El'Jaid rolled her head. It felt like Grunt had been using it for target practice. Her mouth was dry and her vision was blurred. The brightly lit room only intensified her headache. She tried to lift her left arm, but found that it was firmly strapped down against the frame of the chair, as were her other limbs.
As she gained more and more of her mind back she realized that the 'chair' that she was strapped in to was uncomfortably short, and that the 'back' dug in to the middle of hers, which contributed to the dull ache. She was effectively tied in to a stress position.
She strained against the restraints but they held her still, not that she had all of her energy. She didn't even know what time it was.
The room was uncomfortably hot, sterile and sickly stark white.
I even wonder if Garrus knows about this place. She mused.
The door opened and in came a Salarian. He was dressed in a military cut casual uniform. But like the rest of the facility was white. His skin tone was tropical green, but he sported a garish scar running diagonally across his face. There was nothing else noting his rank, position, function, or even name. He carried with him a tall glass of water.
Immediately El'Jaid knew he was her interrogator.
He sat down at the end of the long and empty steel table in front of her, setting the sweating glass of water in plain sight.
Sweat started to form on her brow as the heat of the room started to get to her. The light jumpsuit she wore helped her none at all.
He tapped a few keys on his omni-tool before looking up at her.
She swallowed hard trying to moisten her parched throat.
"Shepard. I'm glad that we have a chance to talk." He started out eloquently with a light tone.
She said nothing. Returning his glance with an icy glare. The position she was in was starting to strain her shoulders, and had her leaning uncomfortably forward, restricting her breathing.
He continued, "You have caused a lot of trouble tonight. He reached for the cool glass, and took a long drink from it. "Instigating a brawl for the entire galactic media to see, and putting three personnel into the infirmary." He slightly cocked his head to the right. "Do you have any comments to add?"
She looked up at him. Her eyes a somber glow of red, as if warning him to come to closer to her.
"Mr. Fields got what he was asking for. The Turian should have known better to back off when someone tells you 'No.' The other two guards were stupid enough to think they could beat a prisoner and not end up paying for it. Not my problem they bit off more than they could chew."
He blinked his eyes. He peered down at his omni tool, scanning something quickly with his eyes.
"Your family was killed on Mindior weren't they? You haven't had much of a family since then, have you. Reports say that you have kept a fair distance away from most people...except one person..."
He let silence fill the room, letting his words drill home.
"About the incident with the Turian. I understand he was trying to relieve you of a personal effect. Care to explain why you just didn't give it up to begin with the rest of your belongings?"
"None of your damn business." She spat.
He smiled a little, knowing he had found a nerve. "Its bracelet isn't it? And on your left arm no less. I'm not well versed in human customs, but I know that usually, oh what is the human term...married couples, wear their wedding rings on their left hand. I'm sure the Asari you have been seeing is very concerned for you."
He took another drink from the glass, adding further insult to injury. She just glowered back at him. She wore a mask of disdain, but also a mask that said 'unbreakable'.
"What time is it." She finally said.
"I'm sorry?" He said sounding as if he hadn't paid her any heed.
"The time, what is it?" She said more succinctly.
"If you must know, it's 12:30am." He replied.
I've been in custody for four hours. She thought to herself.
He peered down, reading off a holo-display from his omni-tool. "You're known as the Butcher of Torfan. You led a company of soldiers in a siege against the very same ring of Batarian's that attacked your home world. Who killed your family. You allowed more than seventy five percent of your company die to eliminate the Batarians on the small moon. You also obliterated a Batarian system by a Supernova when you destroyed the system's Mass Relay with an Asteroid which resulted in..."
"It's obvious you haven't seen enough documentaries about me..." She quipped in cutting him off. She was tired of rethreading history.
He smiled politely. "Just laying ground work."
"Well how about we just cut to the chase. I wasn't snatched tonight just because a moron of a reporter can't keep his mouth shut, and I sure as hell shouldn't be here because of what happened over ten years ago." She gently rolled her head side to side to try to relieve the tension that had developed in her neck. "So now here I am, being tortured and interrogated by the Government I was appointed to protect. But for what reasons, I don't know. So why don't you just stop screwing round and tell me why I'm being held against my will..." Her eyes flashed but were mismatched. One was a deathly blue, the other was a ghoulish red.
All of the sudden the room shook and the lights flickered, he gave a start at the interruption. He had never shaken while under fire.
His comm beeped and he pressed his hand against it to answer. The volume was loud enough that El'Jaid could hear the conversation, or rather frantic call.
-"Sir! We have all the Krogan in the facility tearing the place apart! Other personnel have joined them and they are trying to get to Shepard! They want to free her!"-
His eyes immediately darted to her.
"Fight them off. Don't allow them to get to Shepard! Use what ever force you have to!" He swallowed hard.
El'Jaid saw his mind racing on how to handle the ensuing situation before it got any worse.
She looked back at him. Her cruel smile tailored to her face that matched her eyes and glowing scars with her presence dominating the room even more.
"Trouble?" She asked.
"Get a full squad down here! I want Shepard moved to a secure cell. NOW! He ordered and stormed out of the interrogation room.
[][][][][][]
"Dr. T'Soni." EDI chimed.
Liara opened her blurry eyes. Her body groaned in protest; crying for more sleep.
"Yes EDI, what is it?" Liara groggily asked the AI.
"Captain Alenko is outside your door. He wishes to speak with you." EDI said urgently.
For a moment Liara leaned back in her chair.
She had fallen asleep while pursing through mounts of surveillance feeds trying to get a grasp of Anderson's assassin. But nothing jumped out at her that wasn't already obvious.
The assassin wasn't C-Sec, and the hit had not been planned. He had more or less been interested in observing Anderson, and it was only when Anderson started his way to the Alliance docking bays that he struck.
It had been hours since Anderson's death had been relayed to C-Sec, and by now every media agency in the Galaxy knew and had been 'reporting' on it.
...yet not one knew of Shepard's disappearance...
She felt like caving in. She wanted El'Jaid to suddenly be at the door and this horrible night to have been nothing more then a joke, or an illusion.
"Liara are you alright?" EDI asked.
Coming to her scenes she quickly assembled herself, making her self somewhat presentable. Her room looked like a hurricane had hit it, but for her when she was working that was normal.
"Yes... Please let the Captain in."
The door hissed open and Kaidan came in. He was still in his uniform. It was in shambles and Anderson's blood still smattered part of it. He looked like death warmed over. Tired, angry, sad, and sick all at once. But there was a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"Liara you look like hell. Maybe I should let you rest." He said.
"I'm sure I look better than you." She said with a quirky smile on her face.
He just chuckled. "I guess your right."
Liara got up, and as she rose her eye caught a picture of El'Jaid and her by her bed. She nearly broke down at the sight of it.
"Hey. We'll find her." He said consolingly, but keeping his distance.
Liara wiped her eyes with the palms of her hands composing her self again. "I know, Kaidan. I know."
They walked out of her room and towards the medbay. The marines who had gotten Anderson to the Ardennes were at the mess table passed out from fatigue and combat. The deck was somber and quiet.
The medbay doors opened reluctantly and in front of her Liara saw Dr. Chalkwas and Miranda. They looked no better than Kaidan.
Chalkwas turned her head to see Liara and Kaidan come in and gave them both a warm tired smile.
"How is he?" Liara asked.
Kolyat had come it right behind them, and positioned himself in far off corner. Close enough to listen, but detached enough to be invisible. He was more like his father than he gave himself credit for.
"He wanted to see you right away but I wanted to be sure he was out of the woods." She said and stepped aside.
On the medbay bed rested Anderson his eyes lit with fire, though his torso heavily bandaged.
Liara gave a bright smile and ran to him wrapping her arms around him. He groaned as she hammered into him. Miranda reaching out in reaction.
Liara recoiled back. "Oh sorry Counselor! It's just good to see that you're still with us."
He chuckled slightly and he rested back, and smile at his lips. "Forget it Dr. T'Soni." He looked out the window to the two marines dead asleep on the table. "You should be thanking them. If it hadn't been for those boys I would have been a dead man."
"You can also thank the lousy shot the assassin took. It just punched right though you, doing negligible damage." Miranda quipped.
"Always the ray of sunshine aren't you honey." Kaidan said giving her a playful but scowling look.
She responded with a burning look of her own.
Anderson groaned. "You never get used to taking a bullet." He leaned back in to the pillows,. His eyes looking forward to the black metallic wall. "So now the whole galaxy thinks I'm dead."
"We don't know who your Assassin is working for, if anyone..." Kaidan said trailing off...
"And we don't trust C-Sec. Not after they took Shepard..." Liara finished.
A dark cloud hung over Anderson as she told him this.
"Yes...I know. Dr. Chalkwas told me that Captain Shepard was taken at around 8pm."
Liara was silent. Why didn't you warn us... her mind asked.
It was Miranda who asked the question. She came into his view, her face twisted with anger. "They said that she was under arrest by Council decree." Her tone had acid in it.
Kaidan went to rest his hand on her shoulder but she shook it away. Though he gave Anderson his own withering look.
"No! He should have warned us. He should have told Shepard it was a trap to come here!" She raged, and pushed away from her husband.
Anderson looked at her with honest yet stern face of a military man under going his own trial. "Commander Alenko. I would have warned you if I could have..."
"What do you mean Councilor." Liara looked on, her eyes only held a questioning gaze for him, not as one accusing him.
He laid back deeper in to the bed and closed his eyes. He seemed as if the information he was about to say weighed deeply on him.
"None of what I am about to say can't leave this ship." He said.
Miranda backed off, and Kaidan stood next to her trying to calm her down, Dr. Chalkwas sat exhausted in her chair, but intently listening. Liara took a seat at the foot of a bed facing Anderson. He looked at her as if she was the only person in the room.
"The Council, the Alliance...practically every established government is losing ground politically, finically, and physically. People don't understand what ended three years ago. All they know is that entire systems were destroyed or laid bare, armies and fleets were wiped out and families completely disintegrated or devoured. All by a collective of sentient machines so old and truly alien that no one can even begin to understand what they wanted. The people have lost much, but don't know how much they still have in their lives. In their very existence. They cannot grasp how close the Reapers were to winning the war."
Anderson winced. Whether is was from the pain of his wounds or the burden he was sharing, Liara didn't know. But he continued on, and everyone else was silent.
"The rebuilding is going much slower then we...then the Council anticipated. Its been a constant struggle to prevent open war between the species of the Council, or even to prevent open civil war between the core worlds and their colonies. So far a lot of back room deals have kept the peace. But without something to show the Council's resolve to try to heal the Galaxy; to show that there is progress being made in rebuilding. That it still holds power, everything will all come crashing down..."
Liara was confused. The media had been reporting daily on the slow progress of rebuilding, the tensions that flared between peoples, between the core worlds and their colonies. But she knew that this was the first time in Galactic history that any organic civilization had survived the Reapers. The peoples of the Galaxy. The Asari, Humans, Turians, Krogan, Salarians, and all the other peoples of the Galaxy would be able to continue to live and thrive like never before.
Anderson looked like he was beginning to tire, but he need to continue. "Shepard is...was...our greatest symbol. She was the savior of the Galaxy..."
Kaidan interrupted. "What do you mean WAS?! She IS the savior of the Galaxy!" He was furious at Anderson's words. Anderson looked over to Kaidan. It was now Miranda who was holding her husband at bay.
Anderson gave a lazy smile, admiring the Kaidan's fire that he had for Shepard.
"Fickle are the memories of people. Even Asari... Don't forget how you reacted to Shepard when you saw her again on Horizon..." Liara said. Her words were like cold water running over hot coals.
Kaidan's eyes went wide for a moment, and then he looked down at the floor. His fists clenched as he remembered seeing her for the first time since she had been killed...
Anderson simply looked at her and nodded. But then he looked up at the ceiling. Trying to piece the right words in his head.
"The Council has had more petitions than can be counted to address the Galaxy's desire for...justice..."
"Justice? What do you mean Anderson..." Miranda asked.
Anderson looked down, averting his eyes away from Liara. A look of worry had filled them before her gaze. He was tiring even more.
"Shepard never did stand trial for the destruction of the Bahak system..."
-"Well an galactic invasion fleet tends to throw a monkey wrench in the plans of a witch hunt!"- Joker chimed in defensively.
"I thought helmsmen were supposed to be invisible and not heard." Kaidan said with annoyance.
"And I thought the Marine motto was no Soldier left behind..." Joker seethed.
"ENOUGH!" Chalkwas commanded. She was tired, and her temper was waning. Her outburst was enough to quell the spat.
Anderson continued not even giving notice that the interruption had occurred.
"..After I spoke with Shepard a few days ago, I was going to a meeting with the other Counselors concerning Shepard. I thought the meeting's purpose was already known to me. I found out otherwise. As I neared the Council's private chambers I over heard the other Councilors, and Udina talking...About Shepard's trial..."
The news hit Liara like an icy dagger. The nightmare that had been forming in her mind was becoming real. She wanted to believe that it was just a terrible dream. That she was just asleep in El'Jaid's arms...
Then she remembered the Consort's letter to her.
...But such powerful individuals are easily misunderstood, and made unfortunate martyrs. These times we are in are trying. There is still so much pain that has been caused in our world, and the Captain is apart of that. I sense a storm is coming...
"Councilor, you have to be joking..." Chalkwas said in a state of shock. "What charges could they bring against Shepard? She a bloody hero!"
Anderson looked at her with pained look. It read that he knew she was right...but...
"Shepard has a...colorful past..." Miranda said in a clinical and cold manner. She got this way when dealing with, uncomfortable, issues. She knew more about Shepard than probably anyone else in the room.
Anderson answered them in an automatic tone with all of the energy he could summon at that moment. "The council will be charging her today at eleven with High crimes against Galactic Society."
With that he finally let go of the huge burden. He looked like a man that had just carried his own crucifix around the world, twice. "I think...I need...to rest..." He closed his eyes drifting away.
Everyone in the medbay left knowing that Anderson needed time.
Chalkwas looked at Liara as she passed by, lost in her thoughts.
"High crimes against Galactic Society? What does that even mean?" Chalkwas asked aloud to Liara in disbelief. She couldn't wrap her head it, how now after everything she had done, all she had given, Shepard was going on trial.
Liara raised her head, rising from her deep well of introspective thought. Her look was not of a shy or coy scientist, but of a dealer of information. A Mistress of shadows and secrets. She simply said, "We will soon find out..." She strode over to the elevator. Leaving the others in a moment to flounder in their thoughts content on passive thought for the moment.
But for Liara; she could no longer be passive in this. The game was set, the pieces were moving and she had a hand to play in it if she moved now.
She looked over to Kaidan, Miranda and Kolyat. "Captain, Commander, Sergeant. I need to see you in the comm room...immediately." With that the elevator closed. Her face had hardened with a mask.
Kaidan and Miranda both looked at each other with a double take not sure who they saw in Liara's place, and they followed her.
And they came in to the comm room Liara was already busily tapping away at a data pad.
She looked up and gave them a very professional and cold smile. "EDI, have you found any more information on Shepard, or Anderson's Assassin?"
EDI's blue orb snapped in to view in the middle of the table. "Dr. T'Soni, I have not."
"I see." Liara said automatically her mind starting to think of other options, but EDI interjected her train of thought.
"But, I have noticed two interesting topics with C-Sec communications."
Liara's eyes came up at EDI's pronouncement.
"C-Sec communications have been referring to the Executor as 'Sohmon'."
"Wait. That doesn't make sense. Garrus is C-Sec executor." Miranda said.
"Who is this 'Sohmon'?"
"Wait, Sohmon. As in Themos Sohmon?" Kaidan said. His eyes filled with disquiet.
"Yes Captain Alenko. I searched C-Sec personnel logs where Themos Sohmon is 'currently' listed as Garrus' subordinate." EDI replied.
"Do you know him Kaidan?" Liara asked immediately interested in Kaidan's knowledge of him.
"Not directly. But I know that he was appointed, if that's even the right term, as Garrus' second in command when Garrus took over the role of Executor of C-Sec. The Council wanted him in C-Sec, at least most of the councilors did. Anderson voted against his appointment. "Kaidan leaned against the wall looking down at the desk as he searched his mind.
Liara pressed him further on the matter. "Any idea why Anderson would have voted against him?
"No." Kaidan replied.
A dead end...for now... Liara thought.
"There was one other thing." EDI interrupted.
"C-Sec communications between Sohmon and his subordinates had been discussing an individual only referred to as 'Rebel', or 'Traitor'."
Immediately she switched over to a recording between Sohmon and another C-Sec Agent."
-Are you sure the Rebel is down?-
-Yes sir.-
-Good. Put him in a holding cell on the far end of the facility, away from any other inmates and keep it quiet. As soon as the next few days are over we can deal with this Traitor.-
-Understood, Executor Sohmon.-
Silence hung in the comm room, but was broken by Joker. -"And I thought Garrus was the only guy with a pole up his ass. Why is it that Garrus always seems to have trouble find him? Has to be the war paint."-
Liara couldn't help the smile that crept over her face.
"Are you sure its Garrus?" Kaidan asked.
"Seems logical. I haven't heard from him since we left him near Williams hall. I could go after him." Kolyat offered.
"No." Miranda said.
"But I know the layout of C-Sec headquarters better than anyone!" He said rising to defend himself.
"And if you make one move in the direction of Garrus, you will wind up in a cell next to him." Miranda reasoned.
The Drell slammed his back up against the wall admitting defeat.
"I know of a few people who would be prefect for this. And it just so happens that they are on Esthasia." She smiled aberrantly.
"Good." Liara said. "Now on to the matter of Shepard's trial."
"So when do we snatch Shepard back?" Kolyat asked.
Both Kaidan and Miranda were about to speak when Liara cut them off.
"We let the trial happen." She said matter-a-factly.
They all looked at her in amazement as she continued to type in to the data pad.
"Let the Trial happen? Liara; they will execute her WHEN they convict her!" Miranda surged forward.
Kaidan stood quietly at her side, still deep in thought.
"Liara think about what you're saying! There is no judge or jury in this! The Council will have it's shadow court for Shepard, and the public will only find out the verdict just before she's shot, if not after!" Miranda said.
-"Screw that! I say we grab Shepard and make a run for it!"- Joker came blaring through the comms.
But Liara ignored them. "And if we break Shepard out, we will only serve to prove that the Council was right."
"Dr. T'Soni has a valid point." EDI Offered.
-"Leave it to the blue buddies to stick together..."- Sniped Joker.
She looked up at Miranda, Kaidan, and Kolyat. Her visage turned cold and professional. "Thank you for your time. I'm sure everyone here is tired."
They left, even if under silent protest, leaving Liara and EDI alone.
Liara took a moment to breath. Her mind and body screamed for sleep, for some kind of release from the insanity that just seemed to roll on. But she knew she could not stop. Yet she also knew that if she continued on, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the Council, and she knew if she didn't she would lose everything she had found, lost, and gained back again.
She would not lose El'Jaid again.
"EDI, continue with your monitoring. And please open a secure channel with this information." Liara quickly typed in a frequency and telemetry information in to the desk's dash.
"As you wish Dr. T'Soni." And EDI disappeared from view. A screen opened up in front of Liara. It was blank except for a thin white line running across the display's horizontal center.
The line moved with a synthesized voice on the other side. "Dr. T'Soni. I was wondering when you were going to reach me."
Liara leaned forward. "I'm sure you already know..."
"Humm, about what? Your engagement? Anderson's 'supposed' death? Or Shepard's arrest?"
She gave a cocky smile back to the display. "You are well informed."
"I learned from the best. So what is it that you need?" It replied.
She began to casually pace back and forth in the room. An old unconscious habit from old.
"I need the files on the Council members. All of them." She said.
"Done." it said.
Her omni tool beeped letting her know that the files were 'in-hand'.
"I will also need an audience with the Council after 11am local." Liara commanded.
A few tense moments passed before the screen moved again. "I have a contact who will be meeting with the council at around noon. Maybe you know him. I am sure he would be delighted to have you with him as his...'assistant'."
Liara smiled.
"Also I need you to be ready to launch a media assault on the Council over this...matter...IF I don't make contact with you by 1:15pm local. And Shepard will need a defense proctor." She commanded.
"Humm. That is quite a tall order Dr. T'Soni. Yet I have the perfect one in mind. Someone Shepard can trust." It came back.
She knew that under Council law, while the defendant could have a proctor, there was no 'right' to one during a trial.
She leaned back. Liara knew that she had asked for a lot, and that it would not come cheap. But the best is always what you pay for.
"How much?" Liara asked.
"For you?" The voice laughed. "The debt was paid a long time ago. It had only been now that I can repay it."
Smile smiled approvingly. This was not something she expected, but she appreciated the help. "Always a pleasure doing business with you...Feron."
There was a moment of silence.
"As with you, Liara. When this mess is over, give Shepard my best." He replied, his voice still masked.
And with that the connection with the Shadow Broker vanished.