A/N: Thanks again to Tayg for reading through this chapter for me! Also, special thanks to all of you that are continuing to read this story! It is very exciting to see the number of viewers and to receive your reviews & PMs. I hope that you all continue to enjoy!
Chapter 6: The Krogan Threat
The three Leviathans had been busy with their various plans. As a result, the ocean planet that had been their home was now covered in makeshift islands of discarded ships that had carried whatever supplies they commanded from those indoctrinated by their orbs. The Leviathans all had their own agendas and goals, but remained united in mind and purpose. They were ready to take back all they had lost and use their combined power to achieve their various objectives. Each had a part to play in the overall plan and all were dedicated to those ideas. Leviathan believed that the galaxy was waiting for its true master to resurface and lead. Leviathan was that master and Krixo, Lesaro and Neresa had waited long enough to see it through. They would succeed and they would rise to supremacy again.
A goal united… Strength through combined power… Many serving as one… We are Leviathan…
Infiltration and control was the task set forth by Krixo, the oldest and most skilled in manipulating those of lesser minds. Ultimately, he wanted to use his amazing powers to be the puppet master of those that were currently in charge. He would achieve this through the various orbs that his thralls had crafted and delivered to those he had selected. To his delight, his offerings had been accepted and those that he longed for were his to possess.
Krixo recognized that the Galactic Council was controlling most of the resources and governing the people of the galaxy. As such, they were his first targets. He longed for their power and influence and with him now speaking as the Council, he could focus their combined strengths anyway he saw fit. First would be to eliminate the krogan threat and then he would expand his influence to each of the councilors homeworlds.
Krixo knew that it would not be long until it would be his mind that determined the fate of the galaxy and then he could focus on his ultimate purpose, controlling Shepard. Since first being exposed to her mind, Krixo longed to have her be his and wield her power and might. She was the ultimate weapon and truly fit for his taking.
The Council is mine and I will use them against the krogan. Lesaro will be ready with his army and the threat from those beasts will be eliminated. We will find a way to touch Shepard and she will also be mine to control. I can feel it… I can feel the power that is within her… I will have Shepard to wield my power… I am absolute power… I am Leviathan…
The Reapers had once driven Leviathan to the depths of the ocean world where they hid. While Leviathan was in dormancy, they used the biological components of the species that they harvested to increase their numbers and gain more power. With the end of the Reapers, Leviathan saw their discarded skeletons as a source of untapped power. Lesaro knew that he could use the carcasses as armor to achieve his goal of glory and war.
Lesaro's ambitions were to make those that could not be controlled through their orbs be completely eliminated as a threat. He longed to fight and utilize his ability to crush lesser species beneath his sheer power. Lesaro was the perfect general and would lead an army against the krogan. He would test himself in battle again as he would crush their world and use whatever resources he desired to achieve his mission. The thought of the extinction of an entire species by his hand made him feel truly alive and Leviathan would be seen as the most feared and powerful creature in the galaxy.
His newly crafted armor would add to Lesaro's own impressive powers and also allow him to take flight. He would soon rise from the ocean world and set his sights on Tuchanka. First he would gather his armada, the turians and their warships that massed around Palaven. With them under his control, he would attack and use the turians as his own personal army.
I yearn for battle and hostility. I will rise up and lead the armies of Leviathan. The krogan will not be able to counter our might. They will fall and I will crush them. Nothing will stand against Leviathan. I will control our foes and our armies… I am our might… I will be the force of extinction… I am Leviathan…
Hidden in the depths of the ocean world were the seeds of the future of Leviathan. Neresa had been tasked with ensuring the potential of Leviathan. Only the strongest would be allowed to reach maturity and only then would they join their brothers in the ability to conquer and dominate. She would be the mother of her species and the guiding force in providing the support that both Krixo and Lesaro would require to maintain the control and influence that they both sought.
While Krixo and Lesaro were making plans to indoctrinate and start a war, Neresa had her sights on her brood. She would imprint on them first and she would help them to prepare for their role in the galaxy. Most would play a supportive role and add to Lesaro's efforts against whatever foe they faced, but two would rise to be dominant and lead the others. A male and a female to ultimately replace Krixo and Neresa as patriarch and matriarch, they would be the strongest and most cunning of the brood.
Heading off for her hidden treasures, Neresa ached to touch the minds of the young and to start the imprinting process. It would take a few years to fully prepare and evaluate the new Leviathan hatchlings. There would be struggle and hardship for the young, but the strongest and most ambitious would thrive. She would oversee all and serve as judge, jury and executioner when needed. Brutality, intensity and unity were required of those that would reach maturity. Leviathan would grow and their minds would open to include the newest additions to their species.
Our power will endure and our species will populate and rule as we always have. My children will see to the fate of the galaxy and its control. They will soon know life and their trials will begin. I will not fail in my duty… I will be the mother and the teacher… I am the salvation of us all... I am Leviathan…
All three Leviathans now had their plans set in motion. Krixo was busy with his thralls, adding to the numbers when needed and ready to start the seed of war that would drive Lesaro's quest. The Council had taken his bait and he would use them accordingly. Lesaro donned his newly formed armor and flexed his muscles and powers. The armor filled him with confidence and ambition. He readied himself for space and war. Neresa had already left for the breeding grounds of their planet. Her mind longed to touch those that would be molded into the future of Leviathan.
Indoctrination and control… Domination and war… Creation and imprinting… Success through unity of mind… We are Leviathan…
After finding out that Shepard was leaving to face Leviathan without her, Liara didn't sleep that much and instead lay awake worrying about her bondmate. The idea of losing Shepard again ate at her mind and she found herself unable to shake the fear and worry that was currently consuming her thoughts. She had stopped crying a few hours ago, but her eyes were still sore and stung. She promised me that she would be with me, we promised each other…
Shepard could tell that Liara was still awake. She felt guilty and hated that she was putting her wife through more emotional turmoil. She wanted to reach out to her and comfort her, tell her that everything was going to be okay, but part of her had doubts and she did not want Liara to see any of those. Shepard knew that she had to go, that she was one of the few that had been touched by Leviathan and that it was afraid of her. I have to face Leviathan… I can't let anyone else do this… please don't hate me Liara…
The sun was starting to rise and neither of them had slept. They each lay on their side of the bed feeling alone and emotionally spent. Shepard couldn't take it any longer and she reached out to her wife and placed her hand on Liara's shoulder. Part of her was afraid that Liara would not be receptive to her touch, but to her relief her wife did not push her away. "Liara, I know you are upset with me and that I've hurt you… I'm so sorry… I never want to be the source of your pain or sadness… I love you."
Not wanting to fight with her bondmate, Liara instead took her hand and pulled her closer and allowed Shepard to wrap her strong body around her. "I know, but it still hurts. There is a part of me that understands why you feel that you need to do this and then there is a part of me that wants you all for myself. I was hoping that with the Reapers defeated, that we would be able to just be together without the constant threat of invasion and doom cast over us. We each made a promise to the other to be there."
Trying to hold back her own tears at causing her lover so much distress, Shepard whispered, "I know love. I know that it was not easy for you to walk away from your daily activities as the Shadow Broker. Kasumi and Feron are doing well and I know that you still oversee their work, but you've kept your promise and I'm about to break mine." I don't deserve her, but I have to protect her and our daughter. Please forgive me Liara. Shepard held Liara close, spooning the asari. She reached down and placed her hands on her wife's belly so that she could feel their daughter moving inside of her lover. Their daughter felt restless, a likely reaction to her mother's stress and sadness. I even upset the baby…
Liara could also feel that the stress had affected their child. She initiated a meld with her daughter to convey love and stability to her. Without thinking, she also reached out to Shepard and connected the three of them in a meld.
The sensation was almost overwhelming at first. Shepard made an audible yelp when she first felt the raw emotions of her daughter. It was breathtaking and like nothing she had ever experienced before. Her body felt warm and her mind filled with joyous thoughts, like touching happiness. She opened her mind fully to both asari and tried to focus her sudden delight to her child. As much as she loved Liara and felt one with her, to feel the growing mind of her child and her reaction to her parent's minds was amazing. It was pure love, nothing else could describe it.
They lay together, linked and completely fulfilled for nearly an hour. When Liara ended the meld, the sun was fully up. Liara turned to face Shepard and was surprised to find her crying. She knew that she had been touched by the meld, but she didn't think that it had upset her. "Shepard, are you alright? Please tell me what you are feeling."
Not aware that she had been crying, but now feeling the wetness on her pillow and face, Shepard kissed her wife gently. "Thank you, Liara. That was the most beautiful and amazing experience I've ever had. I felt our daughter, I felt her in my mind and in my heart."
Content to return her wife's affections and not wanting to end the meld, Liara allowed herself to relax into Shepard. She was starting to feel exhausted by the night and all of the inner turmoil that they had put themselves through. Liara had sensed her bondmate's guilt through the meld, although she chose to focus on the baby and her daughter's needs instead. Liara knew that she had to let Shepard go and that she could not hold her back. "I do not want to fight with you. I wish you could stay with me and go to Thessia, but you can't."
For the first time since she had told her wife about her decision to leave, Shepard felt relief. She held her wife tighter and started to rub Liara's shoulders and back. Without thinking, she let go of the breath that she had been holding and exhaled deeply.
Liara continued, "When I fell in love with you, it was when we were fighting Saren and Sovereign. I loved you through your death on the Normandy and your rebirth at the hands of Cerberus and then again when I thought I lost you at the end of the Reaper War. I've always loved you and I've always known that you will rise to whatever threat there is in the galaxy. I just always expected to face it with you, not from the sidelines."
"Thank you Liara… your understanding and love have always gotten me through. Now that I have felt our daughter, I have even more to fight for and protect. I want her to be safe and I want us to be able to enjoy our family together." Shepard looked away from Liara briefly, she wanted to make sure that what she said next was absolutely the truth in both her heart and mind, "Liara, I promise that I will come back to you both… I love you and I will always fight for us."
Liara did not need the meld to know that Shepard was sincere. She still did not want her bondmate to leave, but she would not hold her back, she loved her too much for that. "I know you will come back to me love, you always find a way. I love you to too."
It had been a difficult few days for Commander Shepard. The return of the threat of indoctrination, a looming and unknown power behind it and the realization of having to leave her family had all been weighing on her. Having her bondmate's understanding and the support of her crewmates all made her decision and what she was about to face seem much more tolerable. Here we go again, off to save the galaxy. Shepard shrugged her shoulders and shook her head at her thoughts. She looked at her omni-tool that now had an additional program that Liara had provided. Hopefully I won't get my ass kicked in the process.
Shepard had contacted the Council to let them know that she would need to have an audience with them. To her surprise, they had responded quickly that they would see her while they convened on earth. With an almost entirely new appointed Council, Shepard wasn't sure exactly how to read the response. Maybe this Council will actually listen to me and not discount everything that I have to say. I hope so damn it… I don't think that I have the stomach to play politics with them.
To make sure that the meeting went her way, Shepard decided to have Garrus and Tali with her for extra support. Both had taken on influential roles in their governments, plus they were two of her closest friends and they would be joining her on the mission to face Leviathan.
Walking to the entrance of the Council chambers, Shepard was greeted by her friends. The sight of them brought a smile to her face.
"Well Shepard, do think they'll actually believe us this time?" Garrus asked in his dry tone.
Tali was fast with a response to Garrus, "Bosh'tet… Of course they will! They have to listen or they haven't learned anything. Besides, the Council is all new except for Tevos and she and Shepard are friends, right Shepard?"
Thinking for a moment about her answer, Shepard tilted her head slightly and gave her friends a small smile, "Well I don't know if you would call us friends, she and Liara are closer. I would say that we have more of a mutual respect for one another through our spouses."
Garrus laughed at the mention of Tevos's spouse, "Who would've guessed that Tevos and Aria would become a power couple? The Councilor and the Pirate Queen! They seem to work though, so who knows."
Tali's shoulders were shaking and her voice conveyed laughter at the power couple remark. She was looking straight at Garrus, but her eyes could not be seen through her visor, "After the Reapers and Cerberus, nothing seems to be shocking. Besides, some think that a quarian and a turian make for a strange couple."
Putting his arm around Tali's waist and looking intently back at the quarian, Garrus affectionately gave his answer, "They would be wrong." Garrus then looked to Shepard, "So, how did Liara take the news about you leaving on another epic adventure?" I see that you are still able to walk, so I'm guessing that she didn't hit you with a warp field or a singularity."
"She was probably more upset that she couldn't come along for all the fun," Tali added." I know that she secretly loves all the action. Besides, who knows what kinds of ruins Leviathan has hidden? I bet Dr. T'Soni would love to be the first one to discover all of their sorted history."
Shepard's cheeks flushed slightly, "It was a close one. I think her biotics flared slightly when I told her and she thought about a singularity. She wasn't happy, but she understands. She is going to go to Thessia with Aethyta to open a new wing at the Serrice Museum of History of Prothean artifacts that she had discovered on her various digs. I know that she is very excited and I think it will be good for her to have some time with her father before the baby is born."
"Keelah, I still can't believe that you two are going to be parents."
Garrus moved next Shepard and gave her a friendly swat on the shoulder, "Yes, I can see it now… Commander Shepard, the Savior of the Galaxy, changing diapers and cleaning up baby vomit. Saving the galaxy, one dirty diaper at a time!" He then burst into laughter and found that Tali was also joining in with her own giggles.
Laughing with her friends, Shepard started to walk towards the entrance of the chambers. It was reassuring to have her two friends with her. She forgot how much she missed them both. "Thanks for your support!" Shepard said in her most sarcastic tone and then continued to laugh.
When the group reached the doors to the Council Chambers, they found all but one set locked. Usually all of the doors were open and delegates from the various Council races were there to greet and help direct visitors. Today, the session appeared to be closed and no one was waiting for them. The mood of the trio changed from laughter to business on entry to the observer's pavilion. Garrus leaned over and whispered softly to Shepard, "Is this supposed to be a closed session? I thought the Council was open to all now?"
"I didn't request a closed session, although it probably won't hurt our case if the general public doesn't hear about Leviathan yet," Shepard quietly answered her friend.
"Shh… what is going on down there? They seem to be bickering about something, maybe we should listen before we announce ourselves," Tali added in hushed tones.
They nodded in agreement and then leaned in to see what was going on below them. The Council seemed to have been convening for a while prior to their arrival and were actively debating something heated. The group had not been noticed yet by the Councilors, they were too busy to notice that they now had an audience.
The turian councilor, Councilor Nuris, was leading what seemed to be an interrogation of Councilor Bakara, "It is the ruling of this Council that the krogan representative is overstepping her bounds. Your obvious attempts at expansion and advancement of the krogan agenda will no longer be tolerated. Your race is out of control and your continual quest for aggressively taking what you do not deserve will not be allowed."
Bakara appeared to be surprised by the outburst of her colleague, but also was in control of her response to him, "Councilors, we are not aggressively taking anything. Under the leadership of Urdnot Wrex, the clans have become united and we as a people have been focusing on rebuilding our homeworld and starting families. The only expansion that we have planned for was in the planets surrounding Tuchanka in the Aralakh System. We are in the process of setting up facilities on Durak and Kanin, both have resources that we plan to mine and administrate. This was agreed to unanimously by us all over two years ago."
"Enough of your lies Bakara!" Nuris was fuming at Bakara, "Your husband, Urdnot Wrex, is a known warlord and a krogan battlemaster. Do you honestly think that we would allow the krogan to take on more power? You will be governed directly by the Council and you may act as an advisor to your people. There will no longer be a need for the krogan to have a representative on the Council."
"You do not have the authority to make that decision Councilor." Bakara was struggling to maintain her composure.
Nuris looked to the other Councilors before he continued, "If you do not comply immediately, you will be committing an act of outright aggression against the Galactic Council." Nuris paused to let the full meaning of his words sink into the krogan councilor. "In effect, you will be declaring war against us. Are you prepared for the consequences of your actions Bakara?"
Bakara looked to the others to see if they were in agreement with the turian councilor or if some seemed hesitant. No one appeared to shy away from Nuris and his demands. She drew in a large breath to help calm her down. "Is this the will of the entire Council? I do not understand the rationale of this decision and I would like more clarification from each of you."
"Something is not right in here…" Shepard grabbed her head. There was that feeling of something trying to get in her thoughts. The icy cold shiver that was sent through her body nearly knocked her over. Stop the krogan… They are a threat to all… Kill them…
Shepard focused her own thoughts. Get out damn it… Get out of my mind… Reaching for her omni-tool and trying her best to stay focused, Shepard found the program that she was looking for and quickly activated it. A small shield surrounded her and the thoughts in her mind became her own again. Thank you, Liara.
Garrus was quick to help steady his friend, "What is going on here Shepard? Are you alright? It almost sounds like the council is going to war with the krogan? This can't be right…"
Shepard looked over the Council and noticed the staff that Councilor Nuris was holding, it was wooden and well-crafted and the handle was in the shape of an orb that was dark blue with swirling designs in it. The handle was mesmerizing and seemed to be slightly pulsating. She immediately understood what was happening. "Garrus, Tali… you need to set your omni-tool to this frequency," Shepard quickly provided the shield frequency that would help keep her friends from being influenced by Leviathan. "Tali, can you add this to Chiktikka too? Can she emit this?"
"Yes, I think so… the range will be fairly limited Shepard. She will only be able to cover an area of 5 meters and it will be a drain on her systems. Give me a minute to make the adjustments." Tali went to work on her omni-tool.
Still trying to shake off the intrusion, Shepard addressed Tali, "Well it's a start. Get Chiktikka activated once you're ready with the shield frequency, she can help augment our omni-tools. Garrus, make sure your omni-tool is also set at this frequency."
"Are you going to tell us what the hell is going on Shepard?" Garrus seemed annoyed by the situation and could not believe that the turian councilor seemed so intent on aggressively going after the krogan. He shook his head in disbelief while changing the settings on his omni-tool. "Spirits, do you think we will ever learn from the past?"
Trying to look for other obvious signs of Leviathan on the councilors, Shepard quietly pointed to the staff that Councilor Nuris was holding. "Garrus, look at that… it's one of Leviathan's orbs. I could feel its effects on the Council and it is directing them to go to war. Leviathan must view the krogan as a threat."
Having a better understanding of what to look for, Garrus also pointed to Councilor Tevos and her necklace. "Do you think that is one of the orbs too?"
Looking where Garrus indicated, Shepard noticed the design. Tevos was wearing a necklace that was very reminiscent of the one that Liara had received from Ann Bryson-Vega. "Yes, Garrus… I think that's an orb." Shepard got a sinking feeling in her stomach. She hated the idea of her friend being controlled by Leviathan. I will need to tell Aria as soon as we are out of here. Hopefully she isn't under Leviathan's influence too. Damn it!
"Keelah Shepard, do you think that Leviathan is able to control them all?" Tali seemed flustered by the thought and stopped her adjustments to look at her friends and their responses. "There is no way that any of them would actually want to start a war with the krogan. Not after the Reapers… most of us are still trying to rebuild."
Garrus flicked his mandibles in what his friends recognized as a nervous habit, "Great, that will make Wrex happy. How the hell are we going to stop a war? I should talk to Primarch Victus. I know that he would not support this unless he was indoctrinated too. Nuris will need the backing of the turian military if he is actively going to proceed with his threats."
Before anyone else could speak, Councilor Tevos could be heard addressing Bakara, "Councilor, you must cease your aggressiveness. The asari fully support the turian councilor's decision and will provide any resources necessary to ensure that the krogan are not allowed to continue with their plans to expand off of Tuchanka." The other members of the Council all nodded in agreement.
Garrus and Tali looked to Shepard and Garrus asked the obvious question, "What should we do Commander? Do you want to move forward with telling them all of our plans or should we shoot them?"
Fast to give her reply, Shepard addressed her friends, "No, to both of your questions! I don't want to tip off Leviathan yet. We need to get to Bakara and talk to Wrex. It doesn't look like she has been influenced by Leviathan and I bet that's why the krogan are being targeted."
Bakara was obviously shaken by the sudden move against her and her people. She maintained her composure remarkably well considering that she was krogan. Shepard's respect for Bakara was even greater.
Bakara stood tall and straight and moved to be in front of the Council, "If it is the will of the full Council that my services as a Councilor are no longer required, then I respectfully step down. I will make a full report to the United Clans of Tuchanka and I will have our leader contact you directly." With that, she turned and headed for the exit to the Council Chamber.
Shepard motioned to her friends to the exit as well, "Come on… we need to tell her what is actually going on. Let's get her away from the chambers. Wrex is not going to be so calm when he hears of this."
The trio was able to leave unnoticed and headed to meet up with Bakara.