Cold Reality
Joker sat at a desk in ruined Presidium. The entire Citadel was still being rebuilt since the geth attack. The Presidium was going through its night cycle, and the only source of light was a single table lamp Joker had in front of him. Very few of the population had returned, so the room was empty, leaving Joker alone with his wine. The pilot looked into his glass of wine. He did not know what to think.
"Shepard…" Joker said quietly. The pilot could see the Commander's face in the wine glass.
"You just had to do, didn't you, Joker?! You just had to stay behind."
"I'm…I'm sorry."
"Sorry? I'm dead, Joker! I'm DEAD because of YOU!"
Joker could not take any more. He picked up the wine glass and took another sip. The elevator door opened and heavy footsteps could be heard walking out. Garrus walked out of the elevator and stopped in front of the desk Joker was sitting at.
"The scout ships came back from the planet you were at," the Turian said.
"And?" Joker asked gloomily.
"No sign of Shepard. Calculations say that he burned up in the planet's atmosphere." Joker simply shook his head. "What did the Council say? What's going to happen to us?"
"We're grounded for now. They're going to give everyone leave because of…because of what happened to Shepard."
"You blame yourself?" Garrus asked.
"It's my fault," Joker muttered.
"There was nothing you could have done."
"You weren't there, Garrus. The only reason Shepard stayed on the Normandy was because I was in the cockpit. I'm the reason he's dead." Garrus became silent. He knew this was true.
"Shepard wouldn't want us to mourn for him. He'd want us to find out who attacked us."
"Yeah," Joker said. "I guess you're right."
"Where is everyone?"
"Tali's in her room. I don't know how she is. She was crying for two hours before she fell asleep."
"And, Liara?"
"She and Ashley are trying to find a ship to lead another search team. I don't know if they're having any luck though."
"What about Wrex?" Garrus asked.
"I don't know where he is. The guy left an hour after he heard what happened." Garrus stood up and made his way to the elevator. "Where are you going?"
"To talk to the Council," Garrus said. "Something needs to be done."
"The Council hasn't come back yet."
"No, but I can still speak to them through the hologram in Ambassador's office. Even if Shepard's gone, we need to continue our search for the Reapers. That's what he would have wanted." Garrus got in the elevator and headed for the Ambassador's office, leaving Joker at the desk. The pilot looked down at his wine glass and saw Shepard's face in it.
"I'm sorry, Commander," Joker said quietly.
Garrus walked down the abandoned halls of the Citadel. After seeing the space station so empty when it was once a center for commerce, it felt very lonely. There were only a handful of people, who were all busy repairing the Citadel. C-Sec had guards in some of the major areas, including the door that led to the Ambassador's office. The aftermath of any disaster would leave the area vulnerable for looters and other criminals, so the security seemed very paranoid, especially to Wrex, who was trying to get into the Ambassador's office.
"I demand that you let me speak to the Council!" the Krogan growled.
"I'm afraid that without clearance, I can't let you in," the C-Sec officer said.
"I don't have time for this," Wrex said, taking a step forward.
"Sir, we're going to need to know who you are first."
"I'm the one who's going to shoot in the face if you don't move."
"Everyone, stand down," Garrus said, walking up towards the two officers. He handed them his ID and said, "The Krogan's with me." The two C-Sec officers exchanged glances. The ID was genuine, but Garrus was now a former C-Sec officer. The Turian had handed in his resignation the day before. Nonetheless, this was a former C-Sec officer that was trying to gain access. They handed his ID back and let the two guests proceed.
"Idiots," Wrex muttered.
"You can't exactly blame them," Garrus said.
"It might not be their fault they have crap for brains, but they still have crap for brains."
"If rules are not strictly enforced, then there would be no reason for people not to break them. They were simply doing their jobs."
"I thought you hated C-Sec regulations."
"I hate it when the regulations get in the way of taking a dirt bag down. If there is someone threatening the public, we should be able to take him down by any means necessary."
As they walked into the Ambassador's office, Garrus began typing on the control panel. Usually the hologram would project the Council members while they were in the Council chambers, but the damage to the Citadel had forced the Counselors from the Citadel. Instead, the hologram received on the Citadel would be broadcast from an orbiting ship. There was a click and the hologram Turian, Asari, and Salarian Council members appeared.
"Agent Vakarian," the Asari Councilor said. "We have received word of what has happened and the Council sends their sincere condolences."
"Condolences aren't going to bring Shepard back," Wrex snapped.
"Wrex," Garrus said. He could not let Wrex ruin this.
"We are aware that Shepard meant a lot to you," the Salarian Councilor said. "And, because of that, we are giving you and his crew permission for temporary leave from active duty, pending Shepard's funeral."
"We appreciate that, but I am here for a different matter."
"And, that is?" the Turian Councilor asked.
"I am aware that all attempts to search for the Reaper fleet have stopped. Why?"
"The Council does not believe it to be necessary to search for what is not there. There Reapers are nothing but a Prothean myth."
"You saw his ship! You saw what it was capable of!"
"That ship "Sovereign" was nothing more than an advanced geth ship. This Reaper story showed how fragile Shepard's mind was. I expected this come from someone else, like that Quarian, not another Turian." Garrus's face darkened and he growled fiercely when he heard his friend's name insulted like that.
"Gentlemen," the Asari said. "The loss of Shepard has been hard on all of us. I believe a temporary leave from active duty is what will be the best thing for the crew."
"My friend is dead, and you refuse to do the one thing he died trying to accomplish."
"You must understand. The council cannot make a decision without further evidence. I am sorry, but there is nothing we can do. You and the crew of the Normandy are hereby given temporary leave from active duty pending Shepard's memorial service. This meeting is adjourned." There was a click and the hologram was turned off.
"Remind me why Shepard saved those morons again," Wrex said as the two of them left.
"You and Ashley were both there when he made the decision. As much as I hate it, we don't have any choice but to obey. Come on."
The Destiny Ascension, flagship of the Citadel fleet, in all its glory was still undergoing repair, and its victory cruise around the Citadel. The Citadel fleet was still in orbit around the enormous space station, ready to fight off anything that dares to attack. But, any fleet, even the Citadel fleet, had weaknesses. A single small frigate was slowly drifting through the region. As long as the black, V-shaped frigate does not approach too close, the fleet will ignore it. The frigate's cockpit sat in between the ship's wings, facing out between them.
On the ship, a single human strolled through the halls of the ship, his face as stern as stone. He took long, eerie strides down the long, dark hallway. The hallway led to a small briefing room, where a Krogan, and a Drell stood waiting. The entire room was empty, except for the four men.
"I've completed the scan of the area," the human said. "There is only debris left."
"Then, we must assume they have failed," the Drell croaked hoarsely.
"This was not unexpected," the Krogan said. "We've planned on this for a long time." The three men nodded.
"Then we shall begin," the human said, smiling. "Gather the squad; we must not fail our master."
"Human," the Korgan growled. "Take the Malevolence through the Mass Relay into the Terminus System. That is where the squad awaits. I shall remain behind and gather what is needed. See if you can hire Bane, he will gather the resources we need."
"I shall use the cargo ship to pick up our resources when he calls," the Drell said.
"Then, we are at an agreement," the Krogan chuckled, looking around the room. "Let's begin."