Her head was spinning. She didn't know where she was. She couldn't hear anything, see anything, or smell anything. But she could still feel, or at least she had the sensation of feeling. The cuffs bit in to her arms and legs, and the chain roped heavily around her waist as she hobbled forward...
The last thing she remembered was seeing her 'guards', all Batarians, standing in the cell's doorway. They were amazed that the door was open, and that she was still there, waiting for them. One had made the mistake of trying to take her bracelet as they cuffed her. He got off lightly with just a concussion as she had slammed his head against a cell wall.
Part of her had wanted to take the whole group apart, but the sight of raised weapons, and knowing that it would not help her in the next step of her journey stilled her hunger.
"Hood her!" were the last words she remembered hearing before they fitted a helmet; or rather a Cage, over her head. From then on she had been directed, corralled, and shoved with pushes and forceful guidance.
The entire time after she only known when she was walking, or rather shuffling, sitting, or standing still. The effect of being nearly completely cut off from the world around her had a deranging effect. She had never seen or experience anything quite like the contraption that she was trapped in.
It was like being trapped in a bubble and you didn't know it. She could only compare it to the idea of going blind, deaf and dumb all at once.
Then with out notice the 'Cage' was removed. Light assaulted her eyes, burning every time she tried to see. Sound blasted in her ears and she tried to cover them but the chains checked their movement. She wanted to cringe at the sudden onslaught of sensory information, but her 'guards' held her up right. If she had anything in her stomach she would have vomited right then and there.
As her senses started to come around, which seemed like an eternity, she could tell that her captors were talking with five figures in front of her. She was pushed forward and in the process nearly lost her footing, but the guards caught her and forced her up as they moved closer.
She then began to 'see' where they were. The chamber was tall. The ceiling rising at least 400 meters in the air. The walls were built of white and pale blue stone beautifully sculpted and rounded in to half pillars. Long tapestries hung from the walls the color of royal violet. High windows lined the entire chamber. The light flowed in to the room and gave it the presence of power by divine right. Willow like trees of deep coppers and reds decorated the nooks and corners. She glanced up, and she saw a terrace walk built from the same stone about 150 meters off the 'floor'. She saw people on the walk, but couldn't make out any other details. But it looked like they were leaving the room.
She heard one of the five figures speak in her direction, but all she could understand were mumbles as first. Others spoke in turn, along with her captors. But then as if she was rising from a pool of water she heard them clearly.
"Are you Shepard?"
She looked in the direction of the blurred figures, but she could tell the one addressing her was an Asari by the tone of her blue skin. She squinted to try to see better and fight of the brightness of the room.
"Are you Shepard?" The Asari asked again with agitation in her voice.
As her vision sharpened further acid churned up in to her throat. In front of her she saw all of the Councilors, and Udina standing on a elevated platform. Their dress were blood Crimson tunics or dresses. Near by to her left she saw a Turian who's skin was a light gray in the chamber's lighting. He was without any facial markings. He was dressed in C-Sec blue.
"I am El'Jaid Shepard, Captain of the Systems Alliance, and Council Specter." She responded. Her throat was rasping dry.
"Let it be known that the accused has identified herself as El'Jaid Shepard. Wanted by Council decree." Councilor Sparatus said.
The fact that they were recording this 'hearing' caught El'Jaid's attention. She was going to put it to use. Her gaze steeled at the Councilors, and she spoke before they could say anything further.
"So if I understand things correctly. I was abducted off the street last night when I had done no wrong. Taken to a ex-Indoctrinated Camp, tortured, 'questioned', and then brought here while being subjected to another 'coercion' device. And all so you can ask me my name?" Venom seethed with her words, and the Councilors each donned an expression of slight surprise.
Sparatus turned towards the C-Sec Turian looking for some form of explanation. A dark ghost began to fill the room with its dominating presence.
"That was simply a detention facility..." The C-Sec official said.
El'Jaid turned her attention to the C-Sec official, and knew who he was just by the feeling his gaze gave her.
"You fucking expect me to believe that? A facility that doesn't exist, but has personnel armed to the teeth? Professional interrogation rooms?" She wanted to vomit from their words.
"The Council has no records of any facility like that ever being operated Shepard." Udina said trying to come to the defense.
"Not surprising since nothing good ever came from them! More innocents were taken there then Reaper Agents!" El'Jaid fired back.
"Enough!" Councilor Tevos sounded. "The six year war with the Reapers is not the main scope for this hearing. And Shepard, such rumors revolving around so-called indoctrinated camps had been long dismissed as Reaper Agent misinformation."
El'Jaid balled her hands into fists. As if the Reapers actually needed propaganda to use against us... She thought.
"Why is it that I am being put on trial? I was 'picked-up' over 12 hours ago and I was never told as to the reason why." Her gaze read one of stone and a coiled snake threatening to strike if provoked.
"You have been brought here today bound by Council decree. To be brought to Justice for the crimes you have committed." Councilor Valern solemnly but sternly said.
"Shepard. Because of your actions; as of now you are stripped of you position within the Specters." Sparatus almost sounded happy.
"And as such you are stripped of your rank and any command you have with the Alliance." Udina then spoke, he definitely sounded happy.
El'Jaid strained against her cuffs. She didn't disguise the disgust she wore on her face. She had figured that they would do this sooner or later, but the insult was like rubbing salt in to a open, bleeding gash.
"On what grounds?! What crimes?!" She struck back. Her eyes went ablaze in fury and her old scares running like lava flows. The transformation caused Udina and Sparatus to be taken a-back in shock.
"For High Crimes against Galactic Society, and Genocide against humanity." Councilor Tevos answered coolly.
El'Jaid couldn't think her mind raced trying to understand what she had been charged with. She couldn't breath as the Council's words had beaten the wind from her lungs.
"Your trial will begin tomorrow by the Council. When you are found true of guilt, you will be executed by firing squad." Councilor Sparatus said.
Her Captors started to grab her away but she wrestled from them turning back to the Council who had begun to clear their dockets for their next meeting. She already knew the answer, but she needed to ask her next question. To hear it from them, to see their reaction.
"Where is Councilor Anderson?! If I am to be put on trial I want to hear it from Humanity's voice." She yelled.
"I am the Human Councilor, Shepard." Donnell Udina Spat.
She just glared at him wanting to belt his face. Two of her captors grabbed her by the shoulders, and she tried to fight them off, but she didn't have any strength left so they held her still.
"I said; where is Councilor Anderson." Her face was twisted with rage and her arms strained against the chains, her guards were having trouble keeping control of her even though they had regained their grip on her.
"He was killed last night by an assassin." The Turian in C-Sec blue said, his voice ringing strong, but having the tenor of a serpent.
She looked over to her left towards the Turian C-Sec official. "You must be Sohmon. Executor Vakarian's Second in command." She narrowed her gave at him. She wanted to get under his skin.
"I am C-Sec Executor." His mandibles flared to accentuate the statement. His tone condescending. He straighten his stance trying to lord himself over her.
"Garrus Vakarian is being held by C-Sec in connection with Councilor Anderson's death. He will face his own Justice in due time."
"So this is your idea of Justice? FOR WHO?! FOR WHAT!?" She screamed.
"You know very well.." He said with a sneering smile. With that her world became black, and silent. She screamed in anger, but nothing came as her Captors drew her captive body away from the Council Chambers.
So this is how it ends. Not on some battle field. Not in the vacuum of space, but in front of an inquisition! Her trapped mind screamed.
[][][][][][]
Consciousness slowly crept back in to him as he lay on the hard bench in the cell. His head pounded like a drum and his body screamed with soreness and pain.
Garrus rolled in to a sitting position and a twinge of pain shot through his side. He reached and yanked out a shard of glass that had buried itself between his plates of his abdomen. He threw it aside.
His head went and rested in his hands as he pieced together the events of the past night. Had it really been just last night, or a week ago? A lifetime ago? He mused.
How could I have been so blind? AGAIN! What didn't I see this coming? He screamed at him self.
Shepard was arrested, and I didn't see it coming...
His thoughts were interrupted by voices outside his cell.
"Hey Cadus. Do you think he did it?" The Batarian voice came from outside. Garrus focused on listening to it and held still. No need to let anyone know that he was awake.
"Do what?" Another voice replied, a Turian.
"That he ordered the hit on Councilor Anderson. Turians aren't known for using assassins."
What the hell?! Anderson was assassinated?! Garrus found his mouth open. He moved closer to the door to have a better vantage point.
"Shows how much you know. Besides, since when did Garrus Vakarian ever act like a real Turian? He has a history of running around with that Specter."
Garrus noticed that the Turian's voice shivered when he mentioned Shepard. One thing Garrus was unable to change was C-Sec's long instilled dislike for the Council's Branch of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance.
The Turian outside continued. "Executor Sohmon said he has solid evidence linking Vakarian to the hit. So until proven otherwise I say he did it."
Garrus curled his hands in to fists and sneered. I'm being framed for the assassination. The perfect cover-up of a coup.
"Well I guess it really doesn't matter much right now. The Council had bigger fish to fry." The Batarian said candidly.
"What are you talking about now?"
"Well I heard scuttlebutt going around that the Council's going to put the hammer down on the Specters."
Garrus' eyes sharpened. Shepard...He thought
"Batrev...half of what you hear is coming from your own brain, and the other half from your ass." The Turians said half annoyed. "Besides. The Council's not going to do away with their toy pets just because people complain. How are they going to 'come down' on the Specters?" The Turian asked.
"By putting one on trial..." The Batarian replied.
"NO, not Shepard!" Garrus exploded and he rushed the door hitting it like a bull, but it didn't move.
"Well well! Looks like sleeping bareface just woke up and had been trying to be like a, oh what's the expression, fly on the wall." Both the Turian and the Batarian turned around toward Garrus.
"Go to Hell." Garrus snapped.
"Humm I think you're on to something this time Batrev." The Turian said, his face masked by a helmet.
"She never did stand trial for Bahak." The Batarian said.
"She saved the Galaxy from the Reapers." Garrus said with fire in his eyes.
"And destroyed the Citadel in the process." The Turian said getting closer to Garrus' cell.
"You weren't there! You don't know..." Garrus retorted with venom. His hands dripping the cell's bars
"And you are weak to be believing and following that Bitch. If my 'friend' here is right, then your little Specter friend will finally get what has been coming to her for a very long time. And then it will be your turn, Traitor, Murderer... " The Turian said with the sound of a smile on his voice.
Rage roiled in Garrus, but a secure cell locked him from getting out...
"Hey! Over Here!" A male voice echoed down the hallway. Garrus' guards looked down the hall to try to see the source of the voice.
Then all of the sudden the lights went out. The Guard's quickly turned on their flash lights of their omni tools, striking their beams quickly at Garrus then down the hallway.
"Batrev, go check it out." The Turian ordered.
"Why don't you go?" the Batarian responded.
"Because I'm your Superior and I'm ordering you to. Now move your ass."
The Batarian gave out a growl of protest but then went moving down the hallway cautiously. The silence of the cell block was deafening as Garrus could hear every foot step that the Batarian made.
Three...Two... Garrus counted, and before he could reach one the Batarian flew against the wall as if a truck had slammed into him.
ouch... Garrus thought a smile creeping along his face.
"Batrev?!" The Turian called out, but the lump of the Batarian failed to move his body Silhouetted by the bright flash light.
"Don't you even move..." The Turian looked at Garrus. The turian took out his pistol.
"Like I have anywhere else to go." Garrus said leaning up against the cell wall.
But before the Turian Guard could do or say anything else Garrus caught the faint sense of movement and heard a cheerful. "Hello!" and then the shadow struck.
"Wha the..." The Guard got out just before the blow knocked him cold. He hit the cell door hard.
That's going to leave a mark... Garrus thought. And with that the lights flared back to life, and a familiar form filled the cell door.
"See you're in a bit of a bind Garr-bear." Kasumi said with a smile on her face.
"You know, I really hate it when you call me that..." Garrus said returning her smile.
"You know you like it..." Kasumi cooed.
Jacob Taylor came running down the hallway. He had stashed the Batarian's unconscious form in an open cell.
"Cutting it a little close with the lights baby?" Jacob said to Kasumi.
"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure the hit would be solid." Kasumi said looking down at the sleeping Turian Guard admiring her work.
"uhuh..." Jacob said as he levered the Guard off the cell door. He was dressed in a 'barrowed' C-Sec blue uniform. Complete with Helmet.
"Lets get you out of there..." Kasumi said as she worked the lock with her omni tool.
The lock disengaged in no time and the door obediently opened up. "Childs play. And they call this the incarceration block? Couldn't you have done better Garrus?" She sounded disappointed.
"Talk to the Council..." He said giving her a flash of teeth as he walked out and shook Jacob's hand.
"Garrus you look like a mess for only being out a night. The Commander still likes to party hard huh..."
Garrus's smile faded. "I wish it had been a party..."
"We know..." Kasumi said laying her hand on his arm.
"Right. Well we got in, got Garrus out of his cell, now Ohka, how are we going to get out of here? I'm sure walking out the front door with the Councilor's Assassin in toe is not it." Jacob said with his arms across his chest.
Garrus looked down at the Turian guard. "Give me a Minuet." He dragged the guard in to the cell and proceeded to strip him of his armor.
"So who sent you two?" Garrus asked.
"Miranda. " Jacob offered up.
"Should have guessed she still have your calling card." Garrus answered.
"Well as you know, being around a Specter does have its... benefits. You know. Going to exciting places, helping people, seeing neat things..." Kasumi added in cheerfully
"I swear every time I take you on a mission the Council asks me about something that has gone missing..."
"Hey! What can I say I'm a girl who likes things that are big, shiny, and rare. Like you." She said snaking an arm around Jacob.
"uhuh." He said, and pulled her in close and gave her a sweet kiss.
Garrus came out dressed in C-Sec blue armor catching them in the act. "Can it wait till after we are out of here?"
Jacob broke the embrace with embarrassment on his face, and Kasumi looked over at him with an irritated smirk and her fist on her hip.
"Well I guess, its back to Archangel. Let's go." Garrus said slipping the helmet over his head.
The three of them swiftly left the hall, and got to the elevator that took them up to the rest of C-Sec headquarters.
As the elevator listed the party up Garrus broke the silence.
"So. I'm being framed for ordering the hit on Anderson." Garrus said matter a-factly.
"Seems that way." Jacob added.
"Have they caught the assassin?" Garrus asked.
"No. The little slimy bastard slipped away. So far the only thing anyone knows is that the assassin was a Salarian, and was not C-Sec." Kasumi said. Her voice the only indication that she was there.
"Interesting..." Garrus sounded and he hit the elevator controls to go the Executive level.
Jacob looked at the elevator's control panel. "I thought we were going to try to get out of here."
"Shepard was arrested last night and I've been accused of causing Councilor Anderson's death. I know Sohmon has a hand in it! I just need to get in to his office..." Garrus said, hatred filling his voice.
Jacob let out a silent curse.
"Well if we are going to do this we have to move fast." Kasumi's bodiless voice rose in the elevator.
"Agreed." Garrus said and he tapped on the omni tool, the elevator immediately picked up speed.
The Elevator reached the executive level and the doors pulled open. The hall way was silent.
"Ya know Garrus, a splash of paint and a few nice pictures wouldn't hurt the decor. This isn't a military ship." Kasumi spoke.
Garrus reached Sohmon's office, and dialed up his omni tool smiling. "What can I say. I'm a man of simple tastes."
The door opened without dissent. Garrus had never been inside Sohmon's office. He had hated just dealing with him on the hallway. But what filled his eyes surprised him because of sheer...opulence.
"Obviously Sohmon doesn't share your taste..." Jacob added. His own expression one of awe.
The decor of the office reminded Garrus of hearing human stories of kings and Sultans, and old Turian lore of heathen Turian Chiefs and Warlords. Rich colored tapestries draped from the walls. Book case of real printed books, and holo photos of Sohmon with various dignitaries and people of power lined the office space.
"'Art of politics and the Military'. Calstinus Tulmas. Why does that not surprise me?" Garrus said abhorrently as his eyes scanned one of the cases of tombs.
Jacob still looked around astonished by the sight. Kasumi inspected several others and a few smaller objects.
"I guess we know where he likes to spend his money." She said in a half jest.
Garrus growled with contempt. He knew there was no way that Sohmon could have amassed this collection of treasures on his own, and this was just in his work office. He stormed over to Sohmon's desk.
"Guess C-Sec will have to perform an audit." Jacob said. He walked over to an engraved plaque on the wall. "For Exemplary duty to the Council and an untarnished record..."
"Just a polite way of saying, kiss-ass." Garrus finally broke his silence as his omnitool cracked in to Sohmon's terminal.
"So what are you looking for Garrus?" Kasumi asked as she walked over to look at the terminal screen over Garrus' shoulder. He didn't answer as he was furiously working his omnitool searching for anything that looked like a red flag.
Jacob walked over to a small table. His eye caught by an odd sculpture of two near half circles intertwined and balancing a flat piece. It was simple, but it drew him in for a reason he didn't know.
"Oh Shit!" Kasumi yelped as her omnitool went off. Her yell made Jacob jump and pulled Garrus away from the terminal. Her eyes went immediately to Jacob and the sculpture he was holding. "You just couldn't keep your hands to yourself. And I thought I had a bad case of kleptomania."
"Whatever any of you are doing, stop it." Garrus said annoyed as he continued to search Sohmon's terminal.
Kasumi went furiously to work on her omnitool. Jacob quickly set the piece back down, in the vain hope that it would turn off the alarm.
Garrus looked down and the terminal and then his hands went in to overdrive. "Ah crap, give me a moment! Sohmon had this whole place wired, the terminal is starting to perform a self erasure of it's memory core." He started to save the files into his hard suite's computer. Not something it was designed for, but he had seen Shepard do it.
Seconds rolled on like years as Kasumi and Garrus worked. All Jacob could do was stand and not move a thing. Then Kasumi let you a sigh of relief. "Alright...its shutdown."
Garrus looked up and eyed Jacob. "You. Don't touch another thing in here."
"But...I..." Is all Jacob got out, and Kasumi just smiled like the cat who had ate the canary.
"Humm and it's usually me who's hearing that..." She sang sweetly.
The terminal that Garrus was working on went blank than dark.
"So did you see anything?" Kasumi was walking nervously towards the door. She hated being in a 'tripped' room for too long.
"Nothing right off the bat, and I don't know how much information I got." Garrus said, he was reviewing the files in his helmet's visor.
"Ok, we have what we came for. Can we just leave now?" Jacob asked equally as impatient as Kasumi.
Garrus was about to speak when loud alarms went off, deafening. They rushed out in to the hallway.
"I think I've had my fill of alarms for this year..." Jacob quipped.
This is Lieutenant Varla. Vakarian has escaped! We have two personnel down in the incarceration block. Vakarian may be in the Executors office! I want all armed squads up there now! Lethal force is authorized!
"Oh that's just great! Just what I wanted today..." Jacob snarled.
Garrus ignored him and stood still, pursing though Sohmon's data. Then something caught his eye. "Shepard's being held here! She's in incarceration block echo and cell 372. We have to get her!"
"Garrus I don't think..." Kasumi tried to interject but was cut off.
"She's here! If we don't get her out, the Council is going to put her on trial!" Garrus was in a frenzy trying to think how they could pull a jail break on prison black that was already in lock down.
"Garrus we have got to go!" Jacob said, as he saw the elevator slowly rising to the Executive Floor."
Jacob's words snapped Garrus out of his train of through, and Garrus rushed forward and grabbed Jacob by the front of his armor.
"We have to get her out! They are going to convict and execute her!" He screamed.
"No Garrus! WE need to get out before WE get executed, without a trial. NOW!" Jacob yelled back trying to get the Turian to release his grip on him. Kasumi slowly walked behind Garrus then struck.
"If YOU'RE not going to help her then I..." Garrus was cut off as Kasumi's blow hit him solidly in the back of the head. He crumpled to the floor, and did not try to get up.
"Orders are orders. Get him out alive; walking or otherwise." Kasumi said stepping over Garrus' slumped form.
"Oh this is just nice. Now what?" Jacob looked over to Kasumi.
"The plan hasn't changed. We take him out of here." Kasumi said simply.
"Right, I know that was the original plan. How? Out the front door?" Jacob said. leaning over Garrus.
"Out the front door should work, we should be able to 'procure' a C-Sec skyvan easily." Kasumi offered.
Jacob looked up as Kasumi shocked. "I know I already know this, but are you CRAZY?!"
"Well, it's either that, or let the SWAT team that's just outside in the elevators take us into custody." With that she disappeared as she cloaked, and threw a grenade down another end of the hallway. Jacob let out another silent curse and fitted the full helmet on over his head.
The grenade exploded, ripping a hole into the door that led to a stair case. The blast rained debris and smoke through out the hallway. And no sooner had it happened than the elevator opened and ten fully armed C-Sec agents rushed forward.
"Who are you!" The leader asked Jacob.
Jacob was hunched over Garrus acting as it to check him for any injuries.
"I'm Agent Dale. My partner and I were ambushed by Vakarian. He went to the stair case and I think he was heading to the upper levels or the roof. I need to get my partner to medical.'
The leader nodded and rushed forward with his men. They all disappeared through the blow doorway.
"I can't believe that actually worked." Jacob said in disbelief.
Kasumi gave out a giggle as she watched Jacob heave Garrus by the arms and started to pull him down the hallway. "Like a charm..."
"Now how about we get out of here. Want to give me a hand?" He said straining under the Turian's weight.
"Don't you think that would look a little strange? Seeing a Turian's legs floating in midair while he his being 'dragged' by you? Besides you have demerits you need to work off for letting them know where we were anyway. How else are you ever going to learn to be a proper thief like me? Let's go 'Agent Dale'." She said gleefully.
Jacob let out an exasperated groan and he then lifted Garrus up into an awkward fireman's carry as they made their way to the elevator.