescue it in the upcoming Battle of the Citadel, it would be annihilated, thanks to lack of speed.
Once we docked, it was a straight shot to the Presidium. I much preferred the Wards. They gave this feel that actual people lived there. Not this bright paradise wannabe level that only a few could ever see.
The Wards, despite the often sizable number of criminals, felt more like you'd want to live there if you thought about it long enough.
Udina was pleading our case to the Council. Despite the success of the mission, and Nihlus supporting our claim, they didn't believe us. And Tevos. I never liked her. The Asari Councilor was the worst of the three.
While Sparatus was an asshole, he'd be the first to try and help when the Reapers attack. And he'd continue to support Turian-Human efforts against them. So, I allowed him a few passes. And Valern could be annoying, but since he'll help give funding to Keprals Syndrome research, I ignored him.
But I'd blackmail them all if I had too. I'm definitely going to reveal the existence of the Beacon on Thessia, no matter what I 'promise' Tevos. That beacon was proof of hypocrisy, in all its splendor.
"This is an outrage! The Council would step in if the Geth attacked a Turian colony!" Udina raged.
"The Turians don't colonize planets in the Traverse. Ambassador." Valern responded.
"Humanity was well aware of the risks when it began colonization." Tevos explained.
"What about Saren? You can't just ignore a rogue Spectre. I demand action!"
They wouldn't listen. Udina basically having a temper tantrum didn't help. Once the call ended, he turned to us.
"Captain Anderson. I see you brought half your crew with you."
"Just the ground team from Eden Prime."
"I have the mission reports. I assume they're accurate?"
"They are."
"At least the Beacon survived. We'd appear totally incompetent if it was destroyed."
"A lot of people still lost their lives. That doesn't make us look too competent." I finally said.
"Settle down, Shepard. Our accusation against Saren is already jeopardizing your Spectre Candidacy. Hopefully Nihlus will be able to show Saren as a traitor."
"I doubt it, for some strange reason. All three of them are pretty stupid."
"Shepard, don't talk like that at all around them."
"I make no promises."
"The Geth attack is a matter of some interest, but there is no evidence to show Saren was involved in any way." Tevos sighed.
"I was there. I saw him preparing to shoot me. I'd be dead if Shepard hadn't shot the pistol out of his hand." Nihlus argued.
"Yes, you saw a colleague try to kill you. The colony was a serious hot zone, Agent Nihlus. The possibility your mind conjured up Saren is still quite possible."
"I have footage of it."
"Damaged footage."
"Damaged because of him! The recording from my HUD is being salvaged as we speak. Once that is finished, you'll see we're telling the truth."
"I had thought we were friends, Nihlus." Saren sighed over his holographic interface. "It saddens me that you don't trust me anymore."
"Guilt trip, bravo Saren, really." I called out, slowly clapping.
"Ah, Commander Shepard. The one who almost let the Beacon get destroyed. At least you're more capable than Anderson ever was."
"Nihlus isn't dead. You shouldn't have access to his files, or the mission report for that matter."
"We are being attacked Shepard. I now have access to many previously classified files due to the current war with the Geth"-
"This is an incursion. One that only the Alliance is facing right now. We might now be allies with the Citadel races, but you are never getting any of our classified files Arterius. That, is a fact. Especially when none of you are helping."
"Petty remarks will get you nowhere in a court of law, Shepard. Councilors, I"- Then the transmission abruptly ended.
Wait a minute.
What the actual fuck?! We actually might have got him the first time! Who the fuck did that?!
We look at the projector… and see a keeper ripping out wires and other key components.
"Ohhhhhh, you bug-eyed little fucker!" I roared.
The Councilors said the trial ended too quickly. They would have to reestablish contact with the bastard. So we had some extra time to get a little more evidence. We only had a few leads. Garrus Vakarian, who we had met earlier. And Barla Von, who would led us to Wrex. I was given full lead in the investigation.
I, Kaiden and Ashley had a lot of work to do. So did Nihlus, Saren socked did some serious damage to his HUD when he socked him. The footage and the audio recording would really damn him.
Jenkins had requested a transfer. He believed now that he still had much to learn about combat and would only hinder us. Anderson allowed it and I wished him well.
I decided Wrex first was the best course of action. The guy knew how to get shit done. And he was just awesome.
I picked up quite a few extra odd jobs to do around the Citadel when I had some time away from the others. I figured I didn't need to drag them with me around the Citadel for side missions. But I would more than likely take a larger squad for ground team missions. Just three wouldn't work in most military situations. Only stealth-ops.
I wasn't the quietest of individuals, most of the time. Or ever.
Don't judge my lifestyle.
"Yes, Human?"
Wrex was a lot bigger in person than I thought. Most people would shit themselves if they saw this Krogan. The scars just made his badass-ness more profound. The C-Sec Officer he was talking with was obviously intimidated, even if he tried to hide it.
"My name's Shepard. I'm looking for evidence to prove Saren's a traitor. Heard you had a damn good lead." Oh, she was damn good-looking, that's for sure.
And those hips… The curves just. Kept. Going…
"Shepard. Commander Shepard. Heard a lot about you, the only human to take on five Krogan in a bar fight, weaponless, and win." He walked up to me. "We're both warriors, Shepard. Out of respect, I'll give you fair warning. I'm going to kill Fist. He's the one who knows where this one Quarian with the evidence is."
"Fair enough. I won't stop you."
"You might want to look for a Turian named Vakarian. He really wanted to take Saren down."
"We've met. I could definitely use a man like him. Let's find him and then 'go clubbing.'"
"I think we're going to work just fine together, Shepard."
"I didn't tell anyone! I swear!" Came Dr. Chloe Michel's terrified voice.
"That was smart, Doc." The thug said. "Now, you'd better say smart if Garrus comes back- Who are you?!" He yelled, aiming his gun at us and holding her hostage.
Garrus was hiding. As soon as the guy wasn't looking in his direction, the Turian shot him square in the side of his head.
It was free game at that point. The doctor was already in cover and we all were firing at the thugs. Wrex is right. 'Why shoot something once? When you can shoot it 47 times!' Granted mine and Wrex's weapons were the only ones still firing once they were dead. Still, definitely the best way to go especially against enemies that basically are zombies.
"Ooookay then." Garrus slowly said. "Perfect timing, Shep"- But I had to reprimand him for putting the doctor at risk.
"The hell were you thinking? You could've accidentally shot her!"
"I wasn't thinking"- "Damn right you weren't!" "I just reacted… I…" Then he looked to the ground.
Okay. Maybe a little too thick. Thankfully Dr. Michel brought him back up, then pointed us in Tali's direction.
"This is your show, Shepard"- Garrus tried to say.
"You're right, it is. You're hired! Welcome aboard!" Then I started to lead them all to Chora's Den.
"Uh, thanks?"
"Don't worry. He's always like that." I heard Kaiden tell him.
"That's not really a good thing, Lieutenant." Ashley said.
I can't believe I forgot about Saren's assassins. I ran into them really quickly whenever I played the game. Ah well. It was nice to shock the others when I leaped across the huge chasm and stabbed the two nameless Turians with my dual Omni-blades, then threw them into said chasm for good measure.
"Was that really necessary, Commander?" Garrus asked.
"Not really, no."
"The why'd you do it?"
"Just get in the club."
Once we did that, I and Wrex instantly went close-quarters while the others used guns. Wrex was laughing the entire time about being able to cut loose for once. Seeing me use a sword to eviscerate a lot of the criminals was obviously a challenge to him to see who could kill more.
I won, by one.
"Please, please! I surrender!" Fist pleaded. Machina in his face, I asked,
"Where. Is. The. Quarian?"
"She's not here! I don't know where she is! That's the truth!"
"I'm gonna give you ten seconds before I let my buddy Wrex here do whatever the hell he wants to you." Said Krogan made his grin well-known.
"Here on the Wards! Back alley behind the markets!" Then Wrex shot him.
"What are you"- Garrus started to say.
"No time! We've gotta rescue that Quarian!"
"Where's the Shadow Broker? Where's Fist?" Came Tali's voice.
The pervert on Saren's payroll told her they'd be here soon, then touched her and tried coaxing the audio file out of her numerous hidden pockets.
Before she could tell him to get bent, I had already blown his and his two Salarian aids, heads away. 'Eat your heart out, John Marston.'
"What the"- She started to say.
"They didn't get any blood on you, did they?" I asked, concerned. Walking over, I saw there wasn't any blood on her. Gore wasn't much of a problem in the game. Dragon Age? That was a different story.
"N-no? Um, who are you?"
"Commander Duncan Shepard, Alliance Navy. I'm looking for evidence to prove Saren's a traitor. And don't worry, I did take a shower." I told her.
"I, I never said-!"
"Quarians and germs really don't mix, and I could tell you were thinking it. Your eyes say it all."
"Could we take this riveting discussion elsewhere? Like say, the human embassy? Where we're supposed to go?" Ashley asked us. 'Spoilsport.'
"Yeah, we should probably go do that."
"You're not making my life easy, Shepard. Firefights on the Wards! An all-out assault on Chora's Den! All the men in there in pieces thanks to your little sword-!"
"Never call my sword little. Ever. And if you'd actually turn around, you'd see we have all the evidence we need now." He then turned around.
"Who's this? A Quarian? What are you up to, Shepard?"
"Her name is Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, and she has the last bit of evidence we need to prove Saren's a traitor. Tali, if you would?"
She gave us the audio recording. It was all we needed to smash that smug Spectre's face into the ground. Her only condition was that we take her with us on our mission. And I instantly accepted her help.
It did mention the Reapers, though. I had to plant the thought that they were an actual threat into everyone's minds. So when Benezia mentioned them by name, I screamed. Eyes wide.
"Shepard! What's going on?!" Anderson roared.
I instantly regained control of myself. "Reapers. That name. It just caused something from that vision I got from the Beacon. That name was synonymous with the death of the Protheans. That's what just happened."
"That's really not good. And if Saren is apparently working with them…" The Captain trailed off.
"Yeah. We're next."
With Tali on the team, the last piece of evidence in our hands, and the seeds of the Reapers existence now starting to grow, all that was left was Spectre status. It would make doing everything my own way easier when politicians and the like wouldn't be able to whine because I'd have the legal freedom to do what I want.
"I see that Shepard is finally here. You do understand that showing up late isn't a good way to prove your alleged accusations." Saren told me, the hologram finally working. I grinned.
"It is when you've got the proof I've got. Take this you smug son of a bitch." And I played the audio before them all.
"And my footage has finally been repaired. Here it is." Nihlus told us.
They saw the short conversation between the two until Nihlus turned his back. At the sound of Samantha, the camera turned to see Saren with his synthetic arm up, as if holding a pistol to Nihlus' head. Then Saren punching him and fleeing before the screen goes to static.
Saren did not looked pleased. "You'll pay for interfering, you filthy primate." He growled. He cut the connection before the Councilors could say anything. 'I must've really pissed him off. He didn't even try to defend himself.'
Good.
"You wanted proof?" Udina asked the three. "There it all is."
Sparatus sighed. "This evidence, along with what was essentially a confession from Saren, is irrefutable. Saren will be stripped of his Spectre status, and efforts will now be made to bring him to justice."
That wasn't enough for Udina, however. He wanted the Citadel Fleet to now protect our colonies. Doing that could cause a war with the Terminus Systems was what they told him.
Tevos said there was another option. Sparatus was hesitant, not as much as in the game however. But they all agreed. I was to be a Spectre. And I would hunt down Saren.
The speech was rather boring. I didn't get a speech from the Multiverse when I became its equivalent of a Spectre. Granted it did take centuries for me to learn how to control reality. Even longer before that to try and repair my shattered mind.
These guys had some serious ego.
"We've got a lot of work to do, Shepard. You'll need a ship, crew, among other supplies." Udina told me once the Councilors left. "Anderson! Come with me! I need your help to set all this up." Then he and Anderson left.
"I'd thought the ambassador would be more thankful." Tali told me. The others were of a similar mindset.
"He's a politician. He won't thank anybody until he controls everything. Then he'll only thank himself. Very rare nowadays when politicians aren't like him, it seems."
"What now, Shepard?" Garrus asked.
"For now, I'm going to do some odd jobs I picked up during our investigation. Probably shop for some quality equipment for all of you too. I'll meet you all at the Docks."
"Um, which one?"
"The Alliance one. I can even get you some directions." The others were confused and thought I was kidding when I walked over to a Keeper. Not the same one from earlier.
"Do you know the fastest way to reach the Alliance docking bay?" I asked it. The others were beyond shocked when the thing started making clicking noises and rather intricate hand motions. "Thanks." I turned to them. "There's actually a large collection of elevators here on the Presidium. Go to the Consort's quarters, there should be a door around there, kinda blends in. One of the elevators behind it will bring you right next to the docks. Just a quick sky car ride away after that. Won't have to pay so much for transportation that way."
"How did-?" Tali tried to ask, but Kaiden and Ashley stopped her.
"No one knows. And no one probably should know for that matter. So we just try to ignore it for now." Kaiden told her.
"I've only known him for a little over a day, and he scares me with this shit." Ashley commented.
They wouldn't believe the truth anyway. Not yet, at least.
Okay! I'm glad to now actually start getting some headway on this! I don't think the first game will be that long. I'm looking forward to the second one the most, which was my favorite. I'm still working out some kinks with this chapter, but I wanted to post it anyway. So don't be surprised if you come back and see a lot of different content. Rate, review, and comment. I've been getting a lot of views with MLTI VRSE, so I think it's safe to say I'm at least pretty decent at this. Th-the-the-th-That's All, Folks! …No it isn't.