Mass Effect: A Few Good Soldiers
Chapter 7: The Munity and Hail Mary
Lieutenant Commander Kathryn Shepard and humanity's first and only Spectre dressed in her finest class A uniform sat in a briefing room for the Citadel Council. She was seated between two Council Intelligence Officers discussing the Spectre's investigation and hunt for Saren.
The massive rectangular table was host to thirteen beings from the three Councilors themselves to the Commander of the Combined Allied Fleet General Septimus, the head of C-Sec, the head of the Citadel Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Udina, and a bunch of other bigwigs.
The Council, of course, sat at the top of the table symbolizing their authority over everyone else in the room. From across the table they glared at her whenever they glanced up from the reports they were reading.
"I trust these reports are accurate commander," the turian councilor questioned in a tone that make her skin crawl.
"Of course they are," she bit back in righteous indignation returning his stare. Udina had accused her of the same thing once and she had taken too much offense at it. After he knew it wasn't and uncommon thing for N7s to do. The turian however had no way of knowing that, "You have the data from my hard suit to confirm it."
"Of course," the Asari Councilor, ever the diplomat and peacekeeper, responded with a calming smile on her face "considering the magnitude of the information my colleague is merely concerned on whether or not we have all the facts?"
"You have everything I had Councilors," Shepard answered honestly. She had collected every hard suit recorder from every member of her team and had even requested copies of the STG's recordings to turn into the Council.
"This is… hard to believe," the salarian director of the Citadel Intelligence Agency finally said with a touch of skepticism in his tone.
"Exactly" she said quickly capitalizing on the opening he presented, "and I believe that that is why it's true," she gestured to the Council, "as you made clear to me before this assignment Saren is a master manipulator. If he had ulterior motives he certainly would have come up with a more believable story."
"She has a point," the Intel Director agreed to her surprise, "Saren's smarter than that."
From his seat at the far end of the table the turian councilor scoffed, "Listen to yourself… a race of hyper advanced machines whose only stated goal is to wipe out organic life… that's sounds like something from a children's story."
"Jeez what stories are you reading your kids," Shepard grit out under her breath, but thankful no one heard her and the turian just kept going on.
"If something like that had actually happened there would be evidence to suggest it," he bit out, "but is there? No!"
"That's not true," Shepard snapped before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. She hated politicians… she hated she hated she absolutely hated them. She opened her eyes and in a calm collected voice continued on, "the lack of evidence is evidence all in itself. For how many years have we all wondered about what happened to the protheans… for an empire that stretched across this galaxy there should be far more artifacts than we have ever found. The reapers tried to exterminate all traces of them."
"Regardless of whether or not the Reapers exist we have a monumental problem set before us," the salarian continued, "Saren with his army of geth still possesses a threat of some magnitude to Citadel Space. He must be dealt with," the councilor's head turned until he could gaze at the turian general sitting in the room, "General Septimus has agreed to lead the Fleet against Saren and I now turn the floor over to him."
The aged turian with black clan marks arranged like claw marks across his face rose from his char and slowly and with careful deliberate steps that only empathized his age moved to the front of the room.
She'd always found it hard to judge ages of turians before, but maybe because of her time spent with a Garrus she could see that this General was very, very old. Unlike Garrus his plates lacked any shine and appeared molted from the long decay of time and when he started to speak there was a rasping quality to his voice that again signaled his advanced years.
"According to the available intelligence," the old turian rumbled, "we believe that Saren will have to make a play for the Citadel if he wants any hope of attaining power," he set down a holo-projector on the table and it burst to life sowing a 3D map of the Citadel, the Fleet and the relay into the Citadel Space Zone, "I've also been in contact with heads of the Alliance, Salarian, Asari and Turian militaries and they've gone on full alert after what happened at Terra Nova," the turian said with a pointed look at Ambassador Udina.
The ambassador shifted in his seat and glared at the turian before responding, "Admiral Hackett's reported that the Fifth Fleet will be here by week's end."
The turian general then went into a detailed plan of the fleet's deployment in defense of the Citadel and possible attack vectors for a counterattack into the veil and a whole bunch of big picture strategic level stuff that was way above her pay grade.
Though throughout the general's presentation she was concerned by one thing… he hadn't mentioned anything about Ilos or the Conduit yet. Finally she cleared her throat loud enough to get everyone's attention. When she had it she started, "How many ships are you sending to Ilos?"
Silence fell over the room and Shepard could have sworn the temperature dropped a few degrees, "None," the Asari Councilor finally said to the Spectre's surprise and dismay.
"What," Shepard nearly barked jumping out of her chair as she glanced back and forth between the members of this meeting, "You can't be serious!"
"Shepard," Udina actually did bark back at her for her outburst, "That's enough!"
Gritting her teeth and clenching her fists she finally sat down, "Saren specifically mentioned the Conduit when we were talking," Shepard hissed, "he seemed almost desperate about finding it. Now we have the location and you don't want to do anything about it?"
"As your report stated the only way to Ilos is through the Mu Relay," Asari said calmly once more playing peacemaker, "which lays deep in the Terminus Systems. If a Citadel Fleet enters there it's as good as a declaration of war as far as they are concerned."
The Terminus Systems was a lot like the Middle East used to be back on Earth before WWIII. In the Terminus there was constant political instability, numerous safe havens for terrorist organizations and rouge countries that refused to even have diplomatic relations with the Citadel. In the end however it was just a bunch of posturing and even if they did fight they wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell.
However if the Council didn't want to ruffle any feathers she could do that, "I can get to Ilos without the Terminus even knowing I'm there if I go in with the Normandy. I can do covert," Shepard finally said in a tone that came the closest to begging, outside the bedroom, she'd ever been.
"Covert," the turian councilor chuckled, the grating sound of his laughter echoing through the room, "You detonated a nuclear weapon on Virmire Agent Shepard. I'd hardly call the 'covert,'" he finished with a set of air quotes; a surprisingly human gesture and for a second she wondered where he learned it from.
"First off," Shepard responded holding up the forefinger of her right hand, "It wasn't my idea the STG captain came up with the idea to use to the nuke, secondly…," she raised the middle finger of the same hand, "Saren couldn't be allowed to keep that facility and breed a krogan army," she took a deep breath before adding, "and a lot of salarian dies and I lost one of my team as well to do it."
"You're absolutely correct Shepard," the Salarian councilor started, "You were right to destroy the facility, but the situation on Ilos is different," he briefly glanced at his comrades before facing her again, "besides we believe that while the Reapers may be real we believe this Conduit may be a fabrication to divert our attention."
Before Shepard could protest the asari spoke up again, "Think about it Shepard if the Reapers did build the Citadel and Mass Relays then why would they be looking for an inferior Prothean weapon… assuming it is a weapon?"
It was a good point, she had to admit that councilor that small triumph, but the Spectre didn't by it. She hadn't been there in person; she hadn't seen the desperation on the renegade Spectre's face. Whatever this Conduit was Saren was treating it like the Holy Grail.
"And anyway," the Asari continued in a matter-of-fact tone breaking Shepard's concentration, "It's no longer your concern."
Shepard frowned and leaned forward placing her elbows on the table, "What isn't my concern," she question suspicion clear in her voice.
"Saren… the Reapers," the salarian responded, "this issue as moved from an investigative matter to one of pressing military concern so we're giving authority over to General Septimus until Saren is captured or killed."
"And what I'm I supposed to do," Shepard hissed feeling betrayed that not only she was losing her mission, but at the way it was being handled. After all there was such a thing as professional courtesy, "twiddle my thumbs," she continued harshly, "or maybe catch up on my celebrity gossip?"
"Of course not… we recognize the value of your abilities and our simply reassigning you to another case," the asari said gently, "we want you to investigate an extremist group called Cerberus."
Shepard blinked, "That could take the rest of my life," she knew how deep Cerberus went. They had their fingers in everything and rooting them out was going to be a near impossible task. Under normal circumstances she could have gone at it to the best of her ability, but not with everything happening now, "What about my crew?"
It was again the asari who spoke, "The Alliance personal will of course stay with the ship. Mr. Vakarian will be offered his old job back at C-Sec and Ms. Tali and the krogan," she actually paused before saying the last word as if she had a problem believing Shepard had actually let a krogan on the ship, "will be free to go their separate ways."
"Oh," it was Udina this time the interrupted the silence before Shepard could say anything esle. The human Ambassador to the Citadel continuedin one of the most blatantly insincere tones she'd ever heard, "and I'm sorry to inform you that the Normandy will be reassigned to the Fifth Fleet once they arrive."
"You're taking away my command," she said with disbelief in her voice. That little son of a bitch, she glared at Udina and to think at first she had actually like the man for the balls he had to stand up to the Council. "Is there anything else you want," she asked harshly, "my oak leaves maybe?"
Shepard had intend it as a scathing remark, but to her immense shock and even horror the little bastard sat his folded hands on the table and actually had the nerve to smile at her, "As a matter of fact yes."
"Wh-what," she croaked wide-eyed. They wanted her commission… her goddamned commission? The fact that she'd been planning to resign from the Alliance Navy didn't matter anymore. That would have been her choice, but the fact she was being forced out…?
"To prevent what might be seen as a conflict of interest the Council and I have requested," and the tone in his voice made it clear how much of a 'request' it had been, "to Alliance command that you be discharged from the navy," his lip twitched in a smile, "honorably of course."
Enough was enough. Pushing back from the table she tore the two golden oak-leaves from her dress uniform and stalked over and slammed the two brass insignia on the table in front of the ambassador, "I've had enough of this bullshit. If you need me to run errands or something," she growled sarcastically, "I'm sure you can find me."
With that she angrily stormed out of the room and through the massive double doors and back into the Council Chambers. She noticed Garrus sitting on a bench reading a local magazine when she passed by him.
Quickly he put it down and dashed to catch up with her, "I take it, it didn't go well," he ventured jokingly with a turian smile on his face.
Not bothering to stop she growled, "You have no idea," and began to vent.
XXX
In O'Malley's pub down in a predominately human part of the wards Garrus sat in a booth sipping on a turian malt liquor. He'd been the one to suggest that they come down here to get a few drinks after what had happened during the Council meeting. He felt his blood boil as he thought of them sidelining and bushwhacking her. After everything she'd done they'd yanked her off the case so fast he was sure her head was still spinning.
He lifted his head up from his drink and glanced over at Shepard who was playing a game… billiards it was called if he remembered correctly. He watched her carefully as she played against a muscular human male. Something seemed off to him as she played… it was almost like she was missing shots on purpose.
They'd swung by the Normandy so she could change out of her and into the same outfit she'd been in when he'd first met her. She was wearing her Navy jacket and jeans the latter of which hung to her in all the right places. He caught himself purring at the slight of her, before he had managed to tear his gaze away from her ass and back to the game.
He hadn't seen this game played before but the object seemed fairly obvious; to get your balls into the pocket without putting the white ball in. He watched the male sink the black ball into the pocket and then straighten up, "Nice game sweetheart," he said with a smile and did a quick check of her ass.
Shepard the pulled out her wallet and withdrew a handful of bills and set them on the table. He nearly chuckled as he saw her flash the man a smile that Garrus recognized as predatory, "Aww come on gimme to when my money back… double or nothing?"
Garrus watched as Shepard laid a few more bills on the table and could see as the man almost visbly wrested with his greed, "Alright sweetheart," he finally said lecherously as he laid down an equal number of bills, "You first baby."
He saw Shepard lean over the table to make the first shot sending the white ball into the triangle of colored balls. The balls scattered when hit and a striped one fell into the pocket. He watched as Shepard called her next shot and sunk another and did it five more times until all that was left was the black ball. She smiled and pointed, "Eight ball left corner pocket," and bouncing the white ball off the wall it connected with the black ball and it went into the pocket she had pointed at.
She straightened out and scooped her winnings off the table, "Nice game… sweetheart," Shepard shot back in a scathing tone as she walked away.
"Just a minute," the man bit out as he reached out and grabbed her hard by the arm. Garrus was about to jump out of his hair and beat the man to death, but fortunately for the guy Shepard spun and coldcocked him right across the face.
The man went down with blocked streaming from his nose as he cursed her. Shepard straightened her jacket and said, "Don't be a poor loser," and went back over and sat right down next to Garrus at the booth.
Garrus reached out his arm, wrapped it around her waist and pulled her close to him. Leaning over to whisper in her ear he asked as he moved to nuzzle her neck, "What was that about?"
He heard Shepard moan as he found a particularly sensitive spot on her neck, "I guess… I don't know I just wanted to win."
The turian chuckled as he pulled back from her neck, "You really are a poor loser Kara," he laughed brushing his talons over her stomach.
She looked up at him with an annoyed look on her face but it eventually faded as she rested her head up against his chest, "I guess I am," she finished with a very slight laugh, "It just," she started a little more soberly, "after everything I'm not going to see this through and because of those… those assholes we might end up losing everything to the reapers."
"What do you want to do about it," Garrus responded in a conspiratorially tone. He received word from Executor Pallin about returning to his job with C-Sec. So far he hadn't said yes, but he hadn't said no either. He'd actually been thinking about turning down the offer and reapplying for Spectre Training; though he hadn't told Shepard yet.
During his stint in the Turian Legions he'd been approached by a Citadel represented with an offer to take a preliminary training course as a precursor to Spectre training proper. He turned them down then mainly because of his father's influence and personal distaste for the Spectres and a desire to honor his family history in C-Sec.
"There's not much we can do," she breathed sounding more defeated than he'd ever heard her before, "I lost the Normandy, my commission and am being reassigned to investigate Cerberus."
Garrus blinked at that, "Cerberus," he repeated dumbly. C-Sec's anti-terrorism department had devoted more than half its total recourses to investigate Cerberus and had been doing so for almost ten years without much success. What were they expecting her to do that a thousand men devoting millions of man hours couldn't.
"Yeah," she scoffed, "I wouldn't even know where to start. Though I guess I'm going to have to an apartment here or something."
Garrus cleared his throat and tighten his hold on her waist, "You're more than welcome to stay with me Shepard," he whispered nuzzling her neck again, "for as long as you want Kara."
He could feel her swallow, a feature he come to recognize as meaning she was nervous, "You want me to move in with you," Garrus nodded a hint of worry entering his heart before she smiled, "thanks I'd like that a lot," she whispered before pulling out a few bills from her wallet and laid them on the table, "let's get out of here."
XXX
Garrus's apartment was nice… a little small but nice and homey. Shepard turned to face her lover, "Thanks for letting me stay here Garrus I really appreciate it," she said and kissed his cheek.
The turian dropped her bags on the floor of his apartment, "You don't have to thank me Kara," she saw him pause and take a deep breath before he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Titling her head to allow him better access to her neck she moaned as he again found a sensitive spot on her neck, "I know," she whispered back her heart pinging with an emotion she was hesitate to name, "I know," she repeated as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He pulled back and they starred at one another in a way Shepard would have called cheesy before she and him had got together. Pulling his neck down she planted a kiss on his mouth as her hands massaged the softer unarmored part of the back of his neck and his fringe.
She felt his hands drip south to cup her behind as she ground herself against him, "Kara," he whispered huskily as Shepard felt her heat pool south of the border.
Releasing his neck she began to fumble with his belt when embarrassingly from out of the blue her stomach rumbled. The both froze, Shepard from embarrassment and Garrus titled his head in an inquisitive manner, "What was that," he asked quickly.
"Nothing," Shepard said just as quickly internally cursing her fair skin from being unable to conceal a blush.
Garrus's eyes narrowed and he repeated himself a little more sternly this time, "You're body made a noise… what was it?"
Shepard tried to stare him down but found she couldn't hold out do to a combination of her stomach rumbling again and her amusement at his small display of dominance. The former N7 and Alliance Commander rolled her eyes in an almost childish manner, "It means I'm hungry, dummy," she joked.
"Ohh," Garrus said wide-eyed as he broke contact with her and moved to adjust his pants, "I'll be right back," and he headed off in the direction of the kitchen.
Shepard opened her mouth to state the obvious but closed it as she decided she wouldn't spare him this small embarrassment. After all he deserved it for his actions just a few seconds ago. She smiled as she heard the telltale sound of a refrigerator opening only to be slammed shut a moment latter. Seconds after the sound he emerged for the kitchen, "I don't have anything you can eat," he said grumpily.
A slight chuckle escaped her lips despite the warning in his eye as she said down on the couch, "We can order in," she said glancing around for the remote control for the holovision set on the wall, "come on it'll be out first real date."
Slowly the turian bobbed his head, "What do you want?"
She quickly named her favorite pizza type, stuff crust with pepperoni and bacon, and Garrus nodded repeating the order before nuzzling her neck one last time and heading off to the kitchen to the extranet terminal to place the order.
As he was in the kitchen Shepard glanced around the room for the remote and found it stuffed between one of the couch's cushions. She sat down one the couch and started flipping through the Guide looking for something interesting to watch.
The next thing she began aware of was the dip in the couch as her lover sat down next to her. He wrapped his arm around her and she relaxed into his embrace. She glanced up at time, "How long," she asked.
He titled his head, "Thirty minutes give or take."
A naughty though passed through her head and she let her hand slip down to his crotch, "Plenty of time," she whispered seductively as she ran her nails over him.
XXX
"You have reached your destination," the overly cheerful voice cooed as Kai Leng, a former N7 officer who had been dishonorably discharged after a courts martial after killing a Korgan in a bar fight with only a K-Bar. He'd been prepared to rot for twenty years when Cerberus had "arranged" for his release and entrance into their service. Now he served as the personal hitman for the head wily and mysterious head of Cerberus itself.
He briefly checked the address Cerberus had provided for him with the number of the building to confirm he was at the right spot. When he was satisfied he was in the right place he shut down the engine and pulled the briefcase that was sitting on the passenger seat into his lap.
Pressing his thumbs against the bio-scanners on the briefcase lock he waited for case to open. After a few seconds it beeped and Leng pulled the cover back. Lying inside the box was a Heckler and Koch M95 pistol, a single ammo block, a single heat sink and a pair of black leather gloves. The M95 was a small and compact weapon with a built in internal silencer. It had been designed in special cooperation with the Alliance Intelligence service for their covert operatives. That said it was highly illegal for any private person to own one.
He first pulled on the black leather gloves before removing the pistol and then loading the ammo block and heat sink. He took his hand and slipped it into his jacket and against the opposite side of his chest right below his armpit. Now ready he opened the car door with his free hand and moved out into the street.
With a slow and confined gait he moved through the sliding door to the entrance of the apartment complex. The moment he entered he kept his head down and out of the zones of the cameras so they could catch a glimpse of his face.
"Can I help you," a voice came from behind a counter along the eastern wall.
Leng moved up to the counter where a young asari smiled at him. With his free hand Leg fished a ID out of his pocked that labeled him a C-Sec detective named Dick Tracy. Leng smiled as the Asari evaluated the ID, but the smile had nothing with being friendly, but with the name on the ID. The Illusive Man did have a strange sense of humor at times.
"Yes," he finally said, "I'm looking for a friend of mine named Garrus Vakarian."
The alien nodded, "Yeah he's in apartment 23-A" a seductive smile touched her lip as she leaned forward, "he brought a woman home with him… a human woman," she revealed conspiratorially.
While disgust churned in the assassins stomach he outwardly put on a face of shock, "Really," he whispered back before smiling and with a shake of his head added, "Why Garrus you old hound dog," he chuckled like he knew the turian and took his ID back.
The asari giggled and as he turned and started toward the elevator. So far so good, the assassin mused internally. He had been fully prepared to kill the asari and would have done it without a second thought morality wise but with only concern for the mission.
The elevator trip only lasted about a minute and when the doors opened the Cerberus agent stepped off and onto the floor. He took a brief glance at the numbers on the wall and headed toward the turian's apartment. He didn't need the secretary at the desk to tell him as Cerberus had obviously supplied the intelligence.
Leng spared a glance up and down the hall before removing the pistol from his sports jacket and held it tight up against his body, but pointed at the door. Reaching out with his free hand he rapped three times on the door and waited.
Seconds later the door swung in revealing Detective Garrus Vakarian wearing nothing but his pants, "How much…," the turian started but trailed out as he saw the ex-N7 Commando holding a gun on him.
"Speak and you're dead," he whispered harshly as he saw the turian tense, "now raise your harms and back up slowly."
The turian glared hotly for a moment and if looks could kill Leng would be a smoking pile of ash. Eventually the turian nodded and slowly back up. As he did Leng heard a feminine voice, one he recognized as belonging to Kathryn Shepard said, "Garrus what's up?"
As he cleared the hall and stepped into the living room he turian to face the Spectre with a sadistic grin on his face, "Hey Shep long time no see."
Shepard who was wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, and from what Leng could tell from the state of the scattered clothes around the room that seemed to be all she was wearing, frowned as she sat up and used the blanket to conceal her modestly… what was left of it.
"Leng…," she said with a question tone before repeating firmer and more confidently, "Kai Leng… I'll be damned," she spat with disgust in her tone, "I was so hopping you were dead?"
The Cerberus operative shrugged carefully to never left his pistol waver from the enraged turian, "So friendly that one ehh," he said directing his comment to the turian, "careful with her turian she's dangerous."
The turian looked ready to try and gut him right there with his claws, "How do you know Kara," he growled sounding a lot like a hound protecting its mate.
"Kara," he empathized Shepard's little nickname, "and I were in the same class together in Hades. She was my battle buddy," he said using the term the military for two military personal who were assigned to help each other in and out of combat. He paused before bringing up what was sure to be a sore topic, "Jeeze Shepard with me, Donald and you old team gone over to Cerberus don't have a very good track record in regards to your old companions."
It was a remark designed to push her buttons and from the brief flash of murderous rage that passed across her face he guessed he was successful. However as quick as it had appeared on her face it vanished and she said dryly, "If you're going to kill us just get it over with already and spare us the insults."
Leng gestured with his free hand for Garrus to move back and sit down on the couch. The turian did so with only minimal fuss and sat down next to Shepard, "Don't worry Shepard," he said still keeping his weapon trained on her. Despite being a good ten meters away and completely naked he wasn't going to underestimate her, "I'm not here to kill you… either of you."
He said that even though in earnest he would like to do nothing else. In his eyes Shepard was tainted; not only by the filthy creature she let inside her but her mere title as a Spectre. She had sold herself… whored herself to the Council to do its bidding even at the expense of humanity.
He managed to wrest himself from his thoughts to see Shepard arch her eyebrow in a look he knew well, "So what you… an escape convict and terrorist working for a extremist group… just decided to drop in for a visit?"
"Don't be thick Shepard," the ex-N7 snapped, "It doesn't suit you. I'm here because of the Conduit and before you deny it Cerberus already knows about Saren the Reapers and the Conduit."
He could see as a muscle in Shepard's jaw twitched which was just about all the emotion she revealed, "Alright then what do you want?"
"For you to stop Saren and find the Conduit," he said dropping the bomb shell on the pair, "Cerberus has managed to put a plan into action that should get you off the Citadel so you can go do your super commando thing."
"If you think I'm gonna work for Cerberus," she growled in a low menacing voice.
"We're not stupid Shepard," he snapped again, "we know you've refused an offer in the past. We want you to succeed and to that end we've arranged for the Normandy's crew to be forced to remain on ship for the next forty-eight hours. We also managed to hack Udina's terminal and planted a Trojan program that will allow us to create a falsified launch order for the Normandy."
"So," Shepard drawled her eyes hard, "it's either risk the genocide of all life or work with Cerberus," she paused and glanced at Garrus, "some choice."
"Now if you're finished whoring around with your turian," he snarled aimed a particularly vicious comment at Shepard, "perhaps you could close those legs of yours get back to defeating Saren and Sovereign?"
As he spat the words he notice the turian had inched his way closer and closer to her in a vain effort to protect her. In would have been a heartwarming gesture if the thought of them together wasn't so revolting.
"Yeah," Shepard said glaring at him and he nearly shivered at the death he saw in her eyes, "but as soon as I'm done with the Reapers I'm coming for you… and you're damned 'Illusive Man'," as she spoke he would have sworn on a stack of Bibles at the room temperature dropped a few degrees, "and I will kill both of you."
Leng shrugged attempting to dismiss her threat, but failed to keep the slight tremor out of his voice as he countered, "Don't make threats you can't keep," but even as he said it he knew he was dead wrong. Shepard never made ideal threats, she made promises of vengeance.
He stood keeping his gun trained on her, "Move fast Shepard the window of opportunity closes tomorrow at Oh-nine-Thirty. After that they're sure to discover our Trojan and any chance you had of stopping the damn apocalypse with die along with all of us."
"I'll consider it," Shepard said coolly as if she still had a choice in the matter.
That's all the Illusive Man asks," he said as he slowly back pedaled, "to give Cerberus a chance," and with that he pulled a two PlastiCuffs and tossed them towards them.
Shepard glanced down at the pair of cuffs and then back up at him with a pointed glare.
He gave her his smuggest smile, "Handcuff yourself together at the wrist and ankle," he commanded and this time he got a double glare. Eventually Vakarian bent down at the waist and took the cuffs in his claws. He gave one last defiant glare before he slid his right foot into the cuff and Shepard did the same with her left. They then slipped their hands into the plastic rings and at his insistence pulled them tight.
He was under no illusion that the cuffs would hold either of them for long, but it was just enough time for him to make his withdrawal, "Goodbye Shepard," he chuckled throwing her a mock salute and speedily made an exit.
XXX
In his office in the Alliance Embassy Captain David Anderson sat reading a transcript of the Council meeting. As the Ambassador's military attaché he was privy to all the classified information the Ambassador was, but didn't rate high enough to actually attend their meetings.
He felt the urge to slam his fist down against the desk as he read transcript. The Council was railroading Shepard because she had discovered something they didn't want to believe. He exhaled and rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. He didn't consider Shepard a friend… the only time he'd ever meet her before the Normandy assignment was on his rotation to the Hades Training Facility when she'd been a N7 trainee.
What he did realize was the Shepard by virtue of her position as the first human made her important both militarily and politically and her dismissal by the Council was tantamount to a dismissal of humanity itself.
As the old saying went 'out of the pot and into the fire,' Anderson mused as he leaned back in his unfamiliar, but very comfortable leather chair. He closed his eyes for half a second and realized he must have dozed off because the next thing he was aware of was his office door slamming open and Shepard striding in.
"Sir I'm sorry," one of the marine guards apologized, "Agent Shepard was determined to see you," she finished with a tone in his voice that said he would toss her out on her ass if he gave the order.
"It's fine corporal," Anderson replied waving the marine off, "you're dismissed."
Once the marine left, closing the door behind him, Shepard took a seat and leaned forward placing her elbows on the table, "We have a problem sir."
Anderson sighed, "I heard about the Council meeting Shepard. Unfortunately the Council's spoken and there is nothing we can do about."
A emotion he couldn't quite classify flashed across the Spectre's face before said, "That's only a part of what I want to talk about."
The captain titled his head, "What's the other part," he asked curiously as he conspiratorially leaned forward.
"Does the name Leng mean anything to you," Shepard asked carefully sidestepping his question by asking another question.
Anderson frowned… the name did sound familiar. He rapped his fingers on his desk as he rifled through his memories, "Kia Leng," Anderson repeated and Shepard nodded. He did remember the N7 turned murderer turned Cerberus terrorist as stain on the honor of the N7 program, "What about him?"
Shepard hissed and said, "He came to visit," she added air quotes, "me and Garrus a few hours ago."
His eyes going wide he looked quickly up and down her form looking for injuries. Cerberus wasn't awfully merciful with those it considered collaborators and given that Shepard was sleeping with a turian and was a Spectre.
But still sending an assassin to off or bully a Spectre was one hell of a ballsy move… even for Cerberus. The Spectres were the symbolic and in some way literal strong-arm of the Council. An assault on one was like boxing the ears on a grizzly bear.
"I'm fine," Shepard confirmed, "he wasn't there to fight… he came with an offer," she admitted a little bit hesitantly.
Anderson felt his hackles rise, "He tried to recruit you," he asked almost flabbergasted. It wasn't beyond the realm of belief for Cerberus to want a Spectre in their camp, but Shepard wasn't exactly a poster child for pro-human extremism; plus she had previously killed two Cerberus agents when they had tried to recruit her.
"No," she answered determinedly. She paused and licked her lips and it was one of the first times Anderson had ever seen a nervous gesture from her, "somehow Cerberus has found out about Saren, Sovereign, Ilos and this whole damn mess. I have no idea how but they have."
"Damn," the Captain cursed, "the Ambassador's not going to be happy knowing there's a leak in his embassy. Plus if the Council found out that some human had leaked classified information they'd have a conniption, "so what does Cerberus want?"
Shepard ran her hand through her hair and leaned back in her seat, "The same thing we want… to stop Saren and the Reapers," she paused, "they've managed to create a false launch order for the Normandy and somehow managed to keep the crew onboard."
Anderson pinched the bridge of the nose as everything seemed to fall into place. The order had come down from Fleet Com for the all crewmembers of the Normandy to remain onboard wand conduct a full system evaluation and diagnostic. It hadn't made sense to him at the time and all his inquiries to command had turned up nothing.
"We need to go to Udina and the Council with this," Anderson ground out even though it was the last thing he actually wanted to do.
"No," Shepard said forcibly, "As much as I hate to say it Cerberus is right. We need to stop Saren and need to get to Ilos to do that whatever the Council may think!"
Anderson took a deep breath before asking in a low tone, "You do realize what your suggesting could be viewed as treason… going against a direct order of the Council."
A small smile touched the Spectre's lips, "Cerberus seemed pretty interested in Ilos and sense I've been given the task of hunting down Cerberus…," she trailed off her arms open.
"That's stretching your authority Shepard," Anderson said deadpan before a small smile touched his lips, "though knowing you you might be able pull," he paused, "what do you want from me?"
"I'm not that worried about myself," she admitted, "if we win I expect a medal and an apology," she said with a smile before that smile faded, "if we fail then I expect everyone will be dead. I just want someone to know what I'm going and why."
"I don't expect I can persuade you from doing this," Anderson asked in the tone of a man who already knew the answer to his question.
"No," she said with a shake of her head.
"Then Godspeed Shepard."
XXX
Garrus piloted Tali, Wrex and Liara which consisted of the entire non-human compliment of the Normandy through the skies of the Citadel towards the Alliance docking bays. After that Cerberus agent had dropped in on them Shepard had, however grudgingly, agreed that he was right and they had to get to Ilos and stop Saren.
To that extent Shepard had asked him to find the rest of their teammates and get them back on the Normandy. Cerberus had also been kind enough to put him, Tali, Wrex and Liara back upon the approved entrance list for the Alliance Docks and the Normandy itself.
"I still can't believe we're doing this," Tali whispered from her position next to Liara in the middle of their little formation.
"Don't worry," Garrus said half-jokingly half not, "Your father's on the Quarian Admiralty Board I'm sure he won't let his little girl go to prison if things go wrong."
Tali snorted in laughter, "Ahh ship theft is considered a treasonable offense among my people. If my father found out about this he just wouldn't let it happen he'd order it."
"Your own father would order you execution," Liara said aghast and Garrus chuckled at her tone. He knew the quarian was joking, but apparently the good doctor was still a little too literal.
"I was joking Liara," Tali said patting the asari doctor on the back.
"Oh," the asari countered as she blushed purple.
As they conversion in the back on the air car continued Garrus maneuvered the vehicle up to the checkpoint to the naval yard. Garrus had to force himself to breathe as the car shuttled slight as a pinning beam held it in placed and saw as the automated defenses trained themselves on the car.
Garrus rolled down his window as a marine military police officer strolled up while his two buddies hung about ten meters in front and three meters to either side of the air car. The marine came up next to the window and questioned, "What are you here for… sir?"
"We're meeting up with the Normandy," Garrus answered holding out his ID and the IDs of his team for the MP to take. The marine did a quick visual check of the ID's and their owners before checling them against the database for people allowed on the base.
Garrus forced himself to take a deep breath and he knew that if Cerberus's … he still couldn't believe that they were working with Cerberus… infiltration program wasn't as good as they claimed then he wasn't sure what was going to happen.
A few moments later the marine came back and handed him the IDs, "You're all good sir the Normandy's in docking bay six berth four."
"Thank you marine," Garrus said as he forced any sign of the relief he was feeling from his voice as the marine backed away and he put the vehicle into gear and took off into the Naval Yard. He flew the air car through the yard and past several Alliance warships that were docked.
The Alliance 5th Fleet under Admiral Hackett had yet to arrive, but there were always a few Alliance ships docked at the Citadel for some reason or another. Most of the ships in dock were smaller frigates and a few cruisers and of course the Normandy.
XXX
"Agent Shepard, Agent Shepard," a woman's voice called out from in front of her as she exited the tram system that exited near the Alliance Dock Yard.
The Spectre turned to face the woman and swore under her breath. This was the last thing she needed she thought as she recognized the woman as Khalisah al-Jilani a fairly famous reporter with Westerlund News. She had a show on the channel but Shepard couldn't think of what it was called.
"Agent Shepard," the reporter said again as she closed within a meter of Shepard, "I'm Khalisah al-Jilani. Would you care to answer a few questions for are viewers?"
"Listen I'm in a hurry," Shepard said bluntly trying to get away from the reporter as the woman chased her with the little floating camera thing.
The woman moved around in front of her shouting, "Shepard you're humanities first Spectre and a big news item… the people want to know about you!"
As far as Shepard was concerned the "people" could shove it. As an N7 she had been a ghost, everything she did and went was classified. The Alliance was very secretive about all activates in regards to their special forces groups. When she became a Spectre the only thing that had been released regarding her was her name, rank, picture and that she was an N7.
She quickly glanced at her chrono and cursed again. She didn't need the reporter making a scene and attracting attention while she was so close to the base, "Fine," she growled, "shoot."
The reporter smiled and barked a few words to her camera drone, "Now Agent if you'll please scoot over a little to the left so we can get the Navy Yard in the back ground…"
Shepard rolled her eyes as she took a few steps to the left, "Good?"
"Very," the reporter answered before clearing her throat, "3…2…1… Go," she said for the camera, "I'm here with Agent Shepard of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance. The very first human Spectre and former member of the Alliances N7 Special Forces program," she smiled and the camera panned towards Shepard, "Humanity has been trying to earn the respect of the galactic community for twenty-six years. With that in mind how do you feel about being the first human Spectre?"
She could have said she hated it. She could have said that she never like the idea of the Spectres as an organization. She could have said she cursed out her captain after he told her, but instead she said, "It was an honor. The Spectres are an elite group and not just anyone can get into their ranks."
Al-Jilani nodded before continuing, "Some have considered your appointment is the Citadel 'throwing humanity a bone.' What do you have to say to that?"
She hated to say it but the bitchy reporter had a point. That more or less what she always thought about the Council's decision. The Alliance, in terms of pure tonnage, had the second largest fleet in the known galaxy. However she doubted the Council be happy if she said that on inter-stellar television… what the fuck she thought, "It's possible" she admitted with a slight smile.
The woman looked surprised at Shepard's answer, but nonetheless continued on, "From what I've been able to collect you've been given command of an advanced human vessel for your mission. What can I tell us about this?"
Reporters… Shepard internally hissed. The Alliance should round them all up and gang-press them into Alliance Intel. The SSV Normandy was the most advanced ship in the fleet. She wasn't sure how much she should say but she could had least inform of a couple things, "The Normandy was actually co-designed by the Turian Starfleet and many of her innovations are still highly classified."
The reporter nodded again, "Speaking of turians. What do say to rumors that you're currently engaged in a romantic relationship with one?"
Shepard bit the inside of her cheek to control her expression, "I'm sorry are you insinuating something," she questions aching her eyebrow in way that radiated innocence.
The reporter looked a little miffed by the fact that Shepard kept a straight face, "I said there were rumors about-,"by she didn't get to finish as Shepard cut her off.
"Even if I was it's none of your business who I'm 'romantically involved," by chance she glanced up at the base and saw a very familiar looking air car. So Garrus was on schedule that was very good. Now all she had to do was get out of this interview and fortunately for her the reporter had given her a perfect opportunity. She let a disapproving look slide onto her face and made a show of straightening her leather jacket, "I thought this was going to be a professional interview, but apparently you can't handle that," and ignoring the reporter's protests she headed off towards the Normandy.
XXX
Almost about an hour after Shepard had left his office Anderson found himself in the ambassador's office as Udina went over the latest reports from Admiral Hackett. The Fifth had repeated all its repairs and were conducting final preparations to get under way.
"Excuse me Ambassador," one of the ambassadorial aides said as she entered the room, "I thought you might want to know that the Normandy just entered the relay."
The ambassador didn't look up from his datapad, "Yes, yes thank-," all of a sudden he froze and jerked his head up, "wait…what," he shouted at the aide.
The young woman's eyes went wide, "Uhh… sir the Normandy took off about thirty minutes ago under your personal authority," she stammered looking back between him and the ambassador.
"No," he shouted, "the Normandy was supposed to be on lockdown until the Fifth Fleet," he paused and slammed his fist down on his desk, "damn that Shepard," before turning his fiery gaze on Anderson, "so help me God if you knew anything about this Captain!"
Before answering Anderson turned to the aide and made a shooing gesture. The aide gave him a thankful look and slipped out the door closing it behind her, "Yes I did," he answered and braced himself for the inevitable shit-storm.
Udina did not disappoint launching into a triad calling him almost every name Anderson had heard of and a few he hadn't. When the ambassador finally finished telling him that his career was over and he was going to jail he asked, "Would you care to explain yourself Captain?"
"Yes," Anderson said, "I would. I believe that the Council made a mistake and so did Shepard. That's why she took the Normandy."
"That doesn't excuse her actions," Udina snarled at him.
"No it doesn't," Anderson admitted, "but at this point you have everything to gain and nothing to lose," he countered.
"Explain!"
Anderson sighed and crossed his arm, "If Shepard his wrong and the Conduit isn't real then she and I are mutineers and you can arrest me and have her disbarred from the Spectres and arrested if you want. You won't lose any face we both were Special Forces after all and this is the kind of stuff we're used to doing," he paused for a second before adding, "If Shepard's right then not only does she save us all from death at the hands of the reapers, but you get to look like a hero with the wisdom to send Shepard to do what needed to be done even against orders. Plus the Normandy's a stealthship she won't do much good in a pitched battle."
Udina looked thoughtful for a second seemingly intrigued at the offer and began to pace along the window at the back of his office overlooking the Presidium. After several seconds he turned back and pointed a finger at him, "Fine, but just so we're clear I won't take any of the blame for this Anderson."
"I would never suggest it Ambassador."
XXX
It had been nearly three hours since the Normandy had left the Citadel and made it through the Mass Relay. Once through the Citadel Relay which dumped them out near the Omega station in the Sahranarik system. From there it was a five hour journey to the Mu Relay and another two from the relay in the Pangaea Expanse to Ilos.
In the Normandy's armory Shepard and Garrus sat at a table with their weapons disassembled for maintenance and cleaning. Reaching out Shepard grabbed the bolt of her rifle and began to clean the grime off it from previous use.
"So… how many of the crew know what's really going on," Garrus questioned as he dug the grime from his sniper rifle's chamber with his talon before grabbing a rag to clean the rest.
Before answering Shepard squirted some gun lube into the barrel before taking her rag and wiping down the breech, "Apart from the team only Pressly, Moreau, Dr. Chackwas and Engineer Adams… the senior personal," she finally said.
Garrus put the rifle down on the table and looked hard at her, "Are you sure that's a good idea Kara… I mean all do you want to keep this quiet?"
Putting the pieces of her weapon on the table she ran her hand over her face and looked up at him with a tired expression, "Is not that I don't trust them Garrus," she explained patiently, "if by some off chance we're wrong I don't want this to ruins their careers," she took a deep breath, "so if this goes south than Anderson and I are the only ones going to jail."
She glanced up at him and noticed that he had a turian smile on his face. Shepard frowned at his expression and felt anger boil up in her chest, "You think me spending fifty to life in Fort Leavenworth is funny?"
Garrus waved her off chuckling as he did and attempted to regain his composure, "I'm sorry Kara," he said, "it's just you've got grease all over your face."
Shepard looked down at her hand and noticed that it did have grease on it. She started laughing and as she did she felt he worries drift away. They both sat their laughing for a good two or three minutes before Garrus picked of a clean rag and moved beside her and carefully wipe the smudges from her face.
"I've been with you every step of the way Kara," he said wrapping his arms around his waist, "I've seen the same things you have and I believe that you're right."
She rested her head on his chest, "Thank you," she whispered softly and they remained in that position for several seconds before Garrus pulled away.
She was confused for a second before he knelt down in front of her and took her hand in his, "Kara you know how much I care about you and I know you feel the same way about me," he trailed off for a second and Shepard felt her heart clench as he did, "would you be my mate?"
Shepard blinked once, then twice. Garrus was a hell of a lot of fun to be with and she cared about him more than anyone for a long, long time. But could she be his mate… his wife. She remembered the last time she walked down the aisle and it had turned out well at all. But this was Garrus and he loved her there was no doubt in her mind about that. The only question left to her was did she love him? After a bit of searching she found that she did.
A genuine smile touched her lips and she said, "Why the hell not."
XXX
On a Geth transport Saren Arterius paced in the cargo bay alongside two hundred and twenty-five geth troopers, a full company's worth, on their way down to the surface of Ilos. The ex-Spectre paced up and down the cargo hold relentlessly. The cargo hold was silent except for the sound of his footsteps, the roar of the engines, and the whine of two hundred twenty-five geth heads following his every move.
His patience worn he spun on them, "Stop that," he roared and immediately in impeccable precision they all snapped their heads forward in unison. This was it, he mused. The beginning of the end for the galaxy as it was. With the next two days the invasion would begin and this would be over.
He glanced down at his hands. His left hand and the entire arm was synthetic, it was actually a geth arm that had replaced his real one after it'd been damaged in a firefight. His right hand was still flesh and blood… at least on the surface. Underneath the skin grafted to bone and muscle was all kind of cybernetics. He ran one of his talons along where the surgical scar would be that ran along the underside of his arm up onto his shoulder and over to his chest.
The cybernetics not only ran through his arm but his entire body as well. These upgrades at been insisted upon by Sovereign and at the time he had agreed whole heartedly with the Reaper. Hihu
He had beenHe had been outwitted by Shepard on Virmire; he had allowed the weakness of flesh to dissuade him from his duty. It would never happen again.
These upgrades would allow him preform his duty more efficiently. He's stronger, faster and smarter than he had even been before. Nothing would stop him from his objectives. Suddenly he looked down and found his right hand shaking.
The shuttle shook and Saren recognized it as the transport coming in for a landing. The shaking continued for almost two minutes before the transport rocked one last time before becoming still. A loud groaning noise issue forth from the middle of the bay as the ramp lowered.
When the ramp hit the ground the geth troopers began to stream down the ramp to secure the area around the transport. After the last geth exited the ship Saren followed them down off the ship. An odd feeling shot through him as his boot hit the stone ground that the shuttle had come to rest on.
A detailed scan from the geth crusier he had arrived on had managed to map a huge subterranean structure. Scans had also revealed what the geth had come to believe was an entrance at these coordinates.
He glanced around the courtyard and felt as if his steps had desecrated something scared or holy. The courtyard was filled with statues that to him bordered on grotesque. Finally he turned to the large slab of stone in front of him with a diagonal cut bisecting the rock. The face of the slab was cover in reliefs and beautiful carvings.
That was the entrance and there was no doubt about it. Saren glanced over at the geth that was designated by a red stripe running across its chest to be his aide and said, "We need to geth through this and into the facility."
"Affirmative," the geth nodded bobbing his head up and down, "I'll send patrols out to look for another way in."
"If that doesn't work" Saren continued still gazing at the massive gate, "we'll need to blow our way in… prepare the explosives."
"By your command," the geth intone before emitting a serious of high pitched tones to transfer binary data to the other geth.
No, Saren mused internally noticing. It wasn't by his command at all. It was by Sovereigns command it always was and always will be. He glanced down one last time and found that his hand was still shaking. He bit off a brief curse in response and forcibly restrained his hand with the other. He glanced upwards toward the heavens and whispered, "Spirits forgive me for what I am about to do."
XXX
I know I changed the bit with how they stole the Normandy but I thought this was a little more believable and it helps me set up something in the sequel I'm planning to write. I had Shepard have her commission taken away because it makes sense. Having Shepard as both an Alliance Military Officer and an Agent for the Council is a conflict of interest that most governments would want to avoid.
Also I'm going to say it now that the Normandy isn't going to be in the Battle for the Citadel. When you think about it it took the Normandy at the very least a day to get to Ilos. I always wondered how it managed to get back to the Fifth Fleet which is at the Alliance capital, in the game, in the time it takes you to run to the Conduit, go through it, land in the Citadel and make your way to the Council Chambers.