A/N: Well, I'm very happy to say that the preliminary writing of the novel has been completed. Right now, we're looking at a bit over 150 chapters, give or take, so roughly a bit over halfway there. Now I'm left with hell of a job editing, rewriting and posting. ;)
Not sure where Retaking Omega will slot in, though, if I even decide to include it. Fans of Aria need not worry, though, she'll have a very big part to play in this story either way.
And lastly, I hope you will enjoy this chapter, which comes with apology to William Dietz for his stellar job on ME: Deception novel. (Not really, though, it was a piece of crap and deserves to be mocked!)
Chapter 79 - Clown Leng
"We have the first reports from Admiral Xen's scouting mission," Admiral Han'Gerrel addresses the rest of the Admiralty Board, save for Daro'Xen, gathered in one of the conference rooms aboard of the Rayya. "Unfortunately, they were unable to avoid being detected, and were forced to become involved in combat with geth defense forces. Once again, Xen's countermeasure proved highly effective. Of course, most of the credit should still go to Admiral Rael'Zorah," he adds, turning his head at Tali.
Is he baiting me? The young quarian thinks. Surely by now he must realize that I oppose this war! Why else would I object all the time, siding with Koris... who still thinks I hold the same views as my father.
"I doubt she actually bothered with stealth," Koris shakes his head angrily. "I'm sure she was actively looking for the opportunities to test her new toys."
"It does need to be tested, Koris, if our dream for retaking the homeworld is to become a reality," Admiral Shala'Raan says.
"I would like you to draw your attention to the second part of the report, for it is of far greater importance," Gerrel reminds them, sounding a little frustrated.
"Yes, I agree with Gerrel, this is most disturbing," Raan nods. "And we have no idea on what this superstructure is that the geth are building?"
"Xen's team could not get close enough," Gerrel replies. "It was too heavily defended. But from all the evidence they have gathered, it appears to be an enormous space station. They are preparing for war, it is clear to me."
"And how did you arrive at that conclusion, Admiral Gerrel?" Tali dares to ask.
"Because they are geth, Tali. They have no other purpose than to wage war against organics, and us quarians in particular. Everyone knows that!" Gerrel replies impatiently.
"You have to admit that this is worrying, Tali," Raan turns towards her.
"There could be dozens of reasons why they would be building a space station, and it doesn't even necessary need to be for military purposes!" Tali protests.
"Have you ever witnessed a geth doing anything else than committing acts of violence towards organics?" Gerrel asks pointedly.
"Yes, but that was before we decided to kill them," Koris remarks bitterly.
"I have," Tali says quietly. "But I do not think you would believe me."
"It is clear to me that this superstructure poses a massive threat to the Migrant Fleet," Gerrel speaks imperiously. "We need to destroy it as quickly as possible, while Xen's countermeasure still gives us advantage against the geth. Admiral Daro'Xen will arrive in approximately eight hours. I will call for another meeting of the Admiralty Board when she gets here. This report demands urgent reaction, the time to strike is now! When Xen returns, we will put the decision of war to vote."
"You expect our support based on such incomplete intel?" Koris sounds outraged. "You are willing to risk the future of the quarian people on something like this? I demand that more information is gathered before we commit ourselves to war."
"I'm not surprised that this comes the next day after the last of our liveships has been outfitted with dreadnaught grade weapons systems," Tali remarks, looking at Gerrel, his posture suggesting outrage over the implication. "Admiral Gerrel has been planning this for quite some time, I suspect."
"Tali, please, throwing around baseless accusations will get us nowhere," Raan admonishes her. "For once, I believe that Gerrel's concerns are valid. It would be foolish and naive to assume that the geth will simply live in peace by themselves and won't interfere with us, organics. Last I checked, they were still swarming on our homeland, with no intention of giving it back."
"That's because we haven't asked!" Tali exclaims, but immediately realizes how foolish that sounded, even Koris' body language expressing minor disbelief.
"Raan, I am glad that you have seen reason," Gerrel says. "With your support, we can finally do the right thing and win back our homeworld. Can we count on your vote?"
"You may," Admiral Raan nods, as Tali sighs quietly, resigned to something she has seen developing for several weeks, finding herself with limited power and influence to stop it, always being treated like inferior and unimportant amongst the Admiralty Board.
I don't care about the ban on communications, I have to get a message to Shepard, and I have to do it now. She needs to know of this madness, maybe she can do something to stop the admirals from destroying our people, Tali thinks at herself. She must be out there, somewhere, fighting the Reapers as she has always done... and hopefully, with Garrus still by her side. Damn it, I actually miss that silly turian... Keelah, I miss him so much...
"Hello, Kaidan."
"Liara? I did not think you will ever wish to speak to me again..."
"And yet I do wish it, Kaidan."
"Should you even be up and walking around? I... I understand that the injury was... severe."
"I probably should not be walking around, no," Liara admits, slipping in an empty hospital bed next to Kaidan's, lying on her back and staring at the ceiling, ponderously. "But Shepard will be bringing me back to the Normandy later today, and I wanted to use this chance to talk."
"I'm not sure what needs to be said, Liara. I am aware of the extent of my terrible mistake, of my erroneous judgment. There's nothing I can say that would make this better, and there is nothing new you can accuse me of that I would not have already self-flagellated myself about."
"I did not come here to accuse you of anything, Kaidan. I came here to tell you how sorry I am."
Kaidan turns his head towards her, his eyes wide in surprise as he hears the genuine sorrow in her voice. "You... you are... sorry? I shot you... I could have easily killed Shepard and nearly killed you, and you're... sorry for me?"
"After Mars, there was nothing else I wanted more than to see you and Morgan reconcile," Liara explains quietly. "I tried to help and I thought I was being successful, but apparently, I failed."
"I don't know how it happened, Liara. I wanted to trust the Commander, I truly did, but Udina... he seemed to know how to play on my doubts. Now when I look back on what he told me... I should have realized that some of these things he could not have known, unless he was in the Illusive Man's pocket," Kaidan admits. "I was such a fool. I could not be more ashamed of my stupidity."
"If only things had panned out differently on Mars," Liara sighs. "If you hadn't saved me from the Cerberus synthetic, you would not have been stuck in the hospital here and Udina would have never had the chance to turn you against Shepard. You would have remained on the Normandy, Morgan would have taken you along on the ground missions and you would have learned for yourself that she is the same Shepard you once knew."
"But if I hadn't stopped that synthetic, you might be dead, Liara. I could not allow that to happen." Kaidan stops himself with a bitter chuckle. "Ironic how I would claim that after having shot you, isn't it? Gods, Shepard must be furious with me."
"Shepard feels the same way as I do, Kaidan," Liara tells him, much to the Major's shock and surprise. "She is upset and regrets all that has happened, but she does not hate you."
"She... doesn't? Liara... part of me hoped for her to just storm into the ward and shout accusations at me... or perhaps do more than just shout. I also imagined Garrus walking in to finish the job..."
"Kaidan, Garrus is shocked at having taken the shot at you. He regretted it as soon as he pulled the trigger, much as you did."
Kaidan sighs deeply. "I have been remembering the days we spent on the old Normandy. Not so much all the bloody fighting, chasing after Saren and getting stonewalled by the Council, but you know, the good times. The things we got up to during downtime... how close we grew... and it's just killing me when I realize that now there's no chance of ever going back to that, not after all this..."
"It would be difficult, Kaidan, but if you are willing to put in the effort, I would try my best for us to get back to what we once were," Liara says earnestly.
"I'd love to, but it's foolish to think about, the Commander would never allow me onboard of her ship again, and I don't blame her."
"But if she did, would you take that offer?" Liara asks.
Kaidan thinks for a while. "Yes. I would fight tooth and nail to regain her trust and yours."
"That's all I wanted to know, Kaidan," the asari smiles, slowly getting up with the intent of heading back to her own hospital bed.
"That smile... you're planning something, Liara..." Kaidan gives her a suspicious stare.
"Please, Kaidan... you wanted to regain my trust," Liara's smile only broadens as she walks away. "Start by having some trust in me..."
"Commander?" Joker's voice on the comms snaps Morgan out of her slumber. She has been running ragged around the Citadel, aiding Bailey with all sorts of errands to help restore order, taking on several tasks that required using her Spectre authority. Then, sometime in the late afternoon, they had moved Liara from Huerta back to the Normandy's medbay. Twenty minutes later after warning Liara not to leave the medbay, she had found the asari in the XO quarters, busily browsing through the Shadow Broker feeds and complaining loudly when Morgan had dragged her back to the medbay. She has probably snuck out again by now... she can be so adorably irritating, Morgan thinks, sighing inwardly.
"Yeah, Joker?" she yawns back on the comms.
"The asari councilor wants to speak with you on the vid call."
"Oh, alright... tell Tevos I'll be with her in two minutes," Shepard replies, stepping into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face, refreshing herself and chasing away the annoying need for sleep.
Tevos greets her with a rare smile, when Shepard finally arrives at the comm room and greets the councilor. "Commander, allow me to once again extend my gratitude for resolving this crisis, and for working so hard to help us restore order. You have been an inspiration for many here on the Citadel, those who had lost their hopes and faith in our ability to protect them." Shepard merely nods and smiles at the councilor's kind words. "I also understand that you have moved Dr. T'Soni back to the Normandy? I assume that her condition has improved sufficiently."
"Yes, though she seems intent on ignoring every medical advice that could hasten her recovery," Shepard mutters under her breath.
"This must be a trying time for you, Commander, the war effort notwithstanding. Having to draw a gun on a friend, a fellow Spectre, it could not have been easy," Tevos says.
"...you've never shown such keen interest in my mental state, Councilor," Shepard remarks, suddenly suspicious. "Just what is it that you are getting at?"
"Very well, I will speak plainly," Tevos nods. "You used your Spectre authority to take into custody an important witness who was key at identifying conspirators and Cerberus sympathizers within C-Sec. The man was found dead in an alley ten minutes later. Would you like to explain your actions, Spectre Shepard?"
"He was one of those sleeper agents who shot their own colleagues in the back, when Cerberus started their attack. I saw those men, surprise and betrayal etched in their faces. To offer a deal to scum like this murderer is an insult to the memories of those dead officers. Not to mention that anyone who is capable of shooting their friends in the back is also capable of saying and claiming anything in order to save their skin. In short, that piece of filth was not a reliable witness."
Tevos doesn't look particularly pleased, but decides not to push it any further. "I suppose I can understand your reasoning... in the past you have shown yourself as someone who bases their decisions on more practical reasons, not emotional, but considering everything that has happened, perhaps you were right. It simply makes it harder for us to root out the traitors within C-Sec."
"Bailey will get it done," Shepard states confidently.
"Reports also claim that you were involved in a firefight with a known batarian terrorist," Tevos continues. "According to our intel, he was the currently highest ranking member of the Hegemony... or what was left of it."
"Surely you have no qualms about me shooting some batarian scum who had it long coming?" Shepard raises an eyebrow.
"The scattered remains of batarian fleets are scouring the Terminus Systems and Attican Traverse, engaging in piracy and doing what they can to survive," Tevos speaks. "The strength of these ships is still considerable, so if there was a way to bring them under our banner and direct them towards Reapers..."
"Maybe you can get some other Spectre to play diplomacy with the batarians, Councilor, but it won't be me," Shepard retorts, starting to feel very tired. "Balak was behind the attack on Terra Nova. I made a promise to his victims that one day I would find him and kill him. I do not break my promises." Katie, I did as I promised. Your brother is avenged. May that knowledge grant you peace, gentle, brave soul.
"I see. Understand me, Commander. I am not intent on questioning your judgment or your decisions, I am merely seeking an explanation," Tevos says, a little apologetically. "My curiosity is satisfied, Shepard, save for one last question. Do you plan to stay on the Citadel for long?"
"What, am I becoming inconvenient again?" Shepard cannot disguise anger in her voice, even if it is not her intention to insult Tevos, she has grown slightly fonder of the asari councilor.
"Nothing of the sort, Shepard," Tevos shakes her head. "There might be a task that I hope you will take upon yourself to investigate."
"What is it?" Morgan asks.
"I am not at liberty to say," the councilor replies. "I only know that it comes from the asari High Command and that they planned to get in touch with Dr. T'Soni to discuss the details. I imagine you will know more soon."
"Right. Is that all, Councilor? I'm sorry, but it has been a long day and I am tired." Asari High Command wants to... talk with Liara? Huh, maybe it's from her dad?
"Of course, Shepard. My apologies for taking so much of your time. Good luck in your endeavors," Tevos hastily excuses herself and terminates the connection, leaving Shepard yawning in the comm room.
"Gods, that better be all for tonight, I'm falling asleep on my feet," she mutters on the comms to Joker, yawning again.
"Err... I've got Hackett and Anderson both on the QEC, itching to speak with you," Joker replies a little hesitantly. "Patching them through."
"Oh come on, give me a break," Morgan groans, rubbing her brow tiredly, fighting off another yawn. "I'm in no shape to handle a single Admiral, much less two! Can't you stall them or something?"
"Is that any way to speak to a superior officer?" Hackett's voice makes her jump, immediately making her forget all sleepiness.
"Uh, sorry sir, I thought Joker hadn't yet-"
"Yes, I'm aware of what you thought, Commander," Hackett says, sounding stern, but the expression in his eyes carries a trace of amusement. Joker's still getting his ass kicked from here to the other end of the Citadel, Morgan decides, blushing wildly under Hackett's stare. "Back to the task, I have already brought Anderson up to speed with the recent developments."
"Shepard," Anderson greets her. "Still can't believe it about Udina. That bastard was always power hungry, but to go this far... damn."
"And we still don't know exactly why Cerberus even targeted the Citadel," Hackett says, looking at Shepard again. "Unless your investigations have turned up something, Commander?"
"Nothing much, to be honest," Shepard shrugs in reply. "They did target the Council. I know, I know what you will say, the Council doesn't actually do anything useful so why the hell would do they care about them, but I think that if Cerberus had managed to assassinate the councilors, it would have been a crippling blow to the morale and might have thrown coordination of certain operations and projects in disarray."
"Shepard, I read some of the reports about the coup attempt, yours included," Anderson then says. "I believe I can shed light on the identity of the black-clad assassin that the reports mention. His name is Kai Leng. Hackett will forward you all relevant information I have on him."
"You know this Clown Leng?" Morgan asks.
"Yes, Kahlee Sanders and I have had our share of run-ins with him," Anderson explains. "I shot him in both legs once. Thought that might be the end of him, but he showed up again on Omega even stronger."
"Dammit, Anderson, with all due respect sir, but next time you have an insane Cerberus assassin at your mercy, could you maybe, I don't know, shoot him in the head and blow his brains out?" Shepard says, frustrated. "Now that maniac is running around swinging a huge sword and stabbing my friends! If you had put him down, we wouldn't have to deal with this shit now! What if he... I don't know, sneaks into your apartment, eats your cereal and then stabs you with a toothbrush?" she adds, conjuring the most demented images she can think of, something that could surely take root only in a particularly sick mind.
Anderson just blinks in response, before gathering his wits. "...are you drunk or on drugs, Shepard? Eating my cereal? Stabbing me with a toothbrush? How do you come up with these things? I don't even..."
"Again, Shepard, a little bit more respect towards your commanding officers would be appreciated," Hackett reminds her. "Also, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Err... it's kind of been a bad day, admirals," Shepard says guiltily. "Or bad couple of days, really. The reasons were in my report, which I'm sure you've read, otherwise I would be very, very peeved for spending an hour on that shitty piece of paperwork... sir."
"Admiral Hackett, I believe we should cut Shepard a little slack," Anderson finally suggests. "What happened between her and Major Alenko... I don't even want to think about it."
"It must have been difficult, yes. We are trying to build a complete picture of what actually happened, but Major Alenko's own report is the most damning," Hackett admits. "The other reports seek to find excuses for his actions."
"Don't be too hard on him, sir," Morgan says earnestly. "I... I'm even thinking about offering him a spot on the Normandy, after the worst of it has blown over. I can't have it end like this, I want to give him another chance to prove himself, to redeem himself."
"That is... very magnanimous of you, Shepard," Hackett sounds surprised. "Very well, I will leave this up to your discretion. If you do not believe that further disciplinary action is necessary, then I will sweep the whole incident under the rug."
"That's how I prefer it," Shepard nods. "Are there any other news you would like to share with me, Admiral?"
"This attack has increased the support for building the Crucible from the Council races. It appears that they recognize the urgency of finishing this super-weapon as quickly as possible," Hackett explains. "Our estimates suggest that we've completed nearly 50% of the known work."
"That's great!" Shepard exclaims, before cutting her euphoria short. "Except that we still don't know how it works, or where to get this Catalyst."
"Our scientists are starting to form solid theories on how to operate it, Shepard. We'll get it done, don't worry," Hackett reassures her. "It would appear there are different ways to configure the Crucible, but it is too early to tell exactly what each configuration is intended for."
"I guess you keep building and looking for answers, while I keep trying to track down this Catalyst," Shepard says. "And Anderson keeps fighting the desperate struggle so that there's still an Earth left to return to."
"We'll make sure of it, Shepard," Anderson nods, smiling. "The gods of war have not given up on us yet."
"And now, Commander, return to your bed immediately and get six hours on uninterrupted sleep," Hackett tells her firmly. "And that is an order, soldier!"