Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 9: The Truth Revealed
As Jack and the group entered the embassy, Udina was already boiling from the reports about Jack. Udina turned around to face Jack, not noticing to the Quarian, who was in Jack's arms.
"You're not making my job any easier Commander, Fire fights in the wards? An all-out assault on Chora's Den?! Do you have any idea—who's the Quarian Shepard? "
Still holding Tali, Jack introduces her to Ambassador Udina.
"Her name is Tali, Ambassador and she's here to make your day on the evidence she has on Saren."
Udina approached the group, on the intent of receiving the intel.
"Really?"
Jack nodded while giving Tali a shake to show him the intel, Tali however was more interested in being in her saviors arms.
"Huh?- Oh right! here let me just activate the recording."
Tali while still in Jack's arms activated the recording on her Omni-Tool.
Eden Prime was a major Victory! It brought us one step closer to the Conduit.
And one step closer to the return of the Reapers.
Udina's eyes widen and a smile was placed on his face. Jack followed in place.
"We got that Son of bitch."
The group was celebrating in their own way. Ashley smile and nodded at Jack, Tali grabbed a hold of Shepard and gave him a hug, Garrus made a fist pump, Kaidan patted Jack on the shoulder, Jenkins Jumped up in the air and cheered, and Anderson shook Udina's hand. Udina signaled the group to settle down.
"Alright settle down, let's get the evidence to the Council and fry Saren, and as for you Shepard good work on recovering the evidence, you might have just averted war with the Council… Now let's head to the tower and show them the evidence."
Jack halted everybody in their tracks.
"Hold up, why does that name sound familiar?"
Jenkins sought to answer Jack's question.
"What Saren?"
Jack's eyes glared at Jenkins.
"What? No! Reapers."
It left the whole group to wonder, who were these Reapers? Jack then remembered as the vision brought back that phrase.
"The Vision from Eden Prime, now it's coming back."
Udina waved dismissively to the sudden outburst.
"We'll get to that later, but for now the tower."
As occupant in the embassy began to vacate, Jack and Tali remained. Jack set Tali down on the desk, while kneeling down and examining her foot. Jack grabbed a hold of the sprained ankle and popped it back in to place.
"There you go Tali, you might want to take it easy on your foot."
Tali stopped Jack from leaving.
"Wait Commander… Can I come with you on your journey?"
Jack offered a helping hand.
"Sure why not? If Saren somehow eludes the law, I'll hunt him down."
Tali just smiled under her mask.
"Great you won't regret this, and who knows maybe I'll find something to bring back for my pilgrimage."
As Jack and Tali catch up with the others, Jack still wondered on these Reapers.
Ambassador Udina followed by the crew approached the council to show the evidence. Udina just pointed at them showing them their mistake.
"You wanted proof there it is."
Sparatus nodded in agreement.
"This evidence is indisputable Saren will be stripped of his Spectre rank, and efforts will be made to bring him in to answer for his crimes."
"I recognized that other voice in the file… That was Matriarch Benezia." Tevos added in the conversation.
"Let me guess another traitor that went under your noses." Jack added in.
Tevos shook a bit from Jack's comment.
"Benezia is a powerful biotic who has many followers, she will be a powerful ally to Saren, for her betraying the Citadel Council like that is… Frightening at best."
Valern decided to change the subject as Tevos was trying to cope with the betrayal.
"I'm more interested in the Reapers, what do you know about them Commander?"
Jack stepped by Udina.
"A race of sentient machines the wiped out the Prothean Race, they suddenly vanished… Now Saren is looking for the Conduit… A transport to bring them back."
"But do we know what the Conduit is?" Valern Questioned.
An irritated expression appeared on Jack's face.
"I think I just said what it was."
Sparatus intervened trying to dismiss the Reapers.
"Listen to what you're saying a race of Sentient machines wiping out a Galactic civilization, it's impossible it has to be, where did they go? how come we found no trace of them? "
Jack was now seeing that coming to the Council and showing them the evidence was a bad idea.
"I tried to warn you about Saren, and you refused to face the truth, don't make the same mistake again."
Tevos decided to cut in to support her colleague.
"This is different…. You proved Saren betrayed the Council, and that he is using the Geth to find the Conduit, but we don't know why."
Jack expression just went to oblivious after he heard that.
"Are you deaf I Just said why he was looking for it?!"
Valern decided to end the whole conversation altogether.
"The Reapers are obviously just myth Commander, a convenient lie he is using to cover his true purpose, a legend he is using the Geth to bend to his will."
….
"Are you Morons for Real? The Reapers wiped out all organic life 50,000 years ago. Still with me If Saren finds the Conduit it will happen again!"
Sparatus intervened in Jack's conversation.
"Saren is a rogue agent, on the run for his life, he no longer has the rights or resources of a spectre the council has stripped him of his position."
Udina cut him off.
"That is not good enough! You know he is hiding somewhere in the traverse, SEND YOUR FLEET IN!"
Valern the Salarian Councilor interrupted the Alliance Ambassador.
"A fleet can't track down a single man."
Udina replied to Valeren's outburst.
"Saren is your responsibility, he attacked our colony, Find him!"
Sparatus decided to cut the Ambassador off.
"Or the action will trigger a war with the Terminus, we won't be dragged in a Galactic war just for a few Human Colonies."
Jack had enough of this, he stepped in front of the Ambassador.
"Every time Humanity is in trouble you Assholes dismiss, deny, sit on your asses and do nothing! "
Udina nodded in agreement stepping right by Jack.
"Shepard is right! I'm sick of this Council and Your Anti-Human Bull Shit!"
Tevos immediately raised a hand to stop this conflict.
"Ambassador! There is another solution, one that doesn't require fleets or armies… a mutual benefit that will be good for both the Citadel Council and The System Alliance. "
Sparatus's eyes just widen from shock and decided to stop Tevos in her track.
"No Humanity isn't even fully apart of the Citadel Community!"
The Council chambers had all eyes on Jack including the Ambassador, Anderson, and the Crew of the Normandy. Jack's eyes widened from every one hinting he should be Spectre.
"What?! No I'm not going to be a puppet to the Citadel Council!"
Ambassador Udina leaned in close.
"Do it Shepard, it will improve our stance in the Galaxy! It'll give us an edge over the Council."
Jack's eyes began to twitch and sighed a defeat, he then looked at the Council.
"Fine.. Give me that insult of a Rank."
Tevos and Valern looked at Sparatus , Sparatus just shook his head signaling a defeat. The Councilors pressed in the command giving Spectre authority to Jack. Tevos breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Jack.
"Commander Shepard step forward."
The group behind him shook their heads giving him a gesture for congratulations. Jack just looked at Tevos.
"No, and yeah I bet you're not used to hearing that word, so get used to it."
Jack turned to Udina.
"Shepard you're going to need a Ship and a Crew… Come with me Anderson I need your help to set this all up."
The Crew surrounded Jack to congratulate him on his Spectre rank, but before he could talk with any of them is Omni-Tool lit up Red, stating an urgent message. Jack opens up the message and steps away from the crew.
[FROM: CERBERUS COMMAND
SUBJECT: OPERATIONS ONLINE
ATTENTION COMMANDER JACK SHEPARD YOU ARE HEAR BY ORDERED TO FIND A COMM LINK AND CONNECT TO THIS NUMBER: 539921.
THE ILLUSIVE MAN WISHES TO SPEAK TO ABOUT UPCOMING OPERATIONS, THIS IS VITAL INFORMATION, NEW INFORMATION ON ABOUT THE TERRORIST ACTION THAT CERBERUS WAS FRAMED FOR.
P.S. PLEASE USE DISCRETION WITH CALLS.]
Jack closes it and heads towards the elevator the crew follows him, hoping to ask what's next. As the crew exit the Citadel Security elevator, Jack is approached by a Krogan and a Human Mercenary, The Krogan shouts out first.
"You Human, are you Shepard?!"