Chapter 2
Justify
When she had gotten word over the Extranet News of what happened she did not want to believe it. The first thing Ashley tried was sending a message to Nathaniel asking if it were true had hr truly gone rogue. Of course there was no response which worried the Chief more he was a damn stubborn man, hot headed with a heart to big for his own good but a rogue operative like Saren he was not. Then maybe she did not know him as well as she thought, two years is a long time a very long time people change, everyone changes. The only thing Ashley could do was think about to their fight on Horizon it had been a tense reunion at best. She was angry watching the man you love die only to have him reappear alive two later after you grieved and moved on. It stirred up and dug up old emotions that she did not want to deal with not at the moment. So she did want any good Williams women did ..she fought. It was easier than crying or breaking down - no she was not built that way, she was not some wide eyed high school girl. In his emails he told her of his mission to find the Collectors but after his last response he just dropped off the map and that was 2 months ago. Now here he is again this time attacking key military and private interest. Yet what really set her off was the announcement that Anderson made he was stripping Shepherd of this Specter status branding him a rogue operative. The Alliance would have to hunt him drown and bring him in to maintain good standing with Council races. Anderson had thrown Shepherd, Garrus and Tali under the bus without much of a thought.
"Excuse me ma'am but..." Ashley paid no attention to the receptionist as she marched by her fist clenched eyes burning with anger.
"Just what in the all holy fuck was that Anderson?" She yelled marching into his office.
"Chief Williams I take it you've heard that news report."
"Don't play nice with me your selling Shepherd out too cover your sorry ass and keep the position that HE got you." To Anderson's credit he did not flinch facing the anger that Chief Williams was throwing at him. Given the history between the three of them it was of no surprise that she felt somewhat betrayed.
"Ashley that is enough you know better than I do that there was nothing publicly I can do about this, the evidence is in their eyes irrefutable."
"Bullshit you could have fought this, stalled for time something Nathaniel has not gone Rogue." she was not screaming at him anymore but the edge was still in her voice.
"I know but there is more to this... I have been contacted by the Illusive Man." the mention of that name caused her to raise an eyebrow.
"That son of a bitch he has something to do with this doesn't he I knew Cerberus was involved in this..."
" For once despite my better nature I think we can trust him on this, because we both have a common enemy the Reapers." The mention of the Reapers almost took all the color from her skin. What did the Reapers have to do with this just what the hell had Nathaniel got himself mixed up in this time.
"Just 4 days ago Shepherd took his ship and his crew beyond the Omega 4 relay according to the documents that T.I.M shared with me . Shepherd was able to infiltrate and destroy the Collector base. What happens after wards is sketchy at best. The Illusive Man and Shepherd had some kind of falling out after the destruction of the base. Two hours later the Normandy dropped off the grid in the Hawking Eta cluster. A day later an turian supply ship was destroyed in that Sector then the outpost it was resupplying was destroyed.. 24 hours after that an forward Alliance patrol on the edge of the Terminus was hit. "
"This does not prove anything Anderson it could have been anyone."
"You know the Normandy even after it was rebuilt has to stop silent running to attack... the signatures match its weapons, the reading match the Tantalus Drive just before it goes into silent running." Anderson continued.
"I don't believe it..."
"I'm glad someone on this piece of scrap has some sense left in them." Ashley turned to meet the newest arrival. His face seemed familiar to her like she had seen it before short cut brown hair framed a face not too much older than hers. She noticed the N7 on his uniform and the soft glow of biotics in his gray eyes.
"Lt,. Davidson I'm glad you could make I was just giving Chief Williams latest."
"Imari Davidson Codename: Ronin" the man said extending his hand giving her a firm shake.
"Gunnery Chief Williams. Excuse em Sir but codename:" She asked..
"The Alliance Aesir program we humans are just coming into our with biotics the Brass took the best and the brightest and we were trained by an Asari Matriarch. I was in the same training Class as Commander Shepherd or Anubis as we called him." Ronin stated.
"Chief please know that what he just told you is highly classified information." Anderson said motioning for them both to sit.
"Of course it just a lot to take in at once, so what are we going to do now - hunt Shepherd and bring him in?"
"In short yes, as of right now you are both Specters." Ashley jaw hit the floor . " Don't look shocked you worked with Shepherd during the Sovereign Incident, Eden Prime, Virmire you have more than earned it. Plus I want people that know him trying to find him we want Shepherd alive not in pieces."
"What you are not telling us Anderson, this makes no sense I did not spend years running black ops in the Terminus not to see a cover up when I see one... why us? " Imari asked he was being asked to hunt down one of the oldest friends and bring him in and he wanted to know why.
"You both know Shepherd almost better than I do... Do you really think he and his crew have gone Rogue?"
"No.." Ashley did not to think about it the answer came to her as easy as breathing.
"Then find out the truth I will try to stall the Council as long as I can but they want blood you need to work fast. The Alliance is giving us the Normandy's sister ship the Midway it already in dock." Imari smiled his teams pilot a woman by the name of Frost was going over the ship now.
"My pilot is going over the ship now,,, I have never seen her so happy." Imari along with Ashley they needed to get to work if they were going to get other bottom of this. " Anderson I'm going to need dossiers on every member of Shepherds' crew, all the evidence from the attack locations. Also some of Shepherds' last known contacts before he went through the Relay.. Oh and what the hell was he going after beyond the Omega 4 relay."
" The Collectors..." Now that name was a name that Imari did not want to hear.
"Why didn't you tell me this before." Ashley notice that Imari's right eye started to glow brighter than left she could see know that it was not his real eye but a cybernetic one.
"It's something that is not common knowledge they are myth , urban legend. As far as the record concerned they don't exist." Anderson said with dismissive wave of his hand.
"So they did it again... I know what I saw on Horizon Councilor the Collectors are real." she could not help but think that maybe just maybe Shepherd was right about Cerberus they at least acknowledge a threat then there was one looming. The Council just buried in the records .
" I know Chief this does not add up the Alliance leaving colonies to be taken, the rest of the Council trying to cover up the existence of the Reapers and the Collectors. The Destruction of the Destiny Ascension..."
"You know if he could have saved them he would have but Sovereign was moments from opening the Citadel and calling the Reaper Fleet." She knew as well as Anderson that Shepherds decision to have the fleet attack Sovereign instead of protect the Destiny Ascension was the hardest he ever made. The Asari Council woman was the closest thing he did have to a mother. She remember some of the late com room calls especially after Virimire.
"I know but you saw that ship, I have been looking at the records it was able to hold Sovereign at bay according to reports the Geth had nothing more that one carrier and several cruisers..." it had bugged him it the position the Shepherd was put in it was all the too well planned but he could not pin it down
"Are you suggesting sabotage." Ronin said stating fact more than question he knew where Anderson was going with his line of thought.
"Yes... we have to be careful very careful. Lt Davidson I believe you have started to build your team am I correct?"
"Yes I have a few contacts in the Terminus I can call on, If you have any suggestions would be helpful." Anderson forwarded the data to both their omni-tools. "Thanks... Come Chief Williams lets get some new armor.."
"Hey whats wrong with my armor its Alliance standard issue." she said taken back a bit but his statement.
"That is my point this is a black op" Turning back to look at Anderson. " Standard rules apply right..."
"Officially you are an mission to find the Rogue Specter Shepherd... anything with discussed here never happened." Anderson said placing his arms behind his back as the two left and with that the die had be cast.
"Okay so basic SOP. Come on Chief .lets get you some new gear." Turning his back to Anderson too leave the office.
Citadel, Space Dock
Ashley had to admit Imari was more than what she expected they had been in the Wards for hours. Working the black markets collecting on some old debts that where odd to him. She saw similarities between him and Nathaniel and vast differences. Nathaniel would not have been about to work the under belly like Imari too many bad memories tied to his time back on Earth growing up. If there was one thing Nathaniel hated more than the Reapers, Drug dealers, sex traders and the usually scum that you find in the back allies. Imari while he had no love for them did use them and tossed them aside to rot in the filth that they created. There was an edge to Imari that Nathaniel did not have it must be the differences from the line of work. Imari was Black ops, spy, killer, pirate he did and had done it all in the name of the Alliance. Nathaniel had been Special Ops, terrorist neutralization, pirate hunting, covert strikes ops. Still there was good left in Imari he was not consumed by the darkness he lived in and that was comforting to know . It took a few hours but he did get her new armor , Colossus model human heavy armor with more than a few illegal mods and add-ons.
"Well at least it does not make you butt look big." he said cracking a smile looking at the form fitting plate. "Relax Williams it was joke lighten up it some your not one Alliance frigate anymore. "
"Sorry its just a lot to take in you know... I mean shit you were his friend...wait I did not see you at the funeral."
"Yeah I was out on an op at the time, deep cover. I did not here about it till I got back." he stated a tone of sadness in his voice.
"I'm sorry losing Nate was hard..."
"So I do have to say Nathaniel does know how to pick em, well he did always like the stubborn fiery types. " Ronin quickly changed the subject to that, the only thing she did not want to talk about .
"I... I have no idea what you are talking about.."
"We have to work on your lying you're terrible at it. One he only lets close friends call him Nate and two I over heard your argument with Anderson only a women in love with a man gets that mad" Ashley did not know weather she wanted to hit this man or kick him was she just his open book for him to read.
"I.. we were close, he meant a lot to me... losing him hurt.." Imari looked over at her understanding the torrent of mixed emotions running through the women.
"Don't worry we'll find him and smack him real good for putting us though all this hell."
"Yeah you know I would like that..." Ashley Jaw dropped when the Midway came into view it look just like the old Normandy but it was bigger and all black . The Dock workers where working on stripping the Alliance logos off the side. "So this is the Midway."
"Yeah, I'm refitting her with some merc and pirate upgrades things that you see out in the Terminus." the air car came to stop as the two Specters grabbed there bags and started to make their to way to airlock.
"So what is the plan from here then?" Ashley asked..
"Well I want to look at these files we still have good 18 hours before she is ready. Get you introduced to the rest of the my squad and start working on just what hell really happened ."
Somewhere in the Omega Cluster
4 days after the attack on the Collector base.
"We're WHAT?"
"As I just said Commander we've been cut off from all Cerberus funds. We have no money for repairs,food or fuel." Miranda added sipping on what was going to be her last cup of coffee for a long time. "In terms you can better understand we are broke." that statement was followed by Nathaniels' head hitting the briefing room table with a rather loud thud. "Careful right now that skull and the brain inside are valued at about 50 million credits..." Letting the sentence hang at the end smiling with mock sweetness as she took a another slow sip of her coffee letting the implication hang in the air.
"Miri you can't be serious." Jacob said noticing Garrus rest his hand side arm as heard Shepherd groan of weary frustration "We are not going to scarp the Commander and sell his parts.."
"Of course not Jacob. it would never come to that I already have a plan to 'acquire' the operating funds we need and I also have EDI working on creating an extra-net site about getting the truth the Protheneans, Reapers and Sovereign incident out in the open." Shepherd looked up raising an eyebrow that plan sounded rather familiar.
"You have been in my Vid Collection again haven't you." he stated.
"Commander I would never violate your personal quarters in such manner I have the utmost respect for you privacy." She responded in an attempt to feign innocence.
"You're a terrible liar." And so the battle of wits continued between Shepherd and Miranda it was strange dynamic those two had of tension, then sarcastic banter back and forth keeping each wits sharp.
"You have no evidence either." she countered arching an eyes taking another sip from her mug.
"Seriously Nate, you and her are like an old mated pair." Garrus added shaking his head.
"Garrus need I you remind there is a certain Quarian that has a shotgun that would disagree." Garrus looked at his old friend mandibles twitching and eye plate arching slightly.
"So that's why Legion has been covering most of her shifts in the Engine Room." Jacob add crossing his arms. Nathaniel looked back at Miranda plotting just how he was going to get his sweet sweet revenge.
"Her room in the Cargo hold was destroyed so..."
"So you let her use the Captain's room out of the kindness of you heart.. damn the perks of being Commander." Garrus joined in the ribbing that he was getting from the crew. "Oh your quarters are destroyed why don't you stay in mine' Nate I thought I taught you better, that's a tactic Taylor would resort too." Jacob flipped Garrus off the former C-Sec agents shoulder shaking with laughter.
"You know I can have you all spaced for mutiny." Shepherd growled in mock anger as much as the crew and the team worked his nervous he would not trade his dysfunctional space family for anything will maybe anything. The three final backed off they had poke fun at their Commander enough but it did help with stress to simply laugh at times. "You know Miranda could probably put half the dancers on Omega out of work I'm sure Aria wouldn't mind the spike in costumers I'm sure she would give us a cut of the profits"
"You do know I can get more for your pinky finger than I can get for shaking my ass on stage but thank you for the complaint." his creased brow and the daggers he was glaring at her singled that she had won that round at least for moment.
"So this plan about 'acquiring' Funds what did you have in mind?"
"We rob Cerberus.." There was a long silence in the room as all three men stared at her with looks complete disbelief.
"I'm sorry was it something I said.?"
"Are you feeling alright, you just said you wanted to rob Cerberus?" Garrus cleared his throat at least trying to hold himself together but Jacob and Nathaniel finale burst out laughing
"Okay Miranda that a good one.." Jacob noticed the patented Miranda 'I am serious look' on her face. "Oh fuck me she is serious."
"Okay how do we pull off a heist on our former employer."
"Not Cerberus itself but one of its parent companies Exo-Geni." that name caused the smile from his face to quickly faded .
"Exo-Geni is backing Cerberus?"
"Yes Garrurs Exo-Geni is one major of the companies that make up the industrial military complex that is the back bone of the Alliance Military. They also provided the team that was killed on the derelict she pulled up something on her Data pad before continuing. "They are researching methods to counter indoctrination as well as several other things." Nathaniel grabbed the pad from the table reading through data. They had been busy the past few years well at least their non public face had been. Something that did catch his eye made his blood run cold and his biotics flare from the cold rage.
"They are developing a bio weapon that only effects dextro-protein species and they were kidnapping Turians and Quarians for the research." Slamming the bad down on the table it was too much for him to read. "Did he know about this?"
"The Illusive Man , no probably not, he runs Cerberus not the companies that fund it." Jacob answered picking up the pad itself. " What do you think Miri was this a project started by one of the 12."
"Wait who are the 12... I thought T.I.M runs show at Cerberus?" Garrus asked.
"He does..but the 12 or the Pantheon as they are known are the people he answers too the board of trusties. 12 of the most powerful people in the Alliance Military, Private, and Political world. They are the ones pulling the strings in the Alliance. Cerberus is their watch dog to protect their little underworld empire." Jacob started. "No has every seen there faces."
"They are the ones that funded the Lazarus Project. If I am correct they will not be pleased that we did not keep the Collector base and now are operating freelance. My guess is that we will be branded terrorist." She spoke grimly things looked bad the ship was not in prime fighting condition and they were now one the run.
"Mercs we can handle..."
"Not mercenaries Commander... You re-instated the your Specter status...they pull strings to get another Specter sent after us." Miranda noticed his face drop some more.
"Well that's just great, the last thing we need is to be hunted by Specters." Garrus sighed rubbing his head frill.
"That is why it is important that we not only get some kind of money but this data is more important. What is on that data pad is nothing more than speculation and wild conjecture. We need is hard evidence something that we can use in our favor." Nathaniel saw were her line of thinking leverage they would need if things got real bad and it was looking more and more like things were going to get bad..
"How long before they sick the hounds on us?" Jacob asked they would have to move quickly to pull this off and the patch work job of repairs on the Normandy .
"All things considered we have been out here four days, when we started the hunt for Saren It took that amount of time to get through red tape with the Council to even clear the space port." Garrus responded being hunted by a Specter was not on tops on his to do list.
"Okay Miranda get to work on a plan to pull this heist, talk to Kasumi and Thane they should be a big help. Garrus make sure the stealth systems are running, Jacob do a check on weapons and ammunition. I want how much of what we have left." Tiredly rubbing his face they could see the gears in his mind going at light speed, plans forming scenarios playing out in his mind. "Miranda check your channels I want a list of Specter candidates I need to know who is hunting us."
"Of Course Commander it will take some time."
"Between you, Kasumi and Thane you have best information network available forward the list to me when you find out.. lets get to work people." pinching his nose that all too familiar dull throb filled his head.
"Nathaniel go lay down rest your biotic amp has been acting up again. Samara and I will come take look are your amp in about an hour." Nathaniel choose not to argue with his former Operator she build this amp that was implanted in his skull she knew it the best.
"Come on you big baby I will help you there." Garrus placing a hand on his friends shoulder as Miranda and Jacob left.
Rocksteady
Getting off the elevator Shepherd heard the rhythmic pounding coming from his room. Garrus give him a look that said "This is how it starts" the Commander was simply in to much pain to even shot back at his friends teasing. Opening the door Tali stretched out on his bed data pads scatter ever where laying on her stomach chin rest on palm of her hand, her head rocking to beat of the music. He and Garrus stood their for a moment Garrus was in more of shock at seeing how she took over Shepherds room and how odd human music sounded. Shepherd was more enthralled about how irresistibly cute she looked.
"Glad you found my music collection, enjoying yourself? " He said trying to muster his usually sense of humor the last thing he wanted was her worrying about the issues with custom implant. She looked to happy and content humming the song that was playing.
"Oh Shepherd I didn't mean ..it was and well I … I mean I was not snooping...sorry about the but mess." it never stop to amaze him how someone would hack through Geth firewalls in the middle of fire fight could so easily flustered over browsing his old 20th and 21ist century music collection.
"Tali its okay." He said smiling weakly his head ache was starting to get some what better as sat down on the couch.
"Well I'll leave you too love birds to nest." Garrus added leaving before Nathaniel could fire back at his remark.
"Ha love birds coming a damn Turian." Nate looked at the current song that was playing it was from his collection was dubbed Soul. A female artist by the name of Rox.
"I might have to remind him I have a shotgun." she mumbled turning her gaze to Shepherd who rubbing his temples. "Whats wrong Nathaniel." She ask concern filling her voice.
"Nothing just a little head ache that's all how are the repairs going , you and Legion are getting along I hope." He said quickly changing the subject a habit that she did not like and he was doing far to often. Tali for her part patient and trust him enough so she played along for now.
"Oh Legion is... well going a great job and things are ahead of schedule. Its still strange working with a Geth but..."
"But.."
"Well I never expected him to so polite, it 's a Geth so it has no emotion but it treats me.."
"Like a child would a parent." Nathaniel finished the statement for amazed at how expressive her eyes where always so expressive.
"Yes its strange but I'm thankful for the help it was nice to sleep in for once." She added eyes smiling , she was Quarians and they were not used to getting spoiled she noticed in her talks with Kasumi that it was something human women expected . "You know Shepherd I didn't know humans had so much art and music its amazing."
"Yeah we are more than just very inventive killing machines I think." Tali crossed her arms over her chest eyes narrowing in irritation at his seeming dislike of his own people.
"Why do you say that your not a killing machine and humans are more than that too. Some of these songs that I heard are beautiful they talk of love, hope, joy, triumph, passion, sorrow " She said he could were the smile in her voice, a child like joy that could not help but to smile it was nice to see her happy.
"I know Tali, I know... Its hard I have seen worst humanity has to offer and its hard to forget our bloody history. Maybe its different for Quarians." That statement came out completely the wrong way and he hoped that she was not told upset.
"How so?" there was slight edge to her voice.
"There is so few of you left you have to stick together, humans not so much."
"You have point but there is one thing that we have in common" Noticing that this course of conversation was making him rather tens and uncomfortable.
"And what is that Miss Zorah?"
"Quarians love music, song and dance have always been part of our culture it passes the time on long shifts and fills that halls with something more than just the sounds of decaying ships." raising from her place on the bed and making her way over too him. "Nathaniel whats wrong you look like your in pain?"
"Its nothing just a head ache I get them being a biotic, Don't worry my brain not going to mush it more just a sign that I'm tired."
"You stubborn bosh'tet why didn't say something, I'm sure Garrus and Miranda could handle the ship while you rested." Tali could do nothing more than shake her head he always working putting them before himself it was one of the reason that she loved him he had the biggest heart.
"Garrus and Miranda , run the ship, gurl you must be crazy." he said shaking his head as Tali looked him with confused it only took a few minutes to realize that she had no understanding of the earth slang. "Its a term of endearment kind of ...Its long e story if you feel like hearing about Ethnic relations on earth."
" I would love to hear about Earth?" She said curling up next to him on the couch.
Notes: I promise more of the Normandy crew next chapter and we meet the crew of the Midway … till then.. keep it classy
