"Liara, do you know what you are doing?" Kolyat asked. They had pulled up near the Council tower.
"Perfectly." She responded with a cold smile on her face.
She looked outside at the tower. It was 11:45am Council time. She would need to meet her contact soon. It was a beautiful day. The sea that stretched out beyond the shore was a beautiful shade of aqua blue. Bird like creatures swam through the air, wheeling from tree to tree or building to building. People of all species were walking about, minding their own business and other sky cars raced pass around and above them.
"This could end up being a trap you know. Anderson had asked for both you and Shepard to come. the Council could have plans to come after you." Koylat interjected, his voice smooth, but deliberate.
Liara had already thought of this. "If they wanted to capture me. They would have taken me when they took Shepard."
Kolyat didn't answer, but Liara saw his grip tighten on the car's controls. She rested her hand on his shoulder and he relaxed slightly.
A moment of silence slipped into the car.
"I should have done something..." He finally said. "I failed her...I failed him..." His eyes glazed over losing himself to memory.
"Failed who?" Liara asked with a soft voice.
...machines beeping, pumping, working to keep him in this world. He smells of antiseptic and medicine. His skin now the color of pale green...near yellow...
...He rests his hand on my arm. "I love you, my son..." His voice is weak. He will not last long. "Father... I'm sorry..." I quietly yell out to him...
..He suddenly grabs my shirt. Pulling me close. There is a flash of anger in his eyes, the likes of which I have seen only once before. "Never say your sorry to me again." He releases me, but keeps his hand on my arm. Hurt and sorrow grace his face. "You did nothing wrong..." Tears begin to pool in his eyes and streak down his face. "The fault is mine to bear..."
I feel his strength quickly fading. "Protect her." He says, his voice weak. "Protect my Siha. The woman who saved my soul and brought you back to me..."His voice is barely above a whisper.
Then his grip on me loosens and he fades. Gone to the Sea...
Koylat sprung back to the present with tears in his eyes.
Liara's heart went out to him. Realizing she had just heard his memory of seeing his Father pass. Of the last words Thane had spoken to him. "I'm sorry Kolyat. I didn't mean to have you remember that..."
He gave out a shiver as he wiped the tears from his face. "Its okay. Goes with being a Drell. I still wish I could have done something for her." He said wistfully.
"Kolyat, there was nothing any of us could have done. She agreed to go with them to protect us."
"Then who will protect her?" He asked. His question needed no answer.
Liara looked out again at the Tower taking in more detail. Crimson remembrance banners hung from the tower and gently swaying in the breeze. Near by News terminals blared that Anderson had been assassinated, and the Garrus had been implicated in it.
"News travels fast..." Kolyat said out of jest.
Liara smiled again. "Miranda has Garrus under control. Her people should be done at C-Sec shortly. He is in excellent hands."
Liara's eye finally caught her contact who was making his way to the tower.
"I'll see you in about an hour." She said as she stepped out in to the stark sunlight.
"You better..." Kolyat said with a smile as he pulled away. He reminded her of Feron in many ways. He was intelligent, resourceful. His father's son.
She quickly checked her personal attire. She was wearing a red and black knee length dress with copper trim. The matching red with black trim short cloak hung from her shoulders and clasped around her neck, the hood covered her head fully. She kept it back for now. Long black gloves trimmed with red covered her hands and arms. Long black boots rose snuggly around her legs. Any causal passers by wouldn't even recognize her as being Asari, let along who she was. Her engagement bracelet was the only piece of jewelry she wore, and stood out in start contrast against her left arm. She wanted that to be seen as a undeniable symbol. A beacon in the darkness. On any other day she would have looked starkly out of order, but almost everyone was wearing red or some shade of it in remembrance of Anderson.
She then quickly made her way over to her contact. A Volus. He was also in a red trimmed environmental suite.
"Barla Von. Good to see you again." She said smoothly giving him a small professional smile.
The Volus turned in her direction and looked up at her.
"Ah! Dr. T'Soni. So glad we could meet again." He held out his hand, and Liara took it. "It has been far too long."
"I have no doubt that our mutual friend has talk with you already." She said.
"Humm yes. Most interesting. It will be nice to have an 'assistant' for this meeting." He said. He handed a data pad to Liara who took it from him. "I'm not quite as young and sharp as I used to be you know..." The tone of his voice playful.
She smiled knowingly and drew the hood over her head. Her eye caught a Shuttle leaving the Tower's platform, heading towards C-Sec. She felt the person onboard the shuttle, and a shadow passed over her face. "After you Mr. Von."
"Right..." He said and they made their way to the tower's entrance. "We have much work to do."
I will make them all pay... She thought.
[][][][][][][][]
Udina let out a shiver as the doors to the shuttle pad closed. The dark shadow that had been in the Council's chamber had passed but it's presence still lingered. It's memory was a burden, and caustic.
"How did she know about Indoctrinated Camp?" Councilor Valern said nervously.
"Perhaps she read it in an Extranet conspiracy column. Who knows." Councilor Sparatus said dismissively.
"That is not what I meant. How did she know that no useful information came from them..." He said. He was slowly wringing his hands together.
"Does it really matter? That program was halted years ago. And I am sure Executor Sohmon has taken care to properly over see the discontinuance of the facilities and their dismantling or repurposing." Udina said and he gave the Turian a knowing look.
"Of course Councilor." Sohmon said with a slight bow.
"I'm also concerned about that device that Shepard was 'wearing'." Councilor Tevos said. Her gaze landed squarely on Sohmon. "What was it."
Her question caught the Executor off guard, but he regained his footing. "Its a prisoner control device. It blocks the brain's ability to interpret sight, sound, and other senses; though it does not inhibit the prisoner's ability to balance, or interpret if they are sitting standing or moving." He straightened his stature. "We find that its a more humane way of controlling prisoners then by chains or other inhumane methods."
"Yet Shepard was still brought here before us in chains, and the device seemed to have a debilitating effect on her even after it was removed..." Councilor Valern stated, crossing his arms around his chest. His eyes narrowing.
"Shepard is the most dangerous criminal in known history. She put four armed and well trained C-Sec agents in the infirmary. She also caused a riot at the facility. We can't afford to take chances!" Sparatus said coming to Sohmon's aid. "Besides it didn't look to me that the device had any long term harmful effect on her." Sparatus said wistfully.
"Then Councilor we must have been seeing different things." Tevos shot back. "Was that device ever tested? Why didn't we know that C-Sec was creating such a device. Why didn't Vakarian inform us?"
If you mean did the device ever kill anyone, no. And Vakarian wouldn't have had the stomach for such a project. Sohmon thought. "I am sure he didn't want to advise the Council of a project that would bare no fruit Councilor. But with Vakarian, you could never have been sure about his motivations." Sohmon offered up.
"I see..." Tevos said unbelieving, but let the subject drop for now.
They went back to work on their terminals, and quiet filled the chamber. The daylight streamed in bathing the chamber in warmth and light. But then the oppressive silence got to be too much.
"Are you sure we doing the right thing with putting Shepard on trial?" Counselor Valern said.
Sparatus sneered. "You can't be joking Valern. Your questioning this now that everything is already in motion?"
"My fellow Councilors. Shepard needs to answer for what she has done!" Conviction ran deep in Udina's voice.
"We all agreed that Shepard went too far. For too long the Specters have had too much power and freedom, and not enough responsibility! Look how much damage Shepard caused! Once Justice is served the Galaxy will once again be calm and see that the Council holds the power. Not some shadow organization, and not one Woman!" Sohmon seethed.
"I wonder what Councilor Anderson would have to say about your words, Executor." Councilor Tevos serenely replied.
"Councilor Anderson was blind to Shepard even before humanity joined this Council. She could have convinced him of anything." Udina spat.
"This topic is done. Shepard will stand trial by us tomorrow, and her guilt in the matter will be verified." Sparatus just wanted the matter done with and sealed.
The chamber again grew quiet, but tense was the best way to describe the feeling of the air, despite the beautiful day that shone in through the windows.
"We have Barla Von next to inform us of the Economy committee's progress. It shouldn't take long, and then we can adjourn for the day." Councilor Valern said.
Udina heartily agreed.
On the far side of the chamber the doors opened from the hall way and in walked Barla Von and his assistant.
Again Udina shivered as his eyes passed from the Volus to the figure walking next to him. He couldn't tell why, but it felt that Shepard had come back into the room, dressed as Death's Acolyte. The figure's presence who walked beside Barla Von cast the same undeniably oppressive presence. One that demanded, no...attracted attention simply by it's existence. She moved forward in eerie silence, not one step of her boots had sounded on the polished stone floor.
"Good day Councilors." Barla Von greeted the Council and then turned his attention to Sohmon. "Executor.."
Sohmon nodded in acknowledgement.
"As you know I'm here to report on the ongoing Economic state of the Council systems." Barla Von held out a hand, and his assistant handed him a data pad. No other movement did she make, not even a sound.
Udina tuned Barla Von out, or was deaf to the Volus. His attention riveted. He heart seemed to race in his chest and a chill seemed to overcome him.
I saw her taken away... He thought. His eyes looked up to the sniper catwalk above them. Empty, just as it had been when Tevos had ordered the Snipers gone. Damn it! She can't be here! Not now! She can't be!
"Udina..."
He jumped slightly as he heard his name. and he turned to see the other Councilors looking at him.
"Udina, are you alright?" Councilor Tevos asked.
"Ah...yes...Yes! I'm fine..." He said coughing. His attention again was directed back to Barla Von's assistant. She still had not moved or even acknowledged what had just happened.
"I'm sure Mr. Von is aware that the Council needs to be informed of all people meeting with the council." He looked at Barla Von and then to his Assistant.
Barla Von looked a little lost for a moment before turning to acknowledge the figure that he had completely forgotten who stood beside him. "Oh. My apologies Councilor. I did let the Guards know at the door. I just need an assistant these days. My memory as you can see isn't quite what it used to be..."
Udina opened his mouth to speak, but Councilor Valern out paced him.
"It may be a breech in protocol, but I see no harm in it."
The Salarian looked over to Udina in a rebuking manner. "Please continue Mr. Von." His tone was irritated.
Udina turned his attention to Barla Von who continued with his report, but every so often his looked back over to the latent figure.
Move! Do something! Are you even alive?! He screamed in his head.
Again he was shocked to reality.
"WHAT?! What do you mean he's gone?!"
Everyone turned to look at Executor Sohmon. Everyone except Barla Von's assistant. The look Sohmon wore was a mixture of terror, rage, and shock.
"And he did what?! Sohmon stormed in to his comm. He then realized where he was.
"Ah, I'm sorry Councilors, there has been..." He stopped mid-sentence realizing that Barla Von and his assistant were both still in the chamber. "There is an issue that I need to resolve, so if I could take my leave?"
Councilor Sparatus waved his hand and Sohmon quickly scurried out of the chamber.
Sparatus quickly turned his attention back to Barla Von. "Thank you Barla Von for your report, and we apologize for the Executor's...outburst. He has been under some stress lately."
"I understand Councilor, and thank you." Barla Von bowed to the Council and then turned around and walked out of the Chamber. Udina couldn't be certain, but he thought he heard the Volus laughing quietly to himself as he left.
Udina, like the other Councilors then, had his head down at his terminal closing out the day's dockets and getting ready to adjourn for the day. Tomorrow will be quick and painless...Perfect. He thought.
But he felt that the exigent presence still stood in the chamber. Udina and the other Concilors again looked up and saw that Barla Von's Assistant still standing exactly as she had when Barla Von had been beside her.
Udina felt another chill run down his spin, and he still didn't know why. His eye caught the figure's bracelet on her left arm, it shown like a beacon as the mid day's sun streamed in to the chamber. It fell upon the figure; bathing her in what could have been described as a sacrosanct light.
"Can we help you?" Councilor Tevos said serenely.
"No." The figure said her voice clear, crystal and reverberating around the chamber.
"Then you must leave. The Council it adjourning for the day." Valern said gruffly.
"Not yet, I think." The figure again spoke with such an icy clarity, that it riveted all attention to her.
Udina could only watch her. She had not moved a single muscle, her outfit had not even acknowledged the fact that she had spoken. It was haunting to behold, and he could not avert his eyes.
"What do you mean? Barla Von has left; you should have left with him." Udina said with unease in his voice.
"Your observation is impressive Councilor, as it is unneeded." The figure said with an amused tone.
Udina's face burned. How dare this being address me like that! But before he or any other Councilor could speak, the figure spoke again.
"I will now speak, and the Council will now listen." Her voice again as clear as polished glass; her tone as cold as space.
"You don't get to make demands of the Council!" Sparatus stormed back, his voice smoldering with outrage.
"I am making no demands from you Councilor. I'm telling you what you will do."
Udina finally saw her move, and he nearly jumped out of his skin. The figure moved her right hand over her left and keyed in to her omni tool. With in nanoseconds each Councilor's terminal was over taken by reports, information and video feeds.
Udina's face went pale. He saw surveillance of one of his 'visits' to Omega's 'points of relaxation'.
Councilor Tevos saw a dissertation she had written anonymously condemning Asari pairings and saying that the offspring of such a paring should be aborted to guard against the existence and any more Ardat-Yakshi, and that the partners should be punished, or even put to death.
Councilor Valern saw surveillance taken from an Indoctrinated Camp 'interviewing' session and saw the reports flash before his eyes.
Councilor Sparatus saw financial account information pertaining to the Mistress he had kept unbeknownst to the rest of his 'actual' family.
All of the Councilors were speechless. Udina and Tevos looked like they were going to faint. Valern had the look that he had just seen a Ghost, and Sparatus was furious.
"Now that I have your replete attention, I want to direct it to why I am here." The figure spoke.
"How...How did you get this information?" Sparatus said barely able to contain his rage.
"How I obtained it, is not your concern. All you need know about it is that I have it, as does another entity in my trust. But now you will listen to me. We are wasting time, and it is not something we can afford to waste any longer." The figure said her voice echoing in the chamber.
Sparatus was going to say more, but the looks of Tevos ,and Valern sated his mouth. Udina looked on frozen, unable to speak. Only to listen.
"Before you met with Barla Von, you met with Specter El'Jaid Shepard. You 'arrested' her last night, using the convenient cover of a street brawl, and you will be putting her on trial." She said.
Udina's heart jumped into his throat. How the hell does she know...
"Specter Shepard has only been arrested and put on trial to answer for the crimes she has committed." Councilor Valern said in a trembling voice.
The figure did not respond and silence grew in the chamber grew. The figure remained still.
"Wha..What is it that you want?" Udina asked meekly
"I want from this Council nothing." The figure said.
"Then why are you here!?" Tevos shouted.
"The trial of Specter El'Jaid Shepard will go ahead an planned. With changes involved." The figure said.
"Such as?" Valern asked gaining some of his composure back.
"It will not be a trial by the Council. It will be a public trial. The Council performing the occupation as the panel of Judges..."
"A PUBLIC TRIAL?!" Sparatus was gripping his terminal, threatening to uproot it. The figure was not intimidated by the Turian's ranting or his unrefined display of force.
"The jury will be comprised of members of the Militaries under which El'Jaid Shepard has served, and of which have served her."
"This is..." Tevos said her voice trembling, with anger or fear Udina couldn't be sure.
"Councilors. You desire to show the Galaxy that you are still a relevant force. Why else would you put a Specter, let alone Humanity's first Specter, and the Galaxy's Heroine on trial?"
"This is an outrage..." Udina stammered, but was silence by a glare from Tevos.
"Now dear Councilors. A public trial would bring a greater degree of...legitimacy...to your current actions than a tribunal by just the Council." The figure said with a hint of a smile on her voice.
What ever light had been in the room, to Udina it had been sucked away. There was no way out. He was trapped...They were trapped...
...And they all knew it...
"We will need time to make the changes." Tevos finished. The other Councilors did not look in to her direction, a sign that each agreed with Tevos.
"Feel free to take all the time you need into Eternity, Councilors." The figure said serenely. "But if an announcement of Specter El'Jaid Shepard's arrest and her trial is not made within two standard hours, what you saw on your terminals and more will be released to the public."
The figure turned and began to calmly and leisurely walk out of the Council Chambers. Her hands were in front of her and placed left on top of right.
Udina felt sick and lost for words. The other Councilors were stunned speechless. The galaxy's most powerful figures had been brought down to their knees by a single nameless halcyon effigy.
No!...No! Udina screamed in his skull. He was now trembling with rage. He could not stand this dominate presence any more in this chamber, his chamber.
"Stop! Stop, and face me! Show me your face!" He screamed.
The figured continued towards the door, her pace undiminished or hastened by his cry.
"Shepard! I know it's you!" He sputtering and raved on like a mad man.
This time the figure stopped. She was nearly at the door, and she spoke, but did not turn to face the Council. "As I said Councilors. You have all of eternity to decide on what I have stated. But only two hours to do what I have commanded.
"And Udina." Her voice froze him in his place on the Council stand.
"I am not the Shepard. But again, your ability to observe is impressive." The figure spoke as she walked through the doors as they opened obediently for her as if she had simply willed them to open.