Chapter Thirteen: New Alliance

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Shepard exited the Normandy, the very thought of failing without even beginning to develop a plan of his own only infuriated him further. To know that the enemy was but a breath away, only around a simple corner and the burden of his mission only weighed him down further. His steps echoed down the wards hall like the ticking of time. Time was something he loathed. Continuing down the presidium he turned into the embassy and darted for the stairs towards the human quarters.

"Commander, I must ask you to leave your weapons here." stated the Asari secretary. Shepard shot her a look before saying, "Shut up."

He knew there wasn't much time. There wasn't ever enough time for anything. No matter how much he gave back to the universe his duties ceased to relinquish their grip on his shoulders. Heat generated throughout his body as his jaw clenched and fists trembled and yet to be asked to relinquish his gun just to satisfy the protocol of such a mundane code of law was absurd.

"Sir, I'm not going to ask you again. Please hand in your weaponry before heading into the embassy."

Shepard's holster unbuckled as the gun being housed rocketed up between his fingers and towards the Asari. His eyes reflected the dark lighting behind him staring with deep fury. The Asari secretary stared in horror as his eyes hovered over the sights of the pistol, his brows sharp and wicked and his cheek bones high and protruded. This was the first time he felt his mind urge his fingertip to pull on the trigger. He felt his insides call for justification. He wanted to be justified.

"Shepard! Get up here now!"

His mind cleared focusing on the captain's voice but he didn't turn away without giving the secretary one last look that seemed to whisper to her, "you're lucky."

He entered the room where several species of alien awaited, they all turned towards him as his presence seemed to make them all slightly at ease. He sat at an empty seat carefully trying not to attain a gaze from anyone in the room, he didn't need to feel the antagonistic stares to understand his lack of planning.

"We're still waiting for one more person." said the captain.

Sudden footsteps echoed behind him like the situation was being perfectly choreographed behind closed doors. He sat watching Lily as her eyes averted away from him.

"You are one of them aren't you?" said one of the Asari's who stood in the room. Lily immediately backed away as the sudden alarm of her presence caught the attention of everyone in the room.

"What are you talking about?" retorted Lily. Shepard couldn't help but sit at the edge of his chair as he watching both Asari women begin to engage in what seemed to be a heated conversation.

"You're different. Every Asari in this room can tell. The Matriarch said a representation of our Goddess would appear in our time of need and you fit the bill."

Lily peered over the young Asari's shoulder to see her entourage was clearly becoming excited by the sudden accusation. This was becoming much more difficult than anticipated, it wasn't as nearly as hard then her last major assignment, then again, she knew there was something different about this era in her life. After centuries of being cursed and forced to live each era of humanity from beginning to its inevitable end it always repeated the same pattern. Awaken to a new universe only to end it with your bare hands.

"No, I'm afraid I'm nothing of the sort."

Shepard peered over to the captain and said, "Is this what you asked me to come here for?"

The captain shook his head as he placed his hand into the air signaling for complete silence as he took the floor.

"Listen everyone! We are here to discuss pressing matters at hand. As all of you know each of your defense grids have detected great shifts in the mass relay's in your respected region which is obviously a great cause of concern. We need to gather what remaining resources we have to counter act this or face the consequences of collisions all over the Traverse."

One of the Asari stepped from her entourage.

"We have none to worry. We have found our savior." she said glancing over to Lily.

"We all do respect but we must rely on factorial techniques to stop such a problem." said a Salarian. The Asari beamed at him.

"It's true. One of our Matriarchs have predicted such an event and has seen a savior to save the universe."

"How do you know it's this Asari?" asked the captain as he glanced at Lily, "You hardly know her and yet to make such a claim doesn't create doubt?"

"Captain Anderson." said a voice. Everyone turned to the now sliding door that revealed the silhouette of a woman. An aged Asari entered, her face expressionless and sharp. She continued in her arms folded behind her back and her headpiece displaying her authority. She peered over to Lily with hard eyes before turning to the Captain, "My apostle speaks the truth. We Asari believe in our faith, in our Goddess, she has given us a savior and I know it to be this one because she is unlike us."

Lily felt her eyes slightly widen and her insides begin to tremble.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Shepard. The Matriarch glanced at Lily.

"You do not deny your biotics surpass even my own?" she asked her. Lily couldn't find an alternative response.

"No."

"You also don't deny you have the ability to detect biotic strength and that you are not a pure breed of us?"

"No."

"Your complexion, your eyes... the same I envisioned." she continued, "you are one of us and yet you are not. Your time will come to prove to us who you are."

An aggravated Turian stepped from the darkness as he swiftly threw away the issue as nonsense.

"Pushing this aside we still need a plan of defense. These relays are coming in faster than the speed of light. We need a course of action."

"And that's what we're planning to do." said the Captain as he turned to Shepard. The Commander's eyes darted toward the aged man raising a brow.

"I'm assuming you want me to be the catalyst?"

"Well to be honest, I've already came up with a little something but I was hoping we would find an alternative before I shared this one. Only recently we've found a source of power from the Mu Relays. A giant station that divides the current of mass effects between the relays is right off the edge of the Traverse. Getting there would be difficult, your ship's fuel will only be slightly enough to get there so you will need to make a beeline for it. This station can stop the current feed to the relays ultimately ceasing their cataclysmic course towards habitable planets."

Shepard thought, his mind comprehending the vast dangers that lurked within the plan that would potentially become their salvation. He would be traveling nearly fifty times farther than his last mission to Illos.

"Send the coordinates to the Normandy, I'm leaving now." said Shepard as he stood to walk. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

"We'll be joining you." said the Asari Matriarch as she signaled to her crew.

"Us too." said several Turians.

The door behind him opened revealing a parade of species, all of them holding weapons and wearing human armor. Asari, Krogan, Quarians, Turians, Volus and Salarians entered marching into the room and turning to Shepard. He couldn't figure out the degree of what was happening until one of each specie stepped from the group.

"Commander Neira, I am the military leader of the Asari. The people of our race have granted Commander Shepard of the Human Alliance full access to our fleet." stated the Asari. A Volus, Salarian, Quarian and Krogan stepped from their respected groups.

"Special Sargent Ickris Savage of the Salarian fleet."

"Military Major Crux of the remaining Krogan force."

"Lieutenant Karizora Al'Kora of the Quarian Army."

The Volus military leader seemed hesitant.

"Captain Sarcum of the Independent Volus fleet."

Shepard looked over to the captain who wore a pleased smile.

"There you have it, Shepard. You've been given your new crew. Don't fail."