A wall of sound containing the voices of thousands of beings talking in dozens of different languages at once hit them as Liara, Atheta, Miranda, and Kaidan walked in to the Tribunal chamber. It had taken them two hours to just get to the main chamber due to all of the people, and security. The chamber was as deep and it was expansive, and as open as it was confining. The room was arrayed in a half circle which belied the Tribunal's circular outside appearance. The architect who had designed the interior must have had a crucible in mind, because the rows of columns funneled steeply down to the floor. Not only was this a visual symbol, but a useful defense. If any person were to burst open and try to shoot at the defendant or prosecution, they would have to first deal with shooting an attendant of the Trial. That is if they even got a chance to pull their trigger before being shot by the snipers which hovered on catwalks looking above the capacious room.
On the far end was a high pedestal, with four stations. It was bathed in sun light as if those who would stand there were empowered by some divine right. To their left was a smaller, caged area. It's position would put any being open for all to see. Its purpose clear. Judgment. To the Council's right, near the wall, was a large expansive table where the Jury was present, and the table was nearly full.
Liara couldn't be sure of all the jurors but she easily recognized Admiral Mikailovich dressed in his pressed formal Military Blues. Two other Alliance representatives were with him as well, and matched the Admiral's state of dress. Shoes shined, and medals sparkling. Representing the Quarian people were High Admiral Tali vas Raya, General Kal'Reeger vas Raya, and Admiral Han'Gerrel vas Neema.
Matriarch Solona I'tom with her attendant Lady Areeya Solun, and Huntrees I'alla Kun'ome represented the Asari. A Salarian Dalatrass and two of her male attendants followed. General Kalstinus, and two subordinates made sure that the Turian presence was felt. There were also two representatives for the Batarian Republic, one being Ambassador Somosk.
The Confederated Terminus States had also been sure to show their interest in the proceedings by their board of directors. The board was made up of three members. Aria T'Loak as well as the Batarian Moroll Sovern, and The Asari Iciella Neceen. An obvious thumbing of the nose to the Council. The last two would never openly admit it, but Aria was the real decision maker of the Board.
Yet out of the entire jury party, the one that stood out most was the representative from the Geth Collective. Legion. Liara looked at the unique Geth Platform. The Damage to it's chest had long since been repaired Yet Legion still sported El'Jaid's old shoulder plate which had now become streamlined with the rest of it's form, but at the same time the last minuet lash-up contrasted sharply with it. Most of the other members of the Jury stayed far away from Legion, all except the Quarians. Liara could see Tali chattering away with Legion, with Kal'Reeger listening intently.
Thousands of spectators were present and all the seats were filled. People lined the walls of the Tribunal, and media drones filled the air above the congregation, their existence only tolerated. No actual media was allowed in the chamber, so the drones did their best to relay images to the outside world. The commentary would follow.
At the forefront of the rows and rows of stands, were two tables. To the left C-Sec Executor Sohmon sat with a Human, the table to the right was empty except for El'Jaid's defense, Giana Parasini.
The air was charged with anticipation, as the minuets seems to crawl on by like ages. Yet Liara noticed that no Korgan were present. Not even the Ambassador. Her heart sank, but she had been expecting this set back due to the nature of the Korgan's relationship with El'Jaid. Perhaps they had been bared from the trial. Action and force is how they spoke. With the news of the C-Sec riots and the public outbursts already from their Ambassador, the Krogan's position towards the trial was already well known.
Liara felt a hand grip her own with comfort, and Liara looked over at Atheta. The Matriarch's face was hard, concerned, and bore no trace of emotion. But it didn't need to. Liara just squeezed her had back in reassurance. The chattering grew steadily louder until it had become a dull roar.
"Oh shit...it can't be..." Kaidan said aloud in surprise. His gaze riveted on the woman at the Prosecution's table.
Liara turned towards him with a quizzical look and he leaned forward to get a better view.
"Its Cassandra Jagdhund." He said.
"Is that the Prosecutor for the trial?" Liara asked as she too peered closer. They were seated only five rows above the floor, and directly behind the Defense table.
"Yeah. They aren't messing around.." Kaidan said quietly.
"What do you know about her?" Liara asked. She gave the human woman a discerning eye. The Prosecutor was dressed is a military JAG uniform similar to the Navy's Mess Dress, but without any rank or ribbons. Her hair was pulled tightly into a strict bun. Her hair was as dark as midnight, with shocks of white. She looked to be in her late 40s.
"She's known around the Navy and SAI as 'the Bloodhound'. She just isn't a prosecutor for the Military, but for the Alliance as a whole." Miranda interjected, a sour anger painted her face. Liara noticed that her hands were clinched. "She likes going after high profile people in the Alliance. Especially ones who don't fit her view of what the Alliance should be doing."
"What is her view on Alliance policy? Is she pro-human?" Liara asked as she settled back in to her seat; her mind working away.
"She's a separatist. Always has been." Kaidan said coolly.
Separatist. The word hung in Liara's mind. The movement had been growing in strength ever since the war had ended. It had always been there. In every species there had been those who wanted isolation from everything else. Before the war, the Separatist's voice had always been stifled by tremendous progress and exploration. But now it had a reason to grow. Unrest. The humans were far more vocal about it. How could they not be? Their homeworld was gone...
"I wonder how the Council got her to be the Prosecutor. It doesn't make sense given her political views." Miranda added icily.
"Who says that the Council had to even try, or rather that the Council was even involved at all..." Atheta spoke.
A shiver went through Liara at the new thought.
"Seems like the bitch likes to make a name for herself. What 'better' trophy could she want than to nail Shepard's ass? Besides, the Alliance can also use her to save face." Atheta continued to look forward as if staring into space, but her daughter could tell that the Matriarch was trying to see through the situation, so understand what was truly at work.
"This is no more a trial, than it is an Inquisition." Kaidan said with a grimace.
Liara wanted to understand what he meant, but just as she was about to ask, the loud humm of conversation in the chamber quickly ebbed away as the four Councilors entered the room and took their places on the podium. Their dress clashing with the vast majority of the rest of the people in the hall. Silver, against a sea of crimson. The Morning sun bathing them in a light which seemed to call them pure.
You all are cowards, and weak. Spineless beings who enjoy shadow more than light. Liara thought.
Tevos was the first to speak. "Beings who have attended this trial, both in person and in spirit we, the Council welcome you."
Daice was second. "The times we live in are hard and filled with turmoil. But starting today we will begin a new chapter."
Valern then spoke. "Today we start by recommitting ourselves to what is Fair and Just. To rebuilding this great community of the Galaxy."
Without warning more than half of the assembly starting to yell and scream at the Council's statement. The other half rose their voices in defense of the Council. That was only a taste of the unrest outside of the Tribunal as C-Sec, Eclipse and, the Blue Suns struggled to keep the peace. Uneasy peace was only restored in the chamber when C-Sec guards filed in, and the Council sounded a Gong calling for order.
Udina was the last to speak.
"Please, citizens and people of this world, of the Galaxy. Please! Keep your calm through this trial. By the end of it, the truth shall be known, and Justice served." He looked towards a door flanked by two armed guards. "Please bring forth the defendant."
Smoldering. The Very essence of the chamber was burning with outrage. Outrage that the trial had been so long in coming, or that it was even happening at all. But when the doors opened, it was like an arctic breeze suddenly rushed in. All held their breath, or muffled their shock.
"By the Goddess..." Atheta said aghast.
Liara's heart lurched in her chest, and her eyes fell upon a form entering the chamber's floor.
Lead by two Guards shuffled an abomination in to the chamber. It's red jumpsuit worn and soiled, it's hands bound to it's waist by chains, it's ankles linked by cuffs. Around it's head was an ghastly contraption. A grotesque mask that was sickening to behold. The streams of light falling around the creature looked as to almost want to bended away from touching it's face. Most of the Council looked on in shock at the display. Themos Sohmon wore a face of 'due part' as he watched the creature led in to the room. It struggled to keep its balance as it was directed to the 'cage stand' next to the Council's column.
Liara held her hand up to her mouth in horror at seeing her love displayed like some caged animal.
Gianna Parasini broke the deathly quiet of the Chamber. She stood up and pointed at the creature. "Get that off her! Get it off!" She cried in outrage.
"Take that contraption off!" Ordered Councilor Daice in response to the Defense Representative's charge.
The Guards did so without even following the order. As commotion again erupted. The head cage was listed from the creature and the woman beneath recoiled away in shock. She tried to lift her hands to over her ear's and to then to shade her eyes , but the chains held her wrists at bay as she twisted in agony.
Giana leaned in on the table her face twisted, her voice shaking with rage. "I move to NOT have that contraption used on the Defendant again!"
The defendant was still shaking uncontrollably.
"And why not Representative? I see that it has done no great harm to the defendant. Given her background, and her charges, it is a just precaution." Cassandra Jagdhund pounced.
"A just precaution? As if the chains are not enough! Is this how the Council treats defendants? Treats it's heroes!" Gianna called raising her hand towards the Defendant.
"The Council acts how it sees fit! Representative." Udina called down from the column. His voice thundering through the chamber.
"But in this case, the council will side with the Defense." Valern responded shooting Udina an icy glance, then casting a disparaging one to Shomon. Udina, nor any of the other Councilors argued.
Clamor again rose in the chamber and again the gong sounded to rein in the spectators. But it was not the sound of the gong that silenced the horde of people. Nor was it the drowned out shouts of the Councilors as their tried in vain to regain some semblance of control of the court room.
It was a thunderous crash at the main courtroom door. Liara turned her attention to the closed portal walls. Her father, and Miranda followed suite. Kaidan was riveted in place, staring at the woman caged on the floor.
The crash came again and the doors trembled. It was then that he turned around. The room was silent. The third blow was all it took and the doors swung open threatening to let go of their hinges. Without even stopping three newcomers entered in to the tribunal room. Their armor shined like mirrors. Their steps heavy with their march. One was the Leader of the pack. His eyes a steel blue, his crest silver. The other next to him was a young warrior desiring to prove himself to his clan and name. The third, to the leader's left was a cleric to those who did not know their kind. The three of them strode down to the tribunal floor, their attention unwavering.
The perched Snipers held their weapons trained on the intruders. But Counselor Daice waved his hand, and the Sniper's targeting lasers danced away. The action did not arrest's the trio's descent.
"Why have you come?" Daice asked. His voice reverberating around the room like a God. He was ignored.
The three Titians stepped on to the Tribunal's floor and strode across it. Past the Council's stand and over to the small 'cage' by it. The sound of awe came silently from the Court assembly as the three defiants kneeled down and bowed their heads to the caged woman. The leader spoke, his voice filling the room with a low rumble.
"Forgive our delay Warlord. We are here now to fight for you now, as you have fought for us."
As the leader spoke, the young warrior turned his attention to prosecutor's table. The warrior did not move. Liara saw Executor Sohmon swallow.
The woman in the 'cage' spoke. Her voice quieter, but no less magnified. "It has been far too long, Grunt."
The Krogan chuckled and then rose. His clansmen followed. "They won't keep you."
The three of them walked across the tribunal floor, paying not the Councilor nor the prosecution any heed. The look of shock was on the faces of most of the assembly. Atheata held a satisfied look on her face as she watched the Krogan simply pass all the powers that be silently by like they were a wisp of a memory as they walked towards the Jury table to take their seats.
"And the Council allows this! The trial has already begun and not a word is said to these interlopers? And they pay un-won and unwarranted respect to her?" The Batarian Ambassador cried pointing at the caged woman.
Grunt and the Shaman simply passed the angry Batarian by. Ignoring him like a small nat. The young warrior on the other hand was not as...polished. He gruffly pushed against the Batarian 's chair heaving the ambassador against the table as he passed. The move resulted in rolling the rest of the Batarian's air from his lungs which effectively shut him up.
"Oh, sorry about that. Didn't see you there." The Warrior said with a smile as he took his seat next to Grunt. The Krogan leader responded none at all, except for a 'quaint' smirk on the lizard's face.
Councilor Tevos responded to the Ambassador's cries with a calm voice. "The Krogan were...asked...to this trial and we are glad to see that they chose to come."
Liara gave out a smirk as she remembered her meeting with the council. 'Asked' is a polite phrase Tevos.
"We will begin with letting the defendant know her crimes." Councilor Valern said.
With that a green VI appeared in front of the Council's stand. It held the appearance of a simple human man smartly dressed in a business tunic and pants with dress shoes. It's voice was calm and civil. It's expression blank.
"Let it be known on the 21st day of Sorune in the common era year of 2195, the trial of the Galactic Community versus Shepard began..."
Liara mentally tuned the droning VI out. She knew the charges. She didn't want to hear them again. Her eyes focus on the caged woman. No. She isn't that at all. She is not some criminal figure face plastered across the News holos. Not some 'unmemorable' figurine there to take someone's place. Liara could tell that El'Jaid was tired, her hair was stringy and unkempt, but her eyes were alight. Not the pupils that emitted a familiar mix of red and blue, but her true eyes. Her beautiful emerald halos that held the look of determination even in a sea of uncertainty. She raised her hands up to rest on the cage's wooden banister, and the sight of her left wrist caught Liara's eye. Shining like a beacon was the bracelet that Liara had given her.
The chamber had since melted in to chaos and drug Liara back to the moment. It's tone matched the muffled storm that raged outside. Two C-Sec guards rushed down blocking the main path to the floor of the chamber as groups of people rose to their feet yelling screaming hurling insults at each other and the members of the trial.
Liara was starting to lose patience. If these outbursts would continue, it would be like an uncivilized Council meeting. Nothing would happen. Nothing would get done. The situation just allowed to continue and fester. Atheta was going toe to toe with a Volus in words over the nature of the charges. Liara could even tell that both Miranda and Kaidan were losing Patience as they continued to ignoring the bating that was being hurled at them.
"Enough!" El'Jaid stormed.
She was standing to her full height, her hands clinched in to fists and the chain of the shackles she wore held taught between her arms. Her voice carried through out the Tribunal's chamber like a thunderclap. A dominating, commanding presence grew. It had always been there since she had come in, but now it over shadowed everything and everyone.
Its seemed as if it swallowed the very essence of light from the room.
"This bickering is pointless!" Her eyes were lit red with anger. Her face held a snarl of contempt. "This is a trial. Not a debate. If the audience, this collection, and the Jury cannot keep themselves under control. Cannot listen. Then I want them out. They can join the masses outside and debate there. I will not allow this trial to be debated here. I don't have the time or the patience for it!" She said, as she gruffly took her seat.
Light slowly was allowed to slowly fill the Tribunal again.
[][][][][]
Archangel exhaled slowly as his eyes were glued to the holo display. The Cantina they were in had steadily filled with people. Protestors, C-Sec, Blue Suns and Eclipse. They used it to get away from the outside. But it didn't help when the outside came washing in like the tide. Jack, Zaeed and Archangel had filed in after spending hours on the protest line trying to keep things as civil as possible. But on a world; in a Galaxy going mad, it was an impossible task. But like the Tribunal, the Cantina, and even the outside had quieted to just whispers. For that Archangel was Thankful.
"She hasn't lost her touch has she?" Zaeed said in a satisfied tone. He was unconsciously rubbing his throat.
"Think they can keep the Boss Lady caged? Stupid fucks..." Retorted Jack. As she rested back in her seat. She was playing with her tumbler of drink like a cat would a ball of yarn.
"So the bitch can control a crowd. Big deal. So can a deranged man with a gun." Shouted a voice who had overheard them.
Archangel turned a lazy eye towards the voice. It belonged to a human Eclipse merc who sat at a table with his feet up. His hair was cut in to a stylish Mohawk, and the merc was clean shaven.
"Sounds like you have experience in that department." Archangel shot out.
The Merc shot a sour look in return. "You know...you almost sound like that kiss ass of a Turian who was always following her around like a loyal dog on a leash." The merc lazily nudged one of his compatriots, an Asari. "What was the Turian's name?"
The Eclipse Asari drew her attention to the conversation. "Oh that wash-up of Sea-Sex?"
Archangel sneered at the Asari's contempt. Zaeed turned his back on the conversation, but kept an ear open.
The Asari quaintly smiled seeing the desired effect on his face, and snuggled closer to the other merc. "I think it was Vakarian."
"That's right!" The merc smiled with contempt. "Wish I knew where he was so I could collect on his head. I think he had the hots for Shepard though. Always running cover for her in the media." He looked over at Archangel. "Oh don't tell me you your one of his fan boys Big Blue."
Archangel felt his temper waning and his grip tighten on his own glass. Get a hold of yourself you moron! Archangel screamed in his mind. He then settled back "Me? No. Never cared much for the guy."
Both Jack and Zaeed cast him cautious looks.
Archangel gave the merc a look from head to toe. "I take it you don't think much of Shepard either."
"Why should I? I saw entire cities burn. Beijing, Guzhou, Soule. They all burned because of her. But why should you care? Your homeworld is still standing." The Merc sneered.
"Last I checked Palavan was the worst hit after Earth when it came to Council homeworlds. Who even knows if the devastated areas will even be habitable again." Archangel said acidly.
The Merc gave a dejected laugh. "Well we just got lucky anyway. It was like damn War of the Worlds had come to life." He lowered his head, his face held a callous grimace and then the merc looked back up. "We just got lucky. You really think that last Grand battle that the Combined Galactic Fleet was really fair. It was all for show! The damn machines were just running low on power. We just got lucky. That's all."
"What did you do in the war?" Archangle asked.
The merc scowled. "I did what most smart people did. I ran."
"You didn't fight?" Archangel asked unimpressed.
"Fight against what? Those things?" The merc frowned sourly. "I saw dreadnaughts diced in half. It took seven dreadnaughts to take down one of those things. Twenty cruisers to take down one. That was no more of a fight than it was an extermination."
"But you didn't fight." Archangel said again unimpressed.
The merc scowled. "Oh and let me guess. You marched your proud Turian ass to the frontlines and saved the fucking day? Fuck you!"
The merc turned away from him, and Archangel went back to the glass of Turian brandy.
I never needed to go to the front lines. They always came to me...
Grab the kid...and get out of here! I could see his face. His bloody and pale face... He wouldn't live much longer.
I'm not leaving you here Bailey! The Kid yells. He has lost so much, I can understand how he feels. He tries to go for Bailey, to get him out of that hell hole...
I gave you a fucking order! Bailey pulls the gun on the Kid. He doesn't want to shoot, but he will if he has to...
They are closing all around us. The howls. I can still hear the howls in my sleep to this day, along with the screaming of the people as they are dragged away. The bodies...
Bailey takes the pistol away for a second to shoot around the corner. Two husks fall, but more howl behind them. He looks me in the eye. I can hear his eyes tell me what to do.
The kid tries to make a move to him, but I'm quicker. I only hope the kid forgives me.
Get out of here! Get to Shepard. The station's lost... I see sadness flash in his eyes. Was it sadness over his ending life? Being a terrible father and husband? Was it how he had ran his career? I'll never know.
I pick up the kid's unconscious form. Out cold from the hit to the back of the head. I hope to the Spirits he forgives me...
Move your ass! Bailey screams and I ran. I didn't stop till I found Shepard. I never saw what happened to him, I'll never know what happened to him...
Archangel heard the sound of fingers snapping and he looked up to see Jack giving him a dumb look. "You ok?"
"Ah yeah. I'm good." He said as he looked over. The Merc had turned his back to him.
"Will Talitha Girard come forward" The VI on the holo-projection blared. Archangel's attention was again fixed as the trial began to unfold.
Author's Note: It's Friday and Again Happy Holiday's! Hope you enjoy this chapter. And as always let me know what you think!