Chapter 2: The Art of Trust

There was a muffle. After awhile a muffle appeared again. It was irritating me, if it carries on I will just have to... "This is Citadel Fleet, if you do not comply we will be forced to take action." My sense came to me and I shot my eyes open almost jumping out my chair. Had I been asleep for the whole trip. I quickly gazed my eyes upon the beast before me, the Citadel.

"This is your last chance to respond." If I had been more aware I wouldn't have got myself in this situation. I reached my hand over the holograph to my left to open up the communication channel. "This is uh..." I hesitated. What the hell do I say? I've never had to do this sort of shit before. "Nebula here, requesting alliance docking clearance." I asked nervously into the comm. I felt like like a tit. I sat waiting for a response, what if they get suspicious? It's too late for that, I'm either nicked or not. I quickly remember back to Earth, Ada and everyone else. I can't believe out of my group I was the only who made it out. I sighed at the thought of it, how come I made it out but no one else? How come Ada couldn't come with me? How come...

"Welcome to the Citadel Nebula, proceed to Alliance docking number thirty three."

Well that sounded all right. I regained control of the drifting shuttle and shifted it towards the Alliance tower which was highlighted on shuttle display. I guess it's just a matter of learning to fly rather learn all the technical jargon.

Several minutes past as I flew towards the docking station, I went past various ships of sizes. I seen them the holos back at home, but never have I thought they would be this big! I felt my mouth open slightly as I saw the Ascension flagship. It was, well it was just pretty damn big. I felt overwhelmed by everything around me. I tried to search for a deeper meaning to all this, I felt silly to do so but is there something more than to... What is the word? Blast! I can't think of it! Never mind it'll have to wait. Another few minutes passed as I now slowly decrease the speed of the shuttle entering the mouth of the docking bay. Hopefully the UI hasn't screwed me over and took me to the wrong bay. That wouldn't go down well and my quest for Shepard and Earth will be over...

I can't let that happen! I will not let it happen! I must prevail!

Being aware of my surroundings I carefully slowed the shuttle to a minimal speed into the docking bay. I then hear a metallic clash coming from above me. I guess that's me parked. Now to check on what's in store. I left the helm and went to the back, I see the corpse. Blood and spilled out to the floor creating a small pool, why did you have to die on me. For this whole time I just noticed I have travelled across the galaxy in my briefs and a shirt. How am I going to get through security without being done for public indecency. What a joy that would be! I had no time to change into anything as the shuttle doors slid open, I was also greeted by some mixed security pointing weapons at me. A turian holding an assualt rifle, another turian with a pistol and a human with a pistol. It came clear that they have seen the dead body.

"Get on the floor!" The turian with the bigger gun shouted at me. I heard a hand out and tried to prove my innocence. "I didn't kill him!" I begged. "I'm with the Coldstream Regiment on Earth." After my explanation, something tells me it wasn't convincing. I could try and fight my way... No no no, that won't work at all. I need a new plan and fast.

"Coldstream?" The Human security asked. It was a surprise to me that even someone in C-Sec knew what I was talking about. "How do explain your dead buddy then?" Well that's difficult to explain, I fumbled around for words to formulate a sentence which will make sense. I have to keep it simple or it will just drag on and get silly. After gathering some thoughts together I try to form a sentence. "I... Well... You see..." And fail utterly. The turian with the assault rifle gave me a glare and spoke up. "I've had enough of this poor excuses, detain him!" The other two C-Sec officers came over and wrestled with me as I tried to resist without really resisting. Whether such things exists? Well I suppose it's a natural response to resist from being restrain.

I grunted a few times from their tight grips and forceful shoves. They led me out the shuttle and called for a clean up crew to cover the scene. The floor was cold and made my feet itch like hell. I was shown to the C-Sec office, the air conditioning in here was worse as well. I could see the goosebumps appear on my arms, I hope they at least let me get changed into something warmer. I was shoved in front of a desk and was made to stand. There was an asari behind the desk busy at doing what ever they do round here. I promptly waited till her attention was not at the monitor. Seriously, it appears I'm being charged for murder and they don't give a rats arse to lock me up at moments notice?

"Name please?" That voice of hers, it was a long time since I been off Earth to hear something like that. If I didn't know better I would almost think of her, wait or is it and it? Whatever, either way it'll be like something like... Bugger I just forgot what I was think of... "Icarus Bane." I responded. I can feel my feet go slightly numb, it was like my foot was amputated and I was just balancing on my leg bone. I see her still focused on the monitor with some flashes from the screen. I can't make out what it is because it's backwards to me. I tried to lean myself to the side to get a better look but I was pushed back by one of the officers who brought me here. Stupid bastard, I just wanted to see what she was doing.

"Icarus, tell me where you are from?" the asari asked in very monotone voice. I wonder how many of my kind she had to deal with? "Earth." I replied. I hope we don't go into twenty questions, I really need to get dressed. I feel like people passing by were sight seeing, staring, sniggering. Did I just do an alliteration? "I see you match the description here." She said and continued. "Blue eyes, short straight brown hair, neck beard and so on so on." Neck beard? It's just like any beard except it covers most of the front neck. I was just lazy to shave, gee many men can't be arsed to shave. She turned her head towards me and eyed me slightly. I merely gave a weak smile back. I know I'm innocent, I just can't prove it. Then there was something flashing on her screen, she immediately turn her attention back to the screen and raced her fingers about processing the data. "Well there is no doubt that you are not lying about who you are." I heard from the asari. Well obviously, why would I lie about me?

"Also turns up that the man dead on your shuttle was killed by an unknown source." She said looking up at me. "With the evidence we have, we can't prosecute you." Well that was nice to know. "Is there anything you'd like to ask or add in?" She seemed more relaxed now, knowing the threat is over is a start. "Well what do I do now, I have nothing on me." I clearly stated. The asari sat for a moment in thought then called over someone from another desk. They had a quick private conversation. I glanced round the area I was in. Some other people going through check points and what not.

I turned back to the asari as she came back. "Well we can do a few things for you." She said. I stood waiting for her to continue but obviously she wanted me to reply first. "Like what?" I responded. "We can't access your current bank account on Earth nor can we get you your credit chit." Those words from her mouth sunk into me a little. Is she telling me I'm broke? "But what we can do is set you one up here on the Citadel and sell shuttle and everything else on board under your name." Ok so maybe that pleased me a little more but did she mention everything else on board? "You mean your going to sell the armour from that soldier?" I almost sounded disgusted. Well I was really, it sounded so bloody disrespectful. "Yes that includes the armour on the deceased corpse." She replied. Such a horrible way to put it. I stood in thought. I guess I could use all the money I can get, I need to find Shepard...

"Ok then." I said. The asari waved her hand at the escorts behind me, I then felt my hands become free from from the binds. "You're free to go, here is a credit chit under your name." She hands me a credit chit. I check it and it has thirty thousand credits on it already. "Why do I have credits already?" I asked slightly puzzled. She gave a weak smile and said. "This is a temporary exchange to help you get back on your feet, the amount you were given is a rough estimate of the total selling." Get me back on my feet? Not like my feet will fall off from frostbite due to your bloody shiny metal flooring. I also felt a bit nervous, what if there is a catch. "What's the catch?" I questioned. "No catch, even if we don't receive more than thirty thousand we can no longer retrieve the loss from you as the transaction is a grant not a loan." The asari explained. Well I be damned, I could live on that for two whole years!

"Now get going and get yourself dressed, otherwise we'll see you back here again." She said with a slight smirk. That was cheeky even for C-Sec. I nodded and did what she just said. I had to ask a couple of residents to find out where I can buy some clothes, while some laughed others merely avoided me. Didn't take me long to get some directions towards the Presidium and into a retail store. I got myself into some causal wear on the station, didn't like the style at all but it was better than butt nakedness. Or is it?

Now that I'm prepped with my credit chit, only a couple of hundred taken off for clothes and what I call a messenger bag. I'm ready to find Shepard, where could she be, this place is massive. I took myself a casual walk round the so called Presidium. I came across a small crowd having an in-depth discussion. I decided to eves drop to see what I can find out.

"Shepard."

"Earth."

"On the Citadel?"

"A criminal."

"Saviour of the Citadel."

"Reapers."

I heard what I needed. I decided to intrude on their conversation. A salarian, two asari and a human. I ask. "Where can I find Commander Shepard?" They turned to look at me and none of em spoke for a second. "It's important." I stated. The salarian spoke up. "Well she's somewhere on the Citadel, it's a big place, anywhere really." That was useful... The asari then spoke up. "I heard they recently docked at the Alliance tower so she could be in the Presidium, maybe the Wards. "I guess I better start somewhere." I replied. I thanked them for their time. Maybe the Wards first?

So I proceeded to the Wards using the available transport. It felt so weird... First I was a soldier on an easy wage and easy duty, next I'm on a quest to save Earth. I know time is short, but if I was to go through with this I need to grab a few things to prepare myself. As I was dropped off in the Wards I noticed that areas in the Wards are sealed off from the Citadel attack. Still working on repairs huh. I took my attention to the many stores in the Wards offering all sorts of crap and goods. The one store that caught my eye is one the music stores. There was a sense of late 19th century and early 20th century culture that remained on Earth. Only very few places played music from then and even fewer people actually used the old instruments of the time. Sadly I was drawn into it because of my family. I suppose it isn't that bad.

I scrummaged through what they had on display and made a few choices of some old favourites back when I was younger. How swayed I was then by it's influences. I chose a selection of the ones that I can either remember or like the look of. Gave a swipe with the credit chit and now I have a selection of albums without means of playing them... Great.

It felt like time was taking forever to pass. When I last checked it was at least an hour. Or is that clocks seconds moving way quicker than I thought? I took a walk down one of the alleys whilst keep a watch on the clock on the wall. I thought there was sixty seconds in... I got surprised by a impact, a bump really. Then there was a thud. I quickly turned to see an asari sitting on the floor, a turian helped her up. "Hey careful where your going next time." the turian spoke up. I got a chance to look him in the face, I was about to plead for my clumsy actions. But I almost recognise that turian from somewhere. "It's okay Garrus I'm fine, I'm sure he meant us no harm." Garrus? Does she mean the Garrus Vakarian who almost had a movie named after him?

"He just knocked you over." Garrus told the asari. What was her name? She stood from her position. I then apologise. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." I could see Garrus turn his look to me, not a menacing one. But it clearly showed he wasn't to be messed with, even if it did like he was smiling. "We should get going Liara, the commander will be expecting us back shortly." I heard from Garrus. The commander... My ticket is here, I just need to see if I'm high enough to ride.

"Shepard?" I asked. "I need to speak with Shepard." I caught them both looking at me. "I don't think this is the time to ask the commander questions." Liara said. Damn it, I need to get to her and let her know what's going on! "This is important, it involves them squid things!" I exclaimed trying to remember what they were. I was given odd looks by the two of them and seemed to be causing a bit of a scene. "Look we don't have time for games, we'll be leaving." Garrus stated and indicated for him and Liara to leave. They can't leave now! Not now! What are them things called!

"Reapers!" I shouted. They heard my comment as they turned to leave, it caught their attention for a moment. "I don't know how to say this but..." I took a quick deep breath. "I was sent from Earth to find Shepard." I slowly explained emphasizing nearly every word. Liara turned to Garrus, Garrus nodded. "Look normally I wouldn't do this, but..." Garrus paused. "Never mind, just come." He said and signalled me to follow them. I formed in behind them as they lead me through the Citadel. I kept my distance slightly to give them room. I could see them exchanging words between each other, there were a few shrugs and sighs from what I could see.

I shook my head and carried on following the pair. They approach an elevator and enter. I took my place in the middle of the elevator in front of them. I turn and face towards the door. We stood in silence for the most part of the trip. When we reached the top Garrus took his place ahead of me and exited the elevator first followed by Liara, I swear I saw her give me some sheepish smile as she went by. I trailed behind Liara, I could see a group of mixed species hanging together. What I failed to notice at first is the most famous ship in the galaxy. The Normandy.

I stopped and stood in awe for a moment. It's... Big? Never mind that for now, I quickly shot off and closed the gap between me and the group. It became clear who it was now. Shepard and her team. I slowed my approach as I see Shepard and Garrus say something towards each other. Shepard then passed Garrus and came towards me. I halted my march. She came up to me stopping a yard or so away. "Shepard, I..." I said before being interrupted by her. "I'm on a short schedule, make it quick." Her words were short and snappy. She didn't seem very pleased one bit. "Where are you from?" Rather than being a question it was a statement. I better just make it short as well. "Earth." I replied. There was a change in her eyes, something I said? Then her snappy mood came back. "Are you sure?" Her tone was almost coming across as rude. Not quite the hero I imagined. "Yes, why would I lie about where I came from when I barely g-got..." I stuttered on my last words. I don't know why but something told me not to. It then became apparent Shepard wanted to know what the next part was as she took a step closer slightly leaning forward. "Got out alive?" She said finishing my sentence. I widened my eyes slightly, wait was Shepard already on Earth when this happened?

I couldn't find any words to say. Shepard was also in a trace of thought from what I could tell. She then spoke up. "From what you say, you were sent to find me to return with help?" Shepard asks. I nodded to her. She took a step back. "With everything from what I saw..." I replied with quite a low tone. It wasn't anything feel good about. Just damn! I left Ada there to die! Fuck sakes!

"We could use someone else from Earth who wasn't originally part of the team." Shepard comments. Does this mean that I'll be going along with them? "I also heard you had served a great deal for the Royal Family." Served yes, but combat... That was another thing. "I wasn't stuck there for a good reason, I had family at home that managed to pull me out the Alliance." I told her. I sighed, this all just seemed unreal. It felt just like a dream... A really messed up one. Just like getting pissed one night and some pikey becoming your best friend. Jesus Icarus, that's messed up, I shouldn't be thinking like that.

"Welcome to the team, Icarus." She said hold out her hand. I look at it and then back at her. I took her hand and shook it with her. "Thank you commander." I said. I took my hand back and saluted her. She gave a slight smirk at me. I was showing respect, what's with the nonsense? "Try to break that habit of yours, we do things differently here." Shepard commented. "Lets go, we have a lot to do." That serious tone came back from her. I nodded again. Shepard began to heard back to the group who were now making their way across the bridge to the Normandy.

"Joker, fire up the Normandy and prepare for departure." I heard from Shepard, there was a quick response. "Loud and clear commander, who's the new guy?" New guy? Well I guess it could be worse. I thought for a second I saw Shepard smile. "You'll see soon enough." Shepard said. She lead me onto the Normandy. I paused for a second and turn my head around to look at the Citadel one last time and to think of the events that had just happened.

It was all so quick... I'm surprised that I even adapted this well to the situation. I guess there was something inside me that told me to persevere. But why me, why could it...

"We're waiting for you." I heard Shepard call out to me. I snapped my head back and continued into the air lock. Noticing it was just me and Shepard, everyone must already be onboard. There was a short decontamination process before the doors ahead opened. Shepard immediately left the airlock and turned left, I followed her. As I turned the corner, again shock and awe. This thing was... Amazing from the inside. "Joker how are we?" Shepard asks leaning over the helmsman's chair. I moved to the right hand side the helm to get a better view. There was a red icon which probably meant we were still clamped. We waited for a bit till the icon changed to green. "We're away commander, where are we heading?" Joker asks. Shepard straightened herself up and said. "Omega."

Omega? Really? "Aye aye commander." Joker replied. His hands then began doing what seemed to be magic over the controls. I couldn't keep it, in fact I was getting a headache by just watching him move. I looked away from him and took my attention to Shepard. She noticed my presence. "I better introduce you to everyone." She says. I get a signal from her to follow, I comply. We walked down the bridge of the ship, there were several people in their work stations, a human crew but a mixed species team. Not unheard of really but just interested me for some reason or another.

We stepped down from the bridge, and walked around these railings towards some control panels. There was some young looking ginger women by one of the panels. She notices us approaching. "Shepard, I see you have brought along a new asset of the team?" She says. New guy, new asset, what else could be new about me? "You also have new mail at your private terminal." She says to Shepard. Well at least the new mail wasn't directed at me. "Thank you Kelly." Shepard responds politely. She turns to me and says. "Icarus this is Kelly, she is our Yeoman of the Normandy." A Yeoman eh? Must be boring at times. "I also provide counselling support and monitor the crews psychological state." Kelly informs. Ah I see, awkward.

Kelly looks at me oddly. "You are a man of many scars Icarus. Maybe once you have settled down with the rest of the crew we could talk for a bit." She says in a quite a caring voice. I really hope that was just a one off, I know I'm not feeling right at the moment. I get the strangest feeling she might be able to read me like a book. "Yeah um... Maybe we could." I nervously said rubbing the back of my head.

"Icarus I got things to do, for now you're free to roam the ship." I heard Shepard say from behind me. I turn my head round so I could see her. It looked like she was checking new mail or something. I'm not if I heard her correctly... I can roam the ship freely? She seems to put in an awful amount of trust in me already. "Deck one is off limits though." She said. That's fine with me, I guess it was her own quarters or something. I glanced round the room for moment. "I'll be having a look around if that's alright?" I asked. I had to be sure incase.

She took a look at me. "You don't need to ask here, If I need you I'll ask EDI." She answered. Who is Edee? Never mind I'll probably find out soon enough. I was hesitant at first to leave but over come myself. I walked past Shepard and headed towards the right of what appears to be the ships elevator. I walked up to the door, a holo panel appeared. I pressed the icon to open the door, a bleeping tone was heard and the door hissed opened. I stepped through and quickly noticed some weapons lying on the tables. I guess this is the armoury. I also notice someone else in the room, looked like he was checking up a pistol.

I made my way towards him, he seemed to have noticed me as he laid the pistol back down on the table and turned in my direction. "I heard rumours about else being aboard the ship, guess I my instincts were right." The man said. "The names Jacob by the way." I gave a smile towards Jacob, seemed like a nice guy. "Icarus." I replied. I should probably ask a few things while I'm here. I shifted my balance on my right foot and leant against the wall. "Shepard hasn't really filled me in on much." I stated and continued. "So what is it you do around here?" I ask gesturing my hand to help emphasize my point.

"I maintain the weapons here and keep armour in check." Jacob said willingly. Armour huh, maybe I could get myself a set. "I guess you don't have a set for me?" I ask jokingly. I wouldn't expect the commander to allow me to fight as such. I expect I'd be used for relaying proof and hippy dippy crap. Jacob chuckles a little. "Funny you should say that, we've all read up your profile while you were busy with the commander." Jacob tells me. So everyone knows who I am already? Oh gee... "She accepted you to the team, which means you will need weapons..." Jacob paused his sentence. "... And armour." He finishes. That sounded like jolly good news. What will I be getting eh? "What's in store for me?" I ask. I wonder how things will be distributed.

Jacob moves round me towards some lockers and storage units. I follow behind him. "We've been working something new ever since we are tied with the Alliance." Jacob begins as he brings up his omni-tool searching for something. "There was a material back in the early twenty first century that never properly hit off due to the technology at the time." He finishes. Ok, what does this have to do with anything? I felt somewhat lost by this, but I decided to play along hoping it will lead to something. "Which was?" I said blankly. Jacob closed his omni-tool and move over to a certain locker. He then looked at me and said. "Graphene." I heard about it before in my early days but wasn't considered anything important. I watched as Jacob opened up a locker and pulled out a chest plate of some human armour, he then showed the exterior of it to me. "Along with some funding and time we created a prototype." He states. It didn't look like anything special, just some standard Alliance brand armour. The next bit surprised me. Jacob then applied pressure and the chest plate began to bend at his will. "In theory, you won't need shields while wearing this. In our case we won't take our chances." He said smiling. He let the armour flex back into place. "Now I'm not scientist, but the biggest problems with Graphene is it's electrical conduction." Jacob began to explain. This already sounded like it was unsafe. "Simply using overload on the user could out right kill them unless they survived the shock." Jacob adds. I nodded and waited for the next bit. "Later on, the gizmos managed find a way to isolate the Graphene more from the user." More? What did he mean by more?

"What do you mean by that?" I nervously questioned. Jacob again smiled. "Before the Graphene plate was just slapped onto the coating of the user, sadly the conductivity of the Graphene allowed the electrical currents to pass through the fabric." Jacob answered. Well that sounded jolly awful. "Don't worry, that issue has been solved, we still need someone to try out the prototype." He states looking at me as if it's my que. I felt myself move back slightly. "You're not thinking I should wear that?" I hastily said. I don't have the right to wear some experimental armour. I needed to turn this around and fast. "What about Shepard, surely this is the sort thing the commander should get." I pointed out the facts that Shepard is the commander and should be the one that gets the new stuff. Jacob merely laughed at me in his stance and put the chest plate back in it's locker. "Even the commander is afraid of an electric shock, I guess that leaves you." He cheekily said towards me.

Some turn around Icarus... Despite as much as I enjoyed our little conversation I couldn't stop myself yawning. "I think someone needs to lie down." Jacob pointed out my tiredness. I wasn't really tired, though I could use the rest after today. "The crew quarters are on deck 3, if you find an empty sleeper pod it's yours for that night." Jacob said with a subtle smirk. I nodded towards him and said my thanks.

Damn, not sure what to think of all this. That I either mastered the art of trust, or everyone is just so god damn friendly. I wonder how different their sleeper pods are to the ones on Alliance cruisers?