Agent Salya wiped the bloody dagger on the leg of his 'borrowed' uniform. The dark green smear barked out loudly against the light gray material. He looked at the obsidian dagger and let out a soft caustic laugh.
Such a fool the Warden was. No need to hunt for any truth when it is there in front of your blind eyes. He thought as he flung the dagger away like a piece of worthless trash.
He walked out of the deathly lit office into the bright hallway beyond. His eyes caught the crumpled from of an Asari, with the rank of lieutenant, laying face down. A fission cutter standing out from her back.
Never saw me coming, most never do... He thought, but with a flash his eyes furrowed and his face burned as the memory of how he had handled Subject Alpha boiled to his mind. I was foolish to chase him, even more of a fool to just go bursting in to the tram station after him.
But he let out a soft sigh as he let the thought pass him by. I'm doing better. I learn from my errors.
As he continued to walk down the hall way, not another soul could be seen. The facility was even more quiet than normal. The air scrubbers were silent, the security cameras dead. Every terminal and VI station cut. Assassination and surveillance had never been his forte. But sabotage was something he enjoyed. There was something about being the annoying integer that threw plans awry. The unseen cog that made the brilliant plans work that excited him. There was also the freedom of choosing how to best cripple an enemy, and the restrictiveness of it. Having to work with what he had on hand held an euphoric grip hold over him. But it was the thought that it was 'he' that hurt his enemy the most. Not the generals, or the soldiers; but he, the saboteur. Him that greeted his enemy with a smile, and planted the death blow into their back.
He passed by the medical wing. The lights inside were dim, and the window slightly fogged over. With the deadly grace of an Adder he peered in. One of the first 'fixes' he had implemented after cutting all surveillance and communications to the facility was to turn off the air scrubbers, then lock all of the doors around the facility. All of his 'patients' were either dead or unconscious and dying. He looked over to the dented door on the far side of the room. A Krogan lay on his back, his chest expanding and contracting rapidly and sporadically as it searched in vain for nourishing oxygen.
Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill...or in this case, even brute strength. A cruel smile formed on Salya's lips.
He turned away and continued on his leisurely stroll to the shuttle platform. He was even starting to feel slightly light headed as the levels of carbon dioxide increased through out the facility.
He keyed in his code to the shuttle pad door and it rolled open. The howling maelstrom outside greeted him as he quickly slipped out and the closed behind him. They locked like the entrance to a vault. Even though the air was frigid and the blowing snow stung his face, he breathed deeply as the clean, clear air filled his lungs. He searched one of his vest pockets and retrieved the detonator. He smiled as he turned the metallic cylinder in his hand. The perfect job is nearly over, and soon I will have my Justice...
Quickly he dashed over to an unmarked and black Kodiak shuttle. It stood out starkly in the whiteout conditions, but that meant little to him. There was no one else around for him to worry about being seen. He tapped on the side doors controls as he cursed the cold, and jumped in side as fast as he could.
"By the maker, I'm retiring to a hot climate after this!" He exclaimed. As he moved in to the cockpit he touched the main power switched as the shuttle coughed to life and the heaters started to run. He took his time getting situated and running through the warm-up checklists. There was no need to rush.
Once he was done, he put the last finishing touch before taking-off. From another pocket on his vest, the pocket closest to his heart and gently took out a small holo. He gingerly pressed a few buttons on the frame and the holo came to life.
The image it displayed stole his breath away. It was of a Salarian Dalatrass. Her skin was an intoxicating sight. The tones of amethyst, sunset bronze and tropical turquoise. She wore an opal jeweled head scarf, and a long flowing dress of light purples and blues. Her arms were out stretched to him in the image.
"I was her chosen..." He said quietly aloud. "I was to be the father of her daughters. The sire of her continued dynasty..."
He reverently set the holo on the dash of the cockpit, the piece giving a soft 'clink' sound as it's magnet attached to the metal. He closed his eyes and silently spoke a prayer. Time passed as he did not move, the only sound that could be perceived was the whirring of the shuttle. When he reopened his eyes, they were filled with a renewed passion, desire, hunger.
"Soon, the Butcher will get what she deserves." He spoke quietly to the picture. and then he turned his attention back to his checklists. It was not long after though that his comm beeped.
He reached up to the side of his head. "Yes?"
"Is it done?" The Voice replied.
Salya smiled with satisfaction. "Soon it will be."
"And what of Warden Raskov?" The Voice asked with interest.
"Taken care of. Personally." Salya responded with satisfaction.
"Good. Good. Now there has been a slight change in plans." The voice said cautiously.
"What do you mean?" Salya queried. His stomach felt like it was going to overturn from the tone the discussion had just taken. He was expecting to hear that Shepard had been found guilty and executed.
"Shepard will not be tried by the Council, but rather will have a public trial. The Council acting as Judges." The voice said serenely.
Salya's mind exploded. "What? What have those fools done! What have you done! That was not apart of the plan! Now Shepard will have an audience to seduce!" He locked the shuttle's controls in the death grip.
"Calm down Salya. This actually is a much better option." The Voice said unconcerned.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. All the promises, the deals, the plans, all of the time he had spent was washing away down the drain! "A better option? How?" He roared." You should have just let me take care of her then it would be done!"
The voice laughed at him, considering his statements as nothing more than childish. "Shepard's death is just a convenient outcome of what you and I are working for Salya. Please stay your emotions and keep in mind why we are doing this."
Salya was fuming. I've stayed my emotions. I've seen her in my nightmares for over five years! She took everything from me! He screamed in his head.
He was about to answer, but the Voice cut in again. "Shepard must answer for her crimes. If you were to have simply assassinated her, like you did with Anderson, you would have created an even more potent Martyr. Doing so would have put her on a pedestal far out of the rest of Truth and Justice. The people she has wrong, the scars of the galaxy she has caused would never heal. Would you want that on your soul Salya?"
Salya was quiet for a moment as he thought. Sweat trickled down his face. The Voice's words struck him with ice. The very idea of him letting Shepard get away with any of what she had done goaded him.
"No..." is all he could force out of himself.
"Good." Soothed the Voice. "Now I will need you to come back, and be on the catwalk guard detail for the trial."
Salya's eyes darted to the side. Anywhere near the Capitol was the last place he wanted to be. "Why?" He asked.
"Have faith my friend. You are going good, just, work." The voice said, and then was silent.
Salya felt as if a wrench had tightened around his gut. I don't like this. I feel like I'm being played...
He flipped the switches for the mass effect core and was rewarded with the whine from the engines as the shuttle shivered in to flight. The Shuttle rotated in the white gale and then Salya jammed the accelerator forward and the shuttle shot away.
As he arced away from the dead facility he reached in to his vest pocket and retried the detonator. He began to unconsciously play with it, flipping the cap up and down, on and off.
Should I stay or go?
Stay?
Or go?
When he finally felt that he had enough distance; he hit the switch.
Stay...
...because I have to see how this game ends...
His shuttle rocked as the shockwaves hit.
[][][][][]
The music of the lake washed over El'Jaid. The sound of waves gently lapping on the shore sung softly to her. Peace, peace, peace. The sweet air smelled of pine and lilacs, and the soft calling of birds wove with the beautiful tapestry around her.
A warm, soft hand gently touched the side of her face, and through the strands of her red hair causing her eyes to stir open. She was dressed in a silver linen tunic the clung loosely to her, and a pair of white linen crop pants hung lazily about her waist. But the view she took in was much more spectacular.
Seated on the lounge bed by her knees was an Angel dressed in an iridescent pearl dress. The fabric hung loosely and modestly about the frame, but did not hide the figure's supple curves. The soft colors enhanced the already alluring shade of blue of her skin.
She leaned forward and kissed El'Jaid's forehead, and gently moved down to her eyes that beckoned closed then leaned back and held soft smile on her lips.
El'Jaid laid in the lounge bed basking in the moment. She had not had this kind of peace in far too long. The sun shone brightly, but the shade of the overhanging willows kept the harsh light at bay.
"This is a dream." El'Jaid spoke softly.
"Then it is a good dream." Liara responded, gently stroking her arm. She rose and walked slightly to the edge of the lake. Her eyes looking out across the water's stillness.
El'Jaid watched Liara, her eyes roving over her beautiful form. She tried to relax, to just continue to rest, but she found that she could not. She propped her self up on the bed, feeling terrible because here she was in this peaceful place, and with the one person she loved, be she could not rest.
"I'm scared Angel. I'm trapped. I don't know what is going to happen, and no plan to fall back on." Her green eyes cast to the ground, their pupils black.
Liara turned back to her, a look of concern wore on her face, but she smiled lovingly at her betrothed, and went to her side. She roped and arm around her and held her close. "You of all people in the Galaxy have nothing to fear, now lie back and rest."
"But what will I do? All I see is darkness before me." El'Jaid mournfully.
Liara put a hand on El'Jaid's chin, calling her emerald haloed onyx level to her aqua blue. "Trust me, trust in the all of the good you have done.." Liara wrapped her hand around El'Jaid's left wrist. "And trust in our bond."
They fell back together, Liara cradling El'Jaid to her, and the Specter said nothing, but just held close. Liara's eyes drifted close and the world melted away with her love in her arms.
[][][][][][]
A knock on the door woke Liara from her slumber.
It was late in the night and the Ardennes had been in lockdown ever since Council had declared martial law after the trial's announcement. The atmosphere of the ship one of quiet unrest. Most people were sleeping. Yet beyond the ship was a world going mad. Protests and rioting were taking place worldwide, and throughout the entire Galaxy.
Yet that mattered not at all to her. Her mind roved to the dream she just had. Was it really a dream? She felt so close... she thought sadly. For a brief moment in space and time Liara had just existed in peace with her beloved. And she craved to go back to it.
A knock came again at her door, a harsh reminder that now was not the time for day dreams and wistful wishes.
"Just a minute." Say responded as she threw on a simple navy robe. She strode over to the door and activated the controls. Greeting her was a civilian dressed, and exhausted Miranda.
She was dressed in a loose gray leather jacket, white tank top and a pair of worn jeans and sneakers. Her raven hair was covered by an equally black blank ball cap, the pony tail going out the back. She had a large mug of what Liara could only figure was very strong coffee.
Miranda entered Liara's room and Liara closed the door and locked it.
"Liara, does that Parasini woman ever stop? Kaidan and I just got back! I think she would give SAI a run for their money!" she said in exasperation as she slumped into Liara's desk chair.
Liara only smiled taking that as a compliment. Feron really knew who to choose.
"How far did you get in to it?" Liara asked.
"Far enough. Parasini doesn't need to know all the details." Miranda quipped.
"But she knows about Lazarus right?" Liara asked.
"Yes. Not all the details, but she knows. I think Shepard told her, because she was still in a bit of a shock by it when she talk with me about the project. But she seems confident." Miranda said coolly.
"Good." Liara said with relief." So do you think everything it ready?" Liara asked, as Miranda took the cap off and shook out her mane of hair. She slammed her back against the chair and gave out a heavy sigh. The air in the room suddenly took a more grim turn.
"I honestly don't know Liara." Miranda looked up at the ceiling. "Shepard has a damn fine defense council, and we don't have to go over the mountain of ammo that she has to use against the prosecution. But there are three things that honestly are scaring the hell out of me."
Liara frowned as she sat back down on her disheveled bed. Doubts had also been plaguing her.
Miranda looked at Liara then looked away to the floor, collecting her thoughts. "First are the charges. They are so broad that even if I was completely awake I couldn't wrap my head around them." She brought her eyes up to meet Liara. "And part of that is knowing Shepard's past." Her voice held a pang of worry in it.
Liara knew if anyone was a walking encyclopedia about El'Jaid Shepard, it was Miranda. Miranda had devised and lead the Cerberus team that had developed the imprinting scan that had captured El'Jaid's mind before she had died. She had spent untold hours memorizing everything about her when the Lazarus project had resurrected her.
"Miranda, you have to keep in mind that not everything in Shepard's past is black and dark, there is also so much light. Keep in mind everything she has done since joining the Specters. The people she saved, the battles she won" Liara said trying to bring some cheer to Miranda's face. But none was to be had from the worn and exhausted visage that looked back from her.
"That is the second part that scares me." Miranda sat back and took the mug of coffee in to her hands to try to bring some warmth to them.
"What do you mean?" Liara said leaning forward.
"She is a Specter, and to compound it even more is that she is also a product of the N7 program." Miranda said looking in to Liara's eyes.
"What does her rank in the Alliance have anything to do with it? I thought N7 was just a proficiency classification." Liara said.
The look of surprise ran across Miranda's face. "I thought you knew..."
Liara shook her head in disagreement.
Miranda slumped back in to her chair. Her fingers pressing lighting against the bridge of her nose. "The N7 program was to be the System Alliance's answer to the Salarian STG, the Asari Commandos. Hell, maybe even the Council's Specters."
"But I thought the Alliance Corsair program was supposed to do that." Liara said.
Miranda smiled. "That's what the Alliance wanted everyone else to believe." Miranda let out a soft chuckle. "Jacob is a fantastic Soldier, and a damn good Specter, but he is not N7 material. He cares too much."
Liara couldn't help but let out a shiver in response to Miranda's words.
"All N7 operatives were considered for the most part 'Spook' commanders. The training they went through was brutal, from extreme environment survival, to precision weapons and combat, even right down to diplomacy and leadership training. The N7 program was designed to have another facet to it beyond the military and combat. It was meant to be the building platform of Alliance leadership."
"It sounds as if the N7 program was another Cerberus Brainchild." Liara said sourly.
Miranda looked back in her with her steel blue eyes. "That is because it was. You have to keep in mind Liara that the Alliance always had a Love-Hate relationship with Cerberus. One on hand they had an convenient scapegoat, on the other they had the perfect organization that they could work with for a myriad of breakthrough, all of course behind the scenes. Admiral Hackett had top oversight of the program, and he worked closely with Cerberus, for a time, even if he did disagree with their...methods."
"That seems to explain a lot..." Liara said wanting Miranda to continue.
Miranda though had no interest in retreading the graves of the past. " In any case each N7 class was selected on a volunteer basis. Some classes were as large as ten, others and small as three. Each only had one graduate." She leaned forward, her brown eyes boring in to the floor as she spoke, and Liara listened. "The program was ran for twenty years, but was subsequently shut down in 2178." Miranda said calmly, and looked up at Liara.
"2178? Wha...wait, Torfan..." Liara said breathlessly. A lost look pervaded her face, a look telling that some how she should have known. Miranda just simply nodded.
Liara continued to listen as she turned the new information over in her head.
"As far as Shepard being a Specter. Everything she has done since she was inducted in to the Specters is classified to the vast majority of the Galactic Community. Specters may have extraordinary freedoms. But it cuts both ways. Its a golden cage. " Miranda's silver words slipped from her mouth and Liara looked down at her wrist. At the bracelet. She knew what Miranda was going to say, but still she remained silent. Why, she did not know. Perhaps just to hear it, perhaps as a reminder of the gravity of the situation, as if she did need a reminder at all.
"Shepard was made a Specter to bring down Saren. The Council has always officially disavowed any wrong doing by him, even though he is gone." Miranda stopped for a moment and took a sip of her drink. The pregnant quiet filled the room with unease. "The Council can and will try to use this Trial to destroy any good that Shepard has done, by simply saying it never happened, or by painting her into a corner."
Anger boiled up in Liara. Its not fair...After all she Has done...after all that has been taken from her, even her own life...its not enough...
"But it is Kaidan that bothers me the most." Miranda finished.
"Kaidan? Miranda, he is your husband. He has known El'Jaid for just as long as any of us..."
"I know Liara. Yet when he and Parasini were talking, he became more and more quiet. More careful with his words. The only times I have seen Kaidan act like that is when he is unsure about something..."
Author's note: An Update on 11/11/11. Again thank you to those who read and Review. I am been trying to make an better effort to proof my work before I send it off, but you can only look at something so many times, but I think I am getting better as I go.
The scene with El'Jaid and Liara is loosely based off the scene between Arwen and Aragorn in LOTR. That dream scene is just so perfect I couldn't help but use some of the base imagery in this work. As always this work is provided for entertainment and not for profit.
Thanks to those who served their Country in Uniform, and rest in peace those who paid the high price. It was on the 11th day on the 11th hour in November in 1918 that the Great War ended. Let us hope that maybe one day Humanity will learn from his errors.