Chapter 7

Hollow Oaths

Say what you will about the bureaucracy and politics on the Citadel. Do not, however, underestimate the sheer scale of the station. It's the largest and most densely populated in the galaxy. Its arms or "wards" reach out into the nebula cloud surrounding it. On these wards, massive skyscrapers stand taller than those on earth, as dense as the most modern urban cities. It was an impressive monument of engineering, at least to whoever built it.

Martin and Velpia watched from one of the ship's windows as they pulled into dock on the massive station. Martin wasn't as impressed as Velpia expected. He had fawned over every big thing so far. Then again, it still seemed small compared to the surrounding nebula.

Once the ship docked with the station, they got to work helping Captain Roger's crew offload their cargo. After a few hours, they quickly duct out into the station.

"It honestly can't be this easy," Martin stated as they exited the dock.

"Can you ever just appreciate the simplicity for once?" She led him down a corridor and into an elevator.

She pressed a few buttons on the keypad and stepped back while leaning against the wall.

"So, what's the next step here?" Martin asked while setting down the duffle bag.

"I know someone that lives on the Silversun strip, and they should be able to help us."

The elevator stopped and opened, and the two exited, surrounded by eight armed C-Sec guards. The lead officer stepped forward. "Drop the bag and raise your hands above your heads.". The two slowly complied, with Martin setting down the bag and raising his hands. "What about simplicity?" He quipped. She raised her hands and let out a disgusted noise.

Some hours later, Martin was taken into an interrogation room and restrained to a chair. The room was stereotypical, somewhat illuminated, and had a two-way mirror on the wall. The chair and the restraints were metal and uncomfortable. He tried to pull against the restraints, but they were pretty solid. Although he felt the chair give way a little when he pushed up from his legs. He was just grateful that most of his wounds had, for the most part, healed before landing.

After some time, an older human walked in with a Turian. The human sat in the chair across from him while the Turian stood by the door.

"I'm Captain Bailey of Citadel Security." The man introduced himself in his rough, calm voice. "You are being held because I want to know why you're on my station."

"These restraints really necessary?" Martin complained.

Bailey folded his hands in front of him and leaned forward. "Considering you assaulted a Spectre-"

"-Twice." The Turian added. "Twice - we thought it necessary to take extra precautions."

Martin grinned as if proud of his accomplishment. "The man loses a bar fight and cries to the police about it."

The Turian angrily stomped to him and slammed his hands on the table. "You strangled him during an investigation!"

"Well, he shouldn't have thrown me against the damn wall." Martin smiled back defiantly, trying to hold back his laughter.

"This isn't a joke, human!"

Martin leaned back in his chair, "No, but that Spectre sure the hell was."

Bailey raised his voice to separate the two. "Enough, both of you!" He adjusted himself in the chair before continuing. "I'll ask again, why come to the Citadel?"

Martin sat in silence for a few moments. He wasn't sure how he should respond. "We are working on a job we picked up back on Elyisum, one of our leads pointed us here."

"What kind of job? Are you Mercenaries?" Bailey asked. "I don't know what we are; we take odd jobs where we can find them. It started with us finding drug suppliers and putting them out of business, but we ran into something I don't think we were supposed to see."

Bailey rubbed his face with his hand, processing his statement. "Anyone we should be worried about? We might be able to help you." Martin looked at the Turian and back at Bailey. He seemed to get the hint and ordered the Turian officer to leave.

"We are looking for a Turian General's son named Pricus. He seems to be a bit of a bad apple. Eclipse is holding him for some reason here on the Citadel, and the Spectre is also after him to kill him, or so we think." Martin paused to gather his breath. "I need Pricus alive. He is probably the only one that can connect the Red Sand to a man named Sören Köhler. He's rich and an asshole."

"Sounds like you got a little over your head," Bailey replied as Martin sighed and nodded his head in agreement.

"Well, hopefully, the human ambassador can help you; I was originally sent to send you to the Human embassy here on the Citadel. They have some questions to ask you and some documentation issues to sort through."

"So, You aren't charging me with anything?" Martin questioned.

"If you'd like me to, I can arrange that." Martin shook his head. "Nope, I'm good."

"Any other questions?" Bailey asked.

"The Turian you've arrested, she is free to leave as well?" Bailey looked at the table and back again. Bailey sighed and dropped eye contact with Martin for a quick moment.

"Unfortunately, she is wanted for the murder of a Turian Colonel about some ten years ago. So she will remain in custody here and be transported back to Palaven."

Martin shifted his eyes to the table; he remembered his discussion with Soren and how he forgot to ask her about it. "Can I speak to her?"

Velpia was in her cell at the end of the hall, hunched over, staring at the floor. Bailey agreed to allow him to enter the cell and have some privacy. Martin leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "Well, if you're going to say it, say it." She said,

"No, I just wanted to know what happened?" He replied.

"Why? So you can make a deal with C-Sec?"

Martin sat beside her, almost offended at the accusation, and began to whisper. "The human embassy is pulling me out; I'll try to see what I can do for you."

"What makes you think they will care?" She replied, whispering in return. "I'll make them if necessary. But you gotta tell me what happened. Give me something to work with." Velpia became quiet and turned away from him. "Dammit, this isn't the time to be stubborn!" He said

"That's rich coming from you." Martin grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back toward him. "Tell me before I'm forced to do a blind assault on this station."

"Now look who's being stubborn." Martin looked her in her eyes and took his hand off her. "I can't; it was a bad situation."

Martin stood up and turned to face her. "I guess this is goodbye?" She said, looking up at him. He rubbed the back of his neck, determined to set her free. "If only you could get rid of me that easy." Velpia stood up and heard the confidence in his voice, which concerned her. "Don't you do anything stupid for me, please?" She grabbed his arm to force a response from him. "Stupid is what stupid does." He quipped as he turned around to the door. "You're such a pain in my ass."

He stopped at the door and turned back toward her. "One way or another, I'll be back, I promise."

Captain Bailey escorted him out of the holding cells and through the C-Sec headquarters. It was crowded and busy, with all kinds of aliens and humans moving about. Armed guards stood at every entrance and exit in and out of the area. "A bit busy today?" Martin asked while following Bailey.

"No, today's a light day, thank goodness." Bailey led him to an elevator as he leaned against the back wall resting on the support bar. The elevator began moving as his thoughts turned to their capture. "Bailey, how did you guys even know we were coming?"

Bailey turned to him and smiled, "It wasn't hard. We installed Bio-scanners on the through-ways around the docks a few months ago. They can read DNA from skin flakes, and your signature was flagged as a possible threat to station security about a week ago." Martin remained quiet but slightly annoyed at how often he's had to explain himself to the authorities lately.

"I should have stayed on Omega." he quietly replied. The elevator was quiet, and Martin lifted his head to watch the glass walls of the elevator. He watched as the floors passed quickly by as fast as his thoughts were moving.

The elevator's quiet was broken on a news broadcast through a speaker. "The Council is reported to have revoked the Spectre status of one of their agents following the investigation on Eden Prime. Apprehension of this agent is ongoing."

The elevator opened as Martin followed Bailey out and looked up to see a fake bright sky. It resembled a projection or a massive screen to simulate an earth-like atmosphere. They walked along the dull white walkway, trimmed with trees and segregated plots of grass and flowers. It was massive, and he could see the curvature of the Persium's ring off in the distance, with the river running down the center. The supposed beauty of the Presidium was offputting; it was sterile, fake, a simulacrum of reality.

Bailey led Martin into a large open room. The office was open; no windows separated the room from the outside. Just the balcony railing on the opposite side. Two men waited in front of him. One in a neatly pressed Alliance officer's uniform with gold trim and several gold bars on his shoulders stood to Martin's left. The other man was older and wearing an off-white suit, sitting behind the large desk.

Martin approached the desk and stopped about eight feet away. "Here's your man, Ambassador." Bailey nodded as he left the room. The ambassador stood and walked around the desk. "I am ambassador Udina, Human ambassador to the Council, and this is Rear Admiral Kahoku of the Alliance Navy."

Udina reached his right hand out to shake, but Martin defiantly folded his arms. Udina felt his distaste for him through his eyes and defensive body posture. The room was tense and awkward even after Udina had recovered his hand. "Martin Winters, we called you here today to discuss your activities in the Terminus Systems and your involvement with Cerberus." The Admiral firmly stated.

"I thought we already cleared this up on Elyisum?" The Admiral shook his head. "No, that's not exactly what I mean."

"We know who you are, Winters, and what you have done." Udina butted in. Martin laughed, "Oh yeah, who am I?" Kahoku handed him a PDA tablet; he glanced at it momentarily before tossing it on the desk. "I don't need to read this." He said defiantly while folding his arms again.

"I could send you home in chains for the things you've done-." Kahoku continued. Martin grew quiet but angry. Udina cut in, "-Terrorism, sedition, treason!-"

"-All bullshit! Did you bring me here to rehash eighty-year-old propaganda?"

"No, Your actions on Earth and Omega proved you are a dangerous liability. We don't know where your loyalties lie or your future plans. You're making a lot of people back home nervous." Martin laughed at Kahoku and shook his head, while Udina was less than thrilled with his response. "I'd choose your next words carefully."

Martin's laugh turned into a quiet sinister chuckle. "Admiral, I can write you a forty-page Manifesto on how the Earth's governments and its politicians can kiss my ass! My loyalties are my own; I suggest we leave it at that." He took a deep breath before continuing. "What is it you really want? I'm sure you already have a psychological profile on me, so this discussion is pointless; just tell me what you want."

Kahoku and Udina turned to each other for a moment. "We want you to find and hunt down Cerberus operators. If you'd be willing to do that for us, we can get you on the grid." Kahoku took a step forward and sternly looked at Martin.

"And if I refuse?" He responded.

"I have orders to find you the deepest grave I can muster. I'll have every Alliance soldier, Council ship, and Spectre in the galaxy hunting for you. You'll spend the few moments of your remaining life scared and afraid."

Martin didn't move, but he could tell the Admiral was serious. He couldn't be that much of a threat, could he? "What made you so scared of me? I doubt anyone should care for a hundred-year-old soldier."

Udina moved to the front of his desk and picked up the discarded PDA. "By our intelligence, You were under the care of Cerberus for quite some time. They wouldn't just release you without a purpose."

"The Batarians released me, well, 'release' may not be the proper word for it. Cerberus had no intentions of letting me go. I escaped from a Batarian slave ship before heading to Omega." Martin explained while relaxing his arms by his side.

"Do you know what Cerberus has done to you? We can help fill the gaps you're missing." Kahoku said

Martin perked up; he lowered his defensive posture, although still wary. "What do you mean?"

"Agree to our terms, and everything we know will be given to you. Kahoku proposed.

"What are the terms?". Martin sighed.

"First, you will gather any information on individuals or organizations associated with Cerberus.

Second, you will only engage targets that we clear, and we will do so with explicit instructions.

Third, if questioned, you are no one. You do not work for the alliance and never will."

The Admiral paused to gauge Martin's reaction. He looked indifferent; besides informing the Alliance on Cerberus, he had already been fighting them. At this point, he was toying with them.

"I hear a lot of what I'm doing for you but nothing about what you're doing for me."

Udina put down the PDA and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Like previously stated, we will release any information we have on you, you'll have proper documentation so you won't be hassled in Council space, and we will also pay you for your services."

Martin looked down at the floor. He dreaded the thought of working for the Alliance or being tied so thoroughly to them. But it might make his current job easier if he accepted.

"I have one condition, C-Sec arrested a Turian when I was picked up. I want her freed, and I want her sentence commuted. She will operate under my command. This is not negotiable."

Udina sighed as Kahoku looked over at him. "Can you arrange that, Udina?"

"I will contact the Turian Councilor. He's going to love this." He replied sarcastically.

While Udina left the office to talk with the Turian government, the Admiral and Martin were left in the embassy. Martin had walked out to the balcony, and the Admiral joined him briefly.

Martin had explained everything that happened on Omega and Elysium to Kahoku as per their agreement. Surprisingly the Admiral told him about his interest in Cerberus. His soldiers had been lured into a Cerberus trap, and no one seemed to be doing anything about it. He reached out to Udina for help, and he pointed to Martin. He was leaving the station soon to find out what had happened.

The reason for hiring him was to ensure someone would keep hunting Cerberus if things went south. In reality, the Alliance just wanted Martin focused on anything but them.

He realized from his conversation that he was probably over his head again. Martin felt as if someone wanted to keep tabs on him. But it was better to keep one side occupied.

An hour later, Udina entered the room accompanied by Velpia, holding their bags. "I'm impressed, Udina, didn't think you'd be able to pull that off," Kahoku commented.

"Don't thank me quite yet; her release came with some strings attached."

"Strings?" Martin questioned.

"The Turians weren't exactly happy with the thought of freeing their prisoner."

Velpia passed Martin his bag. "Now I take it our business is finished?" Udina asked while looking at Kahoku and Martin.

"Good."

The pair quickly exited the room. Martin felt they should leave before anyone reconsidered. "You really think this is a good idea, Admiral?" Udina asked, watching the door shut behind them. "This will ensure someone keeps pressure on Cerberus and him occupied."

Martin and Velpia left the embassies and headed for the Silverrun Strip. They wasted almost eight hours on what amounted to nothing. During their ride, Martin received the promised files from the Ambassador. "What that?" Velpia asked. Martin was almost utterly focused on reading the files on his Omni tool. "Reading about me." She looked over at him from the driver's seat., confused. "A little pretentious, huh?"

"No, not what I meant. Apparently, the Admiral found someone a bit close to Cerberus. It's a general outline of the Project that brought me here."

"Anything exciting?" She asked. Martin was quiet as his mind tried to process the information he was reading. "Maybe, Something about this Titan project and using Cryo pods. It turns to medical jargon after a while." Martin Shut the Omni Tool after a few minutes and rubbed his eyes.

He reclined the cab's seat a little bit to get more comfortable.

"So these strings that the ambassador was talking about…"

"Yeah, they want to keep an eye on me. I have to send them reports, and they will give me jobs to complete." Velpia responded while keeping her eyes locked in front of her.

"Governments aren't so different."

Some time had passed before they landed at their destination. The Silver strip was loud, crowded, and full of shops, arcades, and casinos. Very much different than the leisure sector back in Illyria. It was a slightly more high-class area than Martin was comfortable with.

Velpia led him to a residential block and into an apartment. It was large and wide open and looked very expensive. "We can just walk in?" Martin asked, confused. He felt as if they were breaking in.

"Yeah, it's my brother's place, he'll be out for a few days, so he gave me the access code."

Martin looked around the apartment, sparsely furnished as it was. It was more than what he had been accustomed to.

"I take it he was the successful sibling?" Martin joked. She turned to him and shrugged, "Something like that."

They set down their bags and checked to see if their gear was accounted for, just in case C-Sec made off with anything. Everything seemed to be in order except for his grenade launcher. Martin decided to lie on the couch to take a nap. They were both tired from their trip and their temporary incarceration.

Dallas had made it to the Citadel a few hours after Martin. He followed a tip from one of their agents on Elysium and was ordered to follow him. An order Dallas gladly followed. He was in an elevator on his way to the lower wards when Soren contacted him.

"Dallas, I don't need to remind you that failure isn't acceptable here. The Illusive man is expecting results."

"It would be better if I had some backup."

"You are strong enough to handle things on your own, even without using the chip," Soren added.

Dallas felt the scar on his face remembering his last few moments on Omega. "Strength isn't the issue; you don't know him as I do. He's not some pushover."

"Do I hear doubt? You've taken down all the other members of Titan without issue, or is your past now interfering with your duty?" Dallas' heart began pounding. He was angry at Soren's accusation. He knew damn well Dallas wanted to end Martin for what he did to him. Dallas gritted his teeth, holding back his anger, "I'll deal with it."

Dallas entered the lower wards and waited for his contact to arrive. He took to the large windows that lined the room and rested there. He saw a few ships leaving the dock and the sky car traffic as they whizzed by. His mind was fixed on ending this mission. He wanted to put a bullet in Martin's brain for the embarrassment he had to endure and the pain he had caused him. Even though Cerberus put him back together, parts of his body felt uneasy and numb. His back would cause him severe pain if his cybernetics were ever unsynced. He couldn't understand why they even bothered bringing him back. They could always hire an assassin or a merc group to bring him in.

"Ghost, I wouldn't keep your back turned too long." The mysterious voice behind him said.

"This isn't the time to play games, Williams." Dallas turned around and saw the familiar face of his old friend and shook his hand. Dallas was taken aback by his sickly appearance.

"I heard what happened on Omega. I'm surprised you're… well, alive." Dallas cut him off. "I'm surprised you're even still kicking."

Williams straightened himself, surprised by his response. "I've got time left, maybe not a lot, but some" William's eye dropped contact.

Dallas saw the distress in Williams and changed the subject. "You got the package?"

"Yeah, everything been set up for you at your place. Everything you need."

"Good, I'm going to need your help." Dallas put his arm over his shoulder of Williams. "It's gonna be just like old times."