Jane stalks down the second set of stairs onto the main floor of the level. Looking around, she spots Kaiden and Ashley talking quietly to Anderson.
Stalking over, Jane fumes, "How do you handle dealing with that irritating nazi pig."
Kaiden retorts, "They're not that bad!"
Jane pokes her finger in Kaiden's chest, "The people might not be that bad, but the IHA reads like something out of 1930's Germany on Earth. All of the language they use seems to be subtly xenophobic and very IHA human centric."
Taking a deep breath, Jane forces herself to calm down, "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. Udina literally grabbed me as I came down from the petitioners platform. I'll send you some books on propaganda and 20th century human history later."
Kaiden shakes his head, "It's fine. But I resent the accusations about the IHA. I'm a biotic, and they took care of me growing up."
Softly Jane says, "Kaiden, Biotics are almost unheard of in Systems Alliance space. That makes me wonder, why are you biotic?"
Kaiden seems to shrink in on himself, "I was born this way."
"Kaiden, listen to me. You are never at fault for how you were born. That's down to your parents, and their doctors. Also, you are not at fault for anything that was done to you as a child.
"The reason biotics are almost unheard of in the Systems Alliance is we don't build settlements near eezo resources. Even moderate levels of magic are enough to cause eezo to start evaporating. I'm sure there are other reasons too, but that's the one that gets bandied around the most, as we make money exporting eezo to the Council."
Anderson interrupts, "Commander, ease up on Lt Alenko. I can vouch for the fact he has valid reasons for his feelings. Despite your own history, most people that left for Council space did so because they were excluded from society due to their viral status. There were a lot of accidents in the early days, and some of us were left with untenable choices, so we chose exile. They make up the majority of the IHA population. Don't forget, it's only been 30ish years since First Contact."
Jane looks down and answers in Hierarchy, because an English phrase doesn't come to mind, "Thank you for granting me a better viewpoint."
Kaiden shakes his head, "We still have to nail Saren. In my mind, I'm sure that he's the one that was on Eden Prime."
Jane nods, "After seeing him, I think that the description is enough to do more digging. But without more evidence, I don't think there will be anything that can be done except an official notice of censure from the Systems Alliance."
Ashley raises her hand, "There was that turian Garrus, he was asking for more time."
Kaiden turns to Anderson, "Sir, please tell me that you have another lead we can follow."
Anderson shakes his head, "Not a lead, no. But there's a volus by the name of Barla Von. He's a high level banker, and he has an office by the emporium in the presidium. He's also an agent of the Shadow Broker. He may have some information, for a price."
Jane nods, "Sounds like a plan, Captain, you and I can take C-sec and Garrus. Kaiden, Ashley, you've got Barla Von. Remember to fill out an expense form if you need to pay for any information."
Kaiden noticeably slumps in relief, "Thank you Commander."
Anderson shakes his head, "I'm afraid I can't go with you, I have too much history with Saren. Besides, I'm going to find the Systems Alliance Embassy and see about renewing my citizenship."
Jane nods, "Fine. Before you go, Kaiden swap cloaks with me."
Confused, Kaiden hands over his blue cloak. "Why?"
"I've already been identified wearing a black cloak and armour. So I'm going to stow my armour and wear your blue cloak. Captain, any ideas for finding Garrus quickly?"
Anderson shakes his head, "A few months ago I'd have suggested a human named Harkin, but he was suspended from C-sec a few days ago."
Jane nods, "Any ideas on where to find Harkin? As it will certainly be easier than talking to random C-sec officers until one's friendly enough to give me a lead."
"You could try Chora's Den, it's on the wards ring between petals three and four."
Jane nods, "Is there anyway to get a map of this place?"
Anderson sighs, "I forgot this is your first time here. Log into the Citadel network and it will send you a local map for the district you're in. If you're having trouble with that, talk to Avina, the pink VI you can see standing around occasionally, she'll help you."
Jane nods before leaving to find a discrete corner to remove her armour.
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Now no longer wearing her armour, Jane pulls in her magic slightly and makes her way back to the place the aircar dropped them off. As she's walking there, she spots a mass transit terminal like the one they used outside the Consort's.
Shaking her head, she walks over and activates it, "I need to go to Chora's Den."
The terminal helpfully shows her a list, and says, "There are 9 places named Chora's Den near mass transit terminals, please select the terminal ID you wish to travel to."
Jane looks at the list of location ID's and blinks, as they are just numbers on the screen next to names that look phonetically similar to Chora's Den.
Jane blinks at the screen, apparently for too long as it goes blank.
Bringing up her omni-tool, Jane looks at the area map and spends the next 20 minutes learning how to use the navigation and route-finding features, along with the directory.
At the end, she locates the closest Chora's Den by walking distance, and set's it as her destination. A moment later, a golden arrow appears on her HUD in the distance, and a blue arrow appears nearby.
With a sigh, Jane sets off at a jog for the lift to the park area. Less than a minute later, she walks out of the lift and looks around. Off in the distance, she can see the small golden arrow and the text 3,000m. Off to one side is a blue arrow over a tunnel entrance around 50m away.
Jogging over to the tunnel, she descends two flights of stairs, and follows a short corridor before coming to a lift door.
With a frown, she pushes the button to open the door and walks in. When the door doesn't close on its own, she looks around and spots another button, that she pushes.
"Probably there so that larger or slow-moving groups can get in."
Over the next few seconds, the 3,000m shrinks to only 500m, and her suit says her orientation has flipped 180 degrees. When the door opens again, there's a blue arrow almost directly over a door to the right.
With a sigh, Jane opens her map and frowns at the mess of corridors and walkways in the area leading all the way around the ring of the Citadel.
"Damn it, Jane, you'll have to give yourself time to get lost round here later. For now I need to find Garrus before the Council finish going through my memories."
With a shake of her head, she follows the arrow into a dimly lit corridor that is spotlessly clean. As she walks down a flight of stairs, she spots an alien with four arms and four legs working on something behind an open panel. Past that, there's another flight of stairs leading up, and a blue arrow hanging over a door.
Jane comes to a stop as the door closes behind her. Off to the left, a blue arrow hangs above a set of stairs. In front of her is an idle aircar and a mass transit terminal.
Lifting her omni-tool, Jane looks at accusingly, "You couldn't have just used the mass transit and given me walking directions from there?"
Then she face palms, as, at the bottom of the display on her omni-tool is a 'Register Mass Transit' icon. Querying that icon shows that the local route finding software will use known locations as part of its navigation.
Walking over to the terminal she stabs the icon and touches her omni-tool to the holographic display. In a huff with herself, Jane storms off to the stairs and marches down them, holding her cloak around her to hide her feet.
Once she's less than 30m away from her destination, Jane comes across another Mass Transit Terminal, so she closes her eyes and focuses on her occlumency exercises to bleed away her frustration.
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Walking past the terminal, Jane comes to a large open area with a half walled corridor surrounding some sort of open air shaft. Leaning over the wall, Jane can see aircars moving around below her.
Pushing herself up, she starts casually walking around the corridor to the entrance to the den. As she gets to the entrance, she hears a voice behind her say, "She's Systems Alliance, and doesn't match any bounty hunters, let her in."
Jane frowns as she walks into a busy bar with asari maidens dancing on platforms fitted with poles, and playing a medley of different music. While they are obviously alien, the rest of the staff seem to be mostly human, with the exception of a couple of large reptilian like humanoids with a hard shell on their foreheads, that she assumes are krogan. As she's watching a volus walks around the circular bar. It's characteristic environment suit decorated with a couple of red designs. As they complete their journey to the other side of the bar, Jane loses sight of them as a human woman looks down behind the bar to talk.
Pulling her attention from the staff, she looks around at the patrons, who are a far more varied crowd, with some turian, salarian, and volus customers. Though the majority again seem to be human.
Slowly, she walks around the bar looking for someone that looks like a police person. She's spotted someone that has an insignia that looks like the Citadel beside a gun, below it in English is a blue label with C-sec.
Just as she's about to approach the human man, the two krogan put their hands on her shoulders, "Boss says your friend's in the back room."
Jane nods, and allows them to lead her into a room at the back of the bar, while discretely reaching for her sword.
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Jane lets go of her sword as she sees that the small, dirty, room already has a suited occupant, their digitigrade legs and hands with two thick fingers and a thumb identifying them as quarian, sitting on one of the chairs that are shoved against the wall. On the other side of the room is another door, though it's showing as locked.
Roughly a krogan pushes her into the room, "Here, one of your friends was looking for you."
The quarian looks up, and Jane discretely raises a finger and waves it from side to side. As the door closes behind her, Jane walks forward and pokes her omni-tool out of the folds of her cloak with a contact request active.
The quarian raises their own omni-tool and touches it to the hologram. They then take a few minutes to investigate the contact before accepting it.
With a smile, Jane sits cross-legged on the and opens a channel marked private to the quarian, "Good day, sorry about the confusion. Those fine gentlemen took one look at my suit and, well."
The quarian responds, "Who are you?"
Jane smiles, "Oh, sorry, I'm Jane Shepherd of the Systems Alliance. Just in case it's not apparent, I'm also human."
The quarian says, "I am Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. Why did they say you are my friend?"
Jane shrugs, "People see the suit and cloak, and assume quarian. It's quite useful for moving around anonymously outside Systems Alliance space. I was actually trying to locate a C-sec officer, a turian named Garrus."
Tali says, "Oh, well maybe they'll let you go."
Jane laughs, "That probably all depends on why you're here."
Tali is silent for several minutes while Jane sits on the floor. Suddenly she asks, "Are you magical?"
Jane's about to reply yes, before she stops and says, "That's a simple question with a complicated answer."
"Oh, I didn't know it could be complicated."
Jane nods, "Around 10% of the human population in the Systems Alliance have just enough magic to be susceptible to Prothean Syndrome, but not enough magic to do magic."
Tali looks down, "I'm sorry to hear that. Is that why you're wearing an enviro-suit?"
Jane nods, "We call them Isolation Suits, specifically I5, suitable for long term use."
"I'd love to get a look at how your people modify them."
"Why don't you then?"
"Because quarian's can't work in the Systems Alliance."
Jane shakes her head, "Pretty much the only species that can't work in most of the Systems Alliance is asari, and that's because of the eezo in their bodies."
Tali shakes her head, "I've met other pilgrims that have tried, and they all said the same thing."
Jane thinks for a moment, "Did they get an Alliance suit?"
"No, why would they need to?"
"Ah, that explains it. One of the things we do is replace all the filters and seals. The filters because your suits don't filter out viruses, and the seals with magical equivalents that don't need replacing, and are still gas-tight."
"But that's insane, those filters must cost a fortune."
Jane nods, "To non-citizens, our I5 suits cost 300,000 Citadel credits. We will also watch as you blood the suit, so that we know you're not going to try to take it apart."
"You could buy a shuttle, or a type 9 or 10 suit of armour for that money."
Jane nods, "I have no idea, this is only my second time out of Systems Alliance space since I became an adult. What I do know is that they are guaranteed not to run out of power for 10,000 years. Since 2203 they've had a permanent air supply and are EVA rated. They have a built in HUD that integrates with your omni-tool, and the faceplates and joints are charmed impermeable and unbreakable so they can never get dirty, or break from an impact. The filters are also self-cleaning so they never need to be replaced. Hell, the whole suit is self-sterilising, though that takes a week after you remove it."
"Why do you buy them from us then?"
Jane laughs, "You're asking the wrong person here, I've just read the technical manual a few times so I know how to maintain my own suit."
Several minutes pass before Tali asks, "Can I read the technical manual please?"
Jane shakes her head, "Sorry, it's restricted to Alliance citizens only. I can send you the user manual though."
Tali's voice sounds sulky through the translator, "I suppose that's better than nothing."
Jane sends the manual over, and Tali flicks through it over the next 10 minutes until the door opens and a human man walks in, "Ok, I've spoken to the Shadow Broker, he's agreed to meet you to talk about your evidence. I'll send the location to your omni-tool."
Tali looks up, "Oh thank you."
The man nods, "Just use the back door, I don't want you trapsing through my bar."
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Jane and Tali both walk out the back door of the club into a spotless corridor. As the door closes behind them, the lock turns red.
Jane shrugs, "Well, I'm off to find Garrus."
Cautiously, Tali asks, "Why were you looking for Garrus anyway?"
Jane turns around and clears her face plate, "Tell you what, I'll share if you share." When Tali nods uncertainly, Jane continues, "He was investigating Saren, the council Spectre. We were hoping he had some leads he hadn't followed up."
Hesitantly, Tali raises her omni-tool and starts a recording, "Eden Prime was a major victory. The beacon has brought us closer to finding the conduit."
Tali stops the recording after that, "There's more. I'm going to trade it to the Shadow Broker for safety."
Jane cocks her head, "I'll do you one…two better. I'll sponsor you for Alliance citizenship, and I'll make sure you get an I5 suit. On top of guaranteeing your safety."
"You can do that?"
Jane nods, "I have the address of the Embassy, so if you know how to work the mass transit, we can do it now. Otherwise we'll have to do it later, as the Council are probably only going to be occupied for the next two hours."
Tali laughs, "I can work the transit system. But the Shadow Broker is due to meet me personally in five minutes."
"The Shadow Broker that has at least two agents in the Citadel, one of which is a Volus in the presidium, is personally going to meet you?"
"Well he is an information broker."
Jane shakes her head, "If they were going to do business in person, why would they have agents? This stinks of a setup."
"But…"
Jane chews her lips, "Look, I promise that if you don't like what the ambassador says, I'll personally escort you to Barla Von and introduce you."
Tali looks at the location on her omnitool for nearly a minute before looking up, "I'll go with you."
Jane smiles and draws her rifle, before holding it loosely under her cloak, "Let me send you the address, and we can find a mass transit terminal."
Tali laughs, "How is it you can't use the citadel systems?"
Jane shakes her head, "I've been on the citadel for three, maybe four hours. I just haven't had time to learn them. If you asked me to draw a runic array, or use the Systems Alliance systems, I'd be able to do those fine."
"What are runes?"
Jane hums as they walk, before saying, "I guess you could say they're a combination of magical engineering and programming. Though I'm only passable at the first bit. They are really the cornerstone of our technology. If you look around the edge of my faceplate, you can see the runes that make the HUD work and also make it unbreakable and impervious."
Tali activates an application on her omni-tool to allow her to look closer, "That's amazing."
Jane nods, "I'm not that good yet, but I can do the most useful basics. That looks like a terminal."
Tali nods, and brings up the contact details Jane gave her for the Embassy. Then she puts a finger on the hologram and drags it over to the terminal.
Jane stares at her finger, "You can do that?"
Tali nods, "Of course, you can also make temporary tools out of omni-gel. Don't tell me you didn't know that either."
Jane shakes her head, "I had no idea. I've got one because they have the same utility as a datapad, eyepiece, and translator, for only around double the price. On top of that I can run tacnet software to have good battlefield awareness, which I can't with those items individually."
Tali shakes her head as she gets into the aircar, "I can't even."
During the journey, Jane opens a call to Kaiden.
When it answers, Kaiden whispers, "Be quick, we're on a deadline here."
Jane nods, "I will. I'm with a quarian that has evidence that Saren attacked Eden Prime. I'm taking her to the Systems Alliance Embassy."
Kaiden shouts, "You what! Wait! Everyone hold. I've got the Commander and she has some vital information… You're on holo Shepherd."
"I met a quarian that has evidence proving Saren attacked Eden Prime. The shadow broker was apparently offering to meet personally, but I offered safety, Alliance citizenship, and an I5 suit. So we're on the way to the Systems Alliance embassy."
A krogan growls, "Does that mean I don't get a fight?"
Kaiden answers, "Commander, that's great news. We just left Chora's den, when we found out Fist was going to have the quarian killed."
Jane shrugs, "Well, that was lucky."
"Lucky! Lucky? Ashley got shot in the face by a sniper. Do you call that lucky?"
"Is she still alive?"
Ashley groans, "Just a sore neck, a fair trade over a bullet in the brain pan."
"I'm glad the faceplate worked for you. I'll see you at the council later."
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When they reach the terminal closest to the Embassy, Jane has to physically pull Tali out of the aircar.
"I need to go home, I left the jam on the hob."
"Tali, it's just the magical protections around the Embassy."
Tali tries to pull her hand free, "You need to let me go, I need to water my succulent."
"I swear I'm going to punch who ever is responsible for these wards."
After five minutes of more and more ridiculous excuses for leaving the area, Jane finally pulls Tali through the door to the Embassy, and the wards.
Immediately, Tali shakes her head and taps her omnitool, "Jane, there's something wrong with my omni-tool."
Jane turns her own omni-tool off, "It's the magic, and these are high precision devices. If you don't want it to stop working permanently, turn it off while we're here until I talk to someone about those Bloody Wards!"
As Jane shouts the last two words, a human woman steps out of nowhere wearing a white robe that has been embroidered with numerous scenes.
"Welcome to the Systems Alliance Embassy, I am the ambassador Lady Victoria Black, how may I… Jane?" a gesture sees Jane's faceplate disappear and appear in Victoria's hand, "Jane! You didn't message that you were coming, otherwise I'd have come to meet you. Who's your friend?"
Jane gestures to Tali, who is holding her faceplate firmly on her face, "This is Tali something something ya, a quarian I met by chance. She has evidence against Saren, and was approaching the Shadow Broker for protection. I said I'd throw in citizenship and an I5 suit if she came to the Embassy."
Victoria puts her hands on her hips, "Really Jane? Daphne said you were trained better than that."
Jane retorts, "Yeah, but we really need to lower the magic levels around here before Tali's suit goes futz. And why is there such a strong muggle repelling ward?"
Victoria turns around and uses a Sorounus Spell to amplify her voice, "Sirius Orion Black get down here right now."
A naked human man with black hair appears standing next to Victoria, who gestures and dresses him in a clown suit. "You called oh beautiful and lovely wife of mine?"
Victoria snaps, "Yes, Jane just had to drag her guest I don't know how far just to get through the wards. They're also interfering with electronics. Why did you set them so high?"
Sirius whines, "It was the only way to keep the keepers out."
"It was also keeping everyone else out. How many people have been turned away without even being able to help themselves. Now go and sort it out, and find a proper solution."
Sirius slinks away with his shoes making a flap, flap, flappity flap, rhythm on the floor.
Jane takes her faceplate back, and refits it as Victoria watches her husband walk. "There was one other thing, I'd like you to come to the Council when they reconvene as my ambassador. The IHA have been trying to co-opt my citizenship."
Victoria turns back, "Certainly, that's why I'm here after all. I will need to know what it's all about though."
Jane smiles, "I give you permission to take my memory."
Victoria glides forward and touches a finger to Jane's temple, before drawing a silvery strand out and touching it to her forehead. A moment later she puts the strand back into Jane's head.
Throughout this, Tali is watching the scene avidly.
Victoria nods, "I can see why you brought Tali here now. However, I believe it is normal to actually ask permission rather than assume someone will do something."
Jane ducks her head, "I was going to once we got her safety worked out. I'm not going to ask her to take a bigger risk just to be safe."
Victoria nods, "Understandable, and commendable. Daphne would be proud. Now Tali, as the Systems Alliance Ambassador, I am happy to welcome you as a citizen, and I will place an order for a quarian I5 suit to be made. It will, of course, be deducted from Jane's personal account. But with all the bonuses she made during her training she can afford it."
Tali nods numbly as her brain is trying to explain what she's just been seeing.
Jane shuffles uncomfortably as Victoria starts to stare at her expectantly, "She needs time to process everything… Oh, come on, can't you see Tali's still having trouble… Not even a cup of tea?... Ok Fine."
Jane turns to Tali to avoid Victoria's gaze, "Tali, I need you to look at me."
Tali looks over, and rather dazedly says, "What?"
"Tali, do you think you could honestly answer a question for me? The citizenship and suit will still be yours regardless of the answer."
Tali nods absently as she notices a painting dancing on the wall behind Jane, as well as the people in it.
Jane glances at Victoria before saying, "Tali, would you be able to present your evidence to the Council later?"
Tali doesn't answer as a couple from another painting, that has just started to dance, come in and start shouting at the dancers.
Jane sags, "Tali, this is really important to us, so if you present your evidence to the Council later, I Jane Shepherd promise to grant you one favour if it is within my power to do so."
Tali glances back to Jane as she's talking and registers most of it. Then her eyes are drawn to a small cluster of runes on the wall above the painting, so she absently says, "Teach me."
Jane blinks, "What did you say?"
Tali shakes her head to clear it, "I said teach me. I'm sorry, the painting was fascinating, and then I saw the markings like the ones on your face plate. And you said you know how to make those runes."
A chair appears behind Victoria and she collapses into it laughing, "Oh god. Oh god, you just pulled a Hogwarts didn't you."
Jane snaps at Victoria, "Shut up, it's not funny."
Tali looks confused, "What's going on?"
Jane touches Tali's arm gently, "Let's go somewhere we can sit down, and where people Aren't Laughing At Me."
Victoria goes off in a fresh peel of laughter.
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A couple of minutes later, Tali finds herself sitting at a wooden table, on a wooden chair, in a kitchen that has running water from a freestanding tap, that can be moved. She knows, because she lifted it up and it kept running.
Her eyes keep glancing to the kettle that on a flame based cooker, and the teapot that walked over and kicked it.
Jane sighs, "Tali, ignore that, The Triplets told me that Sirius does things like that whenever he gets bored. Now I need you to pay attention to what I'm about to say because it is very important."
Tali tears her eyes away from display and fixedly stares at Jane's face through the faceplate.
"Jane Shepherd is an N8. Did you get that?"
Tali nods, "I did."
"Good. Next one, N8 Jane Shepherd can do magic. Did you get that?"
Tali nods again, "I did."
Jane starts to do some minor magical tricks, "Good, now what am I doing?"
Tali tries to look at Jane as a headache starts to build behind her eyes.
"Tali! Focus on what I just told you. Bring it to mind, and tell me what I'm doing."
Tali struggles to understand what Jane wants to do, and goes over the two nonsensical sentences she was told to pay attention to, just in case there's a clue. Suddenly, the headache vanishes and she stares at Jane in awe, "You can do magic."
Jane nods somberly, "I can, and according to our agreement, if you present your evidence to the Council, I will teach you everything I can."
Tali cocks her head, "About what?"
"Everything. Magically, you are my apprentice as I am bound to teach you everything I can."
Tali shakes her head, "But I, words can't. I mean…"
Jane softly says, "I can't imagine how hard this is for you. You come from a society based in science and the provable, and here I am telling you that you're now my magical apprentice."
"But I didn't need anything else to present my evidence, just safety."
Jane shakes her head, "It doesn't work like that with magic. When you didn't give me an answer the first time I asked, I offered a trade, that you accepted. Because I did it in an official capacity, my magic has bound me to my word."
A flop, flop, flop precedes Sirius' arrival in the kitchen, "Ok girls, it should be ok to use your electronics again."
Jane nods, and retrieves her omni-tool from her bag and turns it on. A moment later, it pings and she exclaims, "Damn it, the council is reconvening in 10 minutes. Sirius, is Victoria still laughing?"
Sirius shakes his head, "Not at all, I think she's powdering her nose."
Jane blinks, "What does that mean again?"
Sirius laughs, "She's gone to the bathroom."
Tali shakes her head, "Sorry for being non-human, but how did you go from putting powder on her nose to bathroom."
Sirius holds his hands up, "I'm not touching that." Before stepping through nothing and disappearing.
Jane sighs and forms a wolf made from light on her finger, before sending it to Victoria.
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30 seconds before the Council reconvenes, Victoria steps out of nothing holding Jane and Tali's hands.
Immediately, Tali's hands go to her omni-tool as she starts analysing stuff.
Jane and Victoria both look around at the assembled people, before Victoria spots a turian she knows, "Orinia, how have you been?"
Orinia turns around, "Victoria. I've been well. Are you with Jane Shepherd?"
Victoria nods, "She's just here, in the blue cloak."
Orinia nods the human way, "That's good, I'm here as her ambassador."
Jane spins around, "You are?"
Orinia nods again before switching to turian, "That is a most unseemly display for a Young Hunter."
Jane immediately ducks her head and puts her talons behind her back, "This hunter apologises speaker. This hunter will do better."
"It is to be expected, as you are still a fledgling. We will be arranging for a suitable mentor to accompany you and remedy your lack of education."
Victoria hides a smile behind her hand.
Seconds later, Udina storms over, "What are you two doing here? This is an IHA matter."
Victoria looks down at the man distainfully as she begins to float, "I am here representing the interests of two Systems Alliance citizens. I believe that Ambassador Orinia is doing the same thing for a turian citizen."
Udina cuts off as the hologram for remote petitioners flickers to life, and Saren appears. A moment later, the three council members walk out. At the same time, Anderson, Kaiden, Ashley, Garrus, and a Krogan all walk up the stairs and stand at one of the balconies surrounding the edge of the chamber.
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Sparatus speaks up to start the session, "Before we recommence the dispute between the IHA and Spectre Saren, there is some additional business that needs to be concluded. Hunter Shepherd approach the podium." His words are translated to English by the Petitioners platform.
Jane walks forward as a Hunter should, before stopping half a stride from the evidence recorder.
Sparatus raises his arm in salute, "Young Hunter, it is long overdue. Now we have cleared the brush, we have seen what was already there. The Hierarchy has confirmed that you completed your basic education with exceptional scores, except in your spoken language. They have also contacted Inex, and confirmed that you are indeed the claimed fledgling of Juvetana of Clan Velina."
Saren snarls, "You are allowing a human to be turian?"
Sparatus looks up, "Saren, this is Hierarchy business, not spectre business. You would do well to remember that despite your vantage point, there are those who see more than you."
Sparatus looks back at Jane, "As you have chosen the path of the Hunter [Protector and Provider] once your mentor deems you ready, you will undergo your ritual Hunt as a Young Hunter and return with your name as a Hunter."
Jane bows with her fingers pointed backwards, "You have restored my honour this day." Her own words are repeated back in English as she finishes speaking.
"You have been acknowledged, and you may stand."
Jane stands, and walks backwards to stand beside Orinia.
Tevos nods as Jane leaves, "The dispute between the IHA and Spectre is now open. The council has reviewed the evidence supplied so far. Before we give our judgment, is there any new evidence or arguments we were unable to hear before."
Councillor Udina walks forward at the same time as Orinia and Victoria start to walk forward, "Commander Shepherd of the IHA has managed to rescue…" his voice cuts off abruptly for no apparent reason.
Victoria looks over at the council, "Sorry about that, I believe the esteemed ambassador was about to make a fool of himself. Oriana and myself are representing citizens that have come across evidence pertaining to this case. I am willing to vouch for the integrity of Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."
Orinia gives a bow, "I believe that Young Hunter Shepherd's integrity has just been established by this very council. I will be representing her in lieu of her Nest Leader."
The three councillors talk privately for a few seconds, and then Valern says, "The council will allow the Systems Alliance and Hierarchy to present evidence."
Victoria smiles, "Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, please bring your evidence before the council."
Tali smiles nervously behind her faceplate, and walks to the front of the petitioners platform, next to an irate Udina who is trying to make himself heard.
Tevos presses a button on her console, "Tali'Zorah of the Systems Alliance, please input your evidence into the terminal in front of you and explain how you came to have the evidence."
Tali activates her omnitool and starts to upload the uncompressed data, including her hacking logs, to the terminal.
While the progress indicator is working, she begins her story, "After I began my Pilgrimage I started hearing rumours of geth patrols outside the Perseus Veil. As I had never heard of such a thing happening before. Out of curiosity I tracked a patrol to an uncharted planet and disabled one of them when it lagged too far behind. I was able to remove its memory core before it wiped it and recovered that file. After that I was chased by geth and mercenaries, so I took the shuttle I was using and headed here."
Valern asks "Do you still have the original memory core?"
Tali shakes her head, "No, the shuttle was impounded by C-Sec when I arrived, and they didn't return possession after the interview."
Victoria speaks up, "I trust the Council will begin an investigation into this blatant abuse of power now that it is materially impacting a dispute the Council is adjudicating."
Tevos gives Victoria a long look, before tapping on her own console, "Of course, I have marked the testimony for investigation."
Victoria smiles, "By an independent third party outside of C-sec?"
"We will assign a trusted spectre to the task."
Victoria nods.
Valern looks up from his console, "I have verified the structure of the data packet has all the hallmarks of being from geth hardware. The data provided was also in uncompressed form, and shows standard degradation patterns consistent with depleting capacitors. I am playing the data now."
As the data starts to play, a grey hologram full of static appears in the space between the petitioners platform council.
Saren's voice is heard around the chamber, flashes of coherent imaging appearing at random, "Eden prime was a major victory, the beacon has brought us one step closer to finding the conduit."
An asari voice continues, "And one step closer to the return of the Reapers."
As the holo finishes, Victoria says, "I believe this evidence is unimpeachable."
Sparatus bows his head, and holds his claws together, "Indeed. The council finds that Saren was involved in the invasion of Sovereign territory and brought the councils name into disrepute. Saren, you are hereby stripped of your spectre status, and will be handed over to the Systems Alliance for judgement once you have been captured."
By the end of the sentencing, Saren's hologram has already vanished.
Tevos muses, "I recognise that second voice. It belongs to Matriarch Benezia."
Valern shakes his head, "I am more interested in these Reapers she mentioned."
Victoria says, "I believe that Commander Shepherd included her final moments on Eden Prime, as well as the first few moments in the sick bay aboard The Normandy. It is possible for the Systems Alliance to extract just that moment rather than needing to wade through hours of footage just to see that moment."
Sparatus inclines towards Victoria, "The council will keep that in mind."
Tevos touches her console, "This concludes the dispute between the IHA and Spectre Saren. Would members of the IHA vacate the chamber so we can move onto the next topic."
"…king stupid sparkie…" Udina cuts off almost as soon as he hears his voice.
Tevos repeats herself.
Udina growls, "What about our spectre?"
Sparatus' mandibles and crest show upmost contempt, "The council has chosen to deny your request for a Spectre at this time."
Udina shoots Victoria a hateful look before stalking out of the chamber.
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Once only Garrus and the Krogan are left observing, Sparatus says, "Young Hunter Jane Shepherd of clan Velina come forward."
Jane walks to stand in front of the console.
"With the regrettable actions of Saren, there is a position free in the ranks of the Spectres. We have chosen to accept a new spectre that has been nominated by both the Hierarchy and the asari nations," Victoria nods, "and with the permission of the Systems Alliance. They have shown themselves to be inventive, quick, and also compassionate. Above all, they have shown themselves to be honourable. Congratulations Spectre Jane Shepherd of clan Velina."
Jane goes down into a half kneel and bows her torso forward, "You give me great honour in granting me this vantage. I will show that the honour was not misplaced."
As Jane stands up again, Tevos says, "Your first assignment will be to capture Saren and bring him to justice. Failing that, you are to kill him. Your second assignment is to prevent whatever plans he has from coming to fruition."
Valern takes over, "You will be expected to remain on the Citadel to receive your spectre codes and training."
Jane nods at Valern, "I will."
As Tevos and Valern turn to leave, Sparatus says, "Your nest mother would like you to visit soon now that you have your own command."
Jane nods, "I will endeavour to do so, though it may need to wait until after I have finished my current assignments."
Sparatus chuckles as he leaves.
