I once dreamed of seeing this room. Of hearing the matriarchs of Thessia, in all their splendor and glory, share their wisdom.
But never like this.
The enormous Palace of Armali is a monumental expanse around me, but despite its towering ceiling, and walls worthy of a fortress, it manages to inspire only claustrophobia.
This place was built millennia ago, just as my people touched the stars. Built through the voluntarily donated funds and effort of our entire civilisation, it was created as the crown jewel of our greatest city - a monument of our accomplishment and worth to impress whomever we may encounter in the vast expanse of space. Now, the palace serves as both a hugely popular tourist attraction, and the meeting place of our matriarchs to discuss matters of galactic importance.
On speaking to Faith, I learned her people have buildings dedicated to prosecuting criminals, just as they do politics and even specifically for displaying art - such formal distinction seems so alien! Most of our public buildings have purposes incorporating all of those and more, perhaps because our matriarchs fulfil so many different roles in our society. And art for its own sake seems such a waste: art reflects culture, should it not be part of that culture rather than kept apart? For all our appearances might be somewhat similar, I am constantly surprised and reminded that humans are so different.
I feel my mind wandering, and with a shake of my head remind myself that now is perhaps not the time to daydream of the peculiarities of my lover's race.
We stand, Faith, Aethyta, Shiala and myself, upon a floor etched with a sprawling impression of the long history of Thessia. The vast conical room is richly adorned; everything from its furnishing to its architecture designed to give the impression of grace and beauty, constructed from rare materials and decorated by artisans who spent centuries studying their art, and centuries more perfecting what are now endless legacies to their skill and their families, each famous across the galaxy.
The Spiral Stairs of Lanya En'Gati, each of the three hundred and thirty three steps a different metal or alloy, arranged in a scientifically complex yet visually beautiful pattern designed to the chemical makeup of the metal itself.
The Birth of the Asari - the painting adorning the walls of the room - by the artist Tiril, who gave up her family and house on completion of the work. She travelled Thessia for three centuries, collecting a drop of blood from every single family, eventually blending the genetic code of the entire asari race into her painting of the ocean from which we came. The blood of my own ancestors lies somewhere in the walls... the thought is somewhat humbling.
The voice of Athame. The high, curved roof was designed by the architect Irasa Y'Sona such that if a person stands at a certain designated point - cordoned off to all save those specifically granted the honour - and sings, it is naturally amplified by the shape and materials of the ceiling to a level that sounds as if the Goddess herself is singing down from the heavens.
Dozens, perhaps hundreds more examples of my peoples' grace, skill, intelligence and beauty.
But I never wanted to see it like this.
The Stairs seem dull and listless. The Birth, pretentious. The Voice, muted.
I wanted to see it as my mother's daughter, accompanying her as she stood and shared her wisdom, introduced to them as her heir, perhaps even granted the chance to share some discovery I made regarding the Protheans, or maybe...
I mentally shake myself. It does not matter now.
I am here as my mother's daughter.
On a high dais sloping up away from us stand over one hundred matriarchs, each behind a lectern bearing their family's insignia. Each wears an expression heavy with emotions ranging from grief, to sympathy, to unrestrained condemnation.
At the fore are the three foremost voices of the asari people - other than Councillor Tevos - Matriarchs Ves, Artus and Leyya, each flanked by a pair of hard eyed commandos dressed in ancient ornamental armour; black leather plated with heavy, crimson bands wrapped like serpents across the chest and large, unwieldy plates over their shoulders and thighs.
I only once saw Shiala in her ornamental armour, accompanying mother to this very hall whilst I remained at the estate. I have to hold in a twitch across my lips as I remember her ranting about it.
"It's hot, heavy, and about as useful as a one legged elcor in a real fight. Give me my leathers any day."
She joked, but I know now she would give anything for the chance to wear it again. She, like Aethyta and myself, now wears a loosely wrapped robe, as is traditional for asari in such a formal setting. Faith, standing reassuringly close at my side, is again wearing her black uniform, holding herself with that perfect, quiet confidence I know signals her absolute attention and focus.
Could the four of us... a maiden, a disgraced matriarch, a wounded commando and an alien, sway the judgement of the matriarchs?
Before us stand perhaps one hundred thousand years of life, wisdom and experience. The weight of their years fills the room with a mood so heavy it presses into my chest, shortening my breath. They are why the asari are so powerful... any of them could list so many experiences I could never imagine, give voice to opinions so complex it would take years to understand, and their view of the galaxy is one a maiden such as myself could not hope to share...
How does Faith not feel it?
Aethyta, for all her unconventional personality and crass demeanour, has all the experience of these matriarchs... of perhaps more, given her eventful life. Shiala is over four hundred years old, and stood with mother many times in this room.
Faith... she is less than a third of my own already young age, and yet stands in the face of those who have seen the turn of the galaxy as only an asari can, confident that what she says will be of any consequence to them.
I shuffle a little closer, arm brushing against her sleeve. She turns, and her stoic face brightens almost imperceptibly before she gives a tiny nod, and turns back to the matriarchs, waiting for them to open proceedings.
With a deep breath, feeling her own confidence run through me, I straighten, and look directly into the glittering sapphire eyes of Matriarch Leyya, standing front and centre.
We can do this.
'Specialist Traynor?'
With an undignified squeak, Sam clamped her arm across the towel wrapped around her glistening body, and spun around on the spot in the tight, uncomfortable "shower" room, before her mind latched on to just who had spoken.
'Erm... EDI?'
'Yes. I apologise for disturbing you, but there is a situation I require your skillset to assess.'
The AI sounded genuinely apologetic, and not for the first time Sam marvelled that she was serving on a ship with one. The Alliance VIs that gave announcements during her previous postings and studies were dull, monotone affairs, while this one was smart, and had such a lovely voice...
The words broke through her off-duty persona, and set off her alarm bells. What could she help an AI with?
'What do you mean, EDI? What's going on?'
'I have detected a sudden spike of comm traffic amongst the asari fleets in the system. I... lack the judgement to know if this is normal, for example part of a training exercise, or something we need to be aware of.'
There could be any number of reasons for such a thing happening, Sam knew, most of them harmless. She enviously eyed the soft, comfortable clothes she had hoped to slip into after her ridiculously unsatisfying shower - a torrid affair of weak mass effect fields and not nearly enough water. She was supposed to meet Doctor Chakwas for a game of chess.
But it never hurts to be careful... Her gaze shifted sadly over to the uniform she had been wearing all day, crumpled into the corner of the room.
With a sigh, she spoke again. 'I'll be in the war room in a couple of minutes.'
'Thank you, Specialist Traynor. Executive Officer Vakarian is currently sleeping, do you wish me to wake him?'
Sam shook her head. 'Wait until I've had a look, it's probably nothing.'
She was about to get redressed when a sudden, slightly scary, thought occurred to her. 'Do you have cameras in here?'
'I do.'
'Ah... why?'
'They were installed by Cerberus engineers who judged valuable conversations might take place in the female bathroom. I found no evidence this was so, but when I was freed from their operational shackles I kept them activated in case of any accidents.'
She clasped the towel around her body a little tighter. How many times had she showered in here? 'Ah... could you please... turn them off? I promise I won't hurt myself.'
'As you wish, Specialist Traynor. It is done.'
Traynor swallowed, looking suspiciously around the room. She had no reason to believe the AI was lying, but nevertheless wedged herself as far into the corner of the tiny bathroom as she could before swiftly dressing.
Sexy voice or not, Sam was only happy with people watching her shower when she let them.
Faith Shepard did not like the matriarchs.
She did not like the pretentious "palace" they insisted on seeing the small group in.
She did not like the way they stood like statues, high above them.
She did not like the judgement in their eyes every time their gaze landed on Aethyta, the patronising glances shot at Liara, or the odd curiousity whenever they looked at her.
She did not like the way every single thing about the occasion seemed designed to ensure she, Liara, Aethyta and Shiala were reminded who held the power.
But she did not react. She did not allow her frustration to touch her face. Petty tricks designed to intimidate would not cow her. Liara on the other hand...
Faith turned at a slight brush against her sleeve, and shot the asari a small, reassuring smile.
The soldier could not blame her: Liara was standing before the highest of all authorities for her people, in a place Faith gathered was near enough legendary. She was nervous; not just impressed by the display but also for what might happen should the judgement go against Benezia. For what they might bring up in an attempt to determine Benezia's guilt.
Shepard narrowed her eyes against Matriarch Artus, standing to the left of the trio at the fore. Remembering Aria's deal, she had dug up as much history as she could on the matriarch... coming up surprisingly short. She had hoped for some skeletons in the closet, but it seemed Artus' life, for all its impressive length, had actually been rather uneventful. But that was material enough in itself - she was still confident she could carry out the Pirate Queen's will, without resorting to any less savoury tactics.
The silence drew out, and Faith had to force herself not to grit her teeth, or clench her fists. She would not show them how much their display was frustrating her. Aethyta apparently had no such qualms, yawning widely and obviously to Shiala's clear amusement. Finally, the matriarch in the centre took a small step forward, the hard looking commandos to either side as still as stone.
'In this palace of our mothers, we stand to discuss a matter of great sorrow for our people.' Leyya's voice was rich, practiced and calm, echoing throughout the otherwise silent domed room. 'Matriarch Benezia of House T'Soni allied with the traitor, former Council Spectre Saren Arterius, and with him committed multiple acts of atrocity upon the galaxy at large. The exact date of her joining him is unknown, but the crimes of Saren and Benezia are well recorded in Citadel records.'
The matriarch to Leyya's left, Ves, took a step forward as well. Faith vaguely wondered how many times they had practiced the display, or if it was natural through repeated experience. 'What Benezia did is not in question. But our people have known Benezia as an envoy for the benefit of the galaxy for centuries, a true paragon of our people. Her actions were most certainly out of character. Today we decide if her motivations give any excuse to these crimes, or if she and her family suffer the consequences.'
Lastly, Artus stood up to her lectern. 'Before us stand those who would give context we lack to Benezia's actions. Maiden Liara T'Soni, daughter of Benezia. Matron Shiala Inrala, lead commando of Benezia's personal guard. Faith Shepard, human, who was charged by the Citadel Council to track and stop Saren Arterius. She has been granted special dispensation to stand in the halls of our ancestors based on a plea by Maiden T'Soni that her testimony is vital to understanding Benezia's actions. And...' her brow raised, as if noticing Aethyta for the first time. 'Matriarch Aethyta of one of the lesser houses, former bondmate of Matriarch Benezia, and... father... of Maiden T'Soni.'
A quiet, disapproving murmur passed through the ranks of matriarchs, and this time Faith did clench her fists. Aethyta had warned they might make a deal out of the fact Liara's sire was asari, the bartender flaring her biotics angrily as she ranted about the ridiculous prejudices. But this trial was being publically broadcast to all asari who would watch the judging process, many of whom might be born of two asari themselves, so Aethyta assured Liara that the matriarchs wouldn't openly make any comments. Not to mention, Aethyta had said, there was something of an open rumour that Ves herself was pureblooded, not that anybody would dare suggest it to her face, else risking her apparently formidable wrath.
Leyya nodded, and stood a little straighter. 'For the benefit of those inexperienced in out ways,' Faith was surprised to notice they all seemed to be looking at Liara, instead of her, 'I will explain that we have already seen evidence of all of Benezia's actions, and as such claiming anything she did or did not do is unnecessary. We have spent much time discussing why she might have committed such crimes, and this involved a substantial devotion to learning about the process known as indoctrination.'
There it was. Shepard had every intention to fight to clear Benezia's name, and that was just as much a part of why, as Liara's own desires. She would have done so anyway, but in knowing that so much of her preparation for the Reapers depended on people believing things such as indoctrination were real, she had a military as well as personal incentive.
She would not fail. She could not.
Leyya smiled, the gesture surprisingly warm, actually touching her eyes. For all the showmanship of the trial, Faith judged that Leyya was genuine in her affections... unlike most human politicians she had met. Was she imposing her own prejudices against authorities she had experience with, onto these asari who were not technically politicians like the ever-frustrating Tevos? From what she gathered, these matriarchs actually held little legally codified power; they simply gathered to share their wisdom and give the asari democracy some semblance of direction and leadership.
That said, in this case they acted as both judges and jury in such high-profile cases of treason, not the asari populace as a whole.
Shepard took a deep breath, and focused.
Leyya continued, 'As I am sure you are aware, judging the validity of the claims of indoctrination goes beyond this trial. The Reapers are not the topic of today's proceedings, but precedents may be set. For that reason, I implore you all to speak only the full and absolute truth.'
Artus spoke up, with a look across her face Faith did not like at all, though her voice was sickly sweet. 'The words of a maiden, a matriarch who willingly excludes herself from most of Thessia's proceedings and a human would normally not carry such weight. Know that you bear a great responsibility this day.'
Faith bit back a harsh retort: now was not the time to speak against the matriarch. But the attitude left a nasty taste in her mouth: she had just demeaned all four of them - especially Shiala by ignoring her completely - wrapping it in a thin coat of praise.
Ves frowned across the room at Artus. Aethyta said of them all, she'd be on our side. 'Their status matters less to us than their experience. Even the wisest matriarch cannot know all, and the youngest newborn might see things we do not if we happen to be looking elsewhere.'
Artus glanced across the hall to Ves, still with a smile touching her lips. 'Of course. The perspective of others gives all life diversity and context.'
Right.
Artus straightened, and spoke again. 'But I am not alone in feeling doubt as to the reliability of these witnesses. Maiden T'Soni is not only young, but is the daughter of Benezia, and has a huge vested interest in seeing her name cleared of guilt. Shiala is the conspicuously lone survivor of Benezia's guard. The human-'
'Spectre.' Faith spoke not loudly, but clearly, and her hard voice overrode the matriarch.
Artus seemed surprised that somebody had interrupted her. 'Excuse me?'
Faith stared into Artus' deep, ocean dark eyes. 'My title is not human, it is Spectre of the Citadel Council.'
She left the words hanging, but the subtext was, she hoped, obvious. She was not there as a human, or as Liara's partner.
Faith also felt something of a grim satisfaction as Artus' commandos seemed to clutch their weapons a little tighter at the words.
Artus frowned, before her face cleared into a politician's practiced platitude. 'You have my apologies, Spectre.'
Faith nodded. 'And Doctor T'Soni was part of the team which stopped Saren and Benezia. You doubt her experience because of her age? In just over one hundred years she has not only worked her way to become a leading authority on the Prothean extinction, but was one of those who saved the entire Citadel from destruction three years ago. There are some people many times her age who could not claim such achievements with their life.'
'Thank you, Spectre Shepard,' Leyya spoke before Artus, who seemed to be bristling, could say anything. Faith had not intended to say anything at this point, but would not stand by as anybody belittled her friends. 'We already discussed this Artus, there will be no further comments as to the suitability of our guests as witnesses.'
A wave of generally approving nods carried around the room. Faith was glad: while she did not find the asari custom of unquestioningly deferring to matriarchs personally appealing, simply ranting at what was clearly a culture that worked would not get her anywhere. It seemed she had gone just far enough in asserting that she, and her allies, were not to be pushed over, but had not actually offended anybody. Except perhaps for Artus, who she had quite pointedly glared at as she listed Liara's qualifications, but that could not be helped. Faith had a debt to repay.
Leyya looked around the room, smiling sadly. 'Benezia affected all of us in a profound way. Her actions, and her loss, has inflamed a lot of tensions, and I urge everybody to remember why we are here.' She looked down at her lectern, then back up to the small group. 'Shiala, you volunteered to come here, away from your self-imposed exile, because you too were a victim of indoctrination. I would ask you to speak first, to explain to us this process so Benezia's actions might be understood.'
The commando hobbled forward, leaning heavily on her cane. She spoke slowly, clearly not wanting to stutter as she gave her testimony. 'I would be honoured to speak before you, matriarchs. That period of my life is one I remember only with shame, but I will relive it for you today, so you can see how Benezia... how we all... came to commit our atrocities.'
'Ah... Officer Vakarian?'
The turian's pitch dark eyes flickered open at the gently spoken words, and he instantly sat up from the cot he had set up in the corner of the gun battery. While he had spent most of his time since Shepard left him in charge in the war room, there was something reassuring about the cannon that meant every night he would spend half an hour calibrating the systems, the tedious work relaxing his mind before he drifted off to sleep.
Pulling himself to his feet, he saw Specialist Traynor standing awkwardly in the doorway to the battery. She was still in uniform, and the turian in him instantly snapped to attention at the way she seemed a little... damp... as if fresh from cleaning herself, but completely on edge.
'What is it, Traynor?'
The woman straightened and saluted at the hard tone of his voice. She was an odd human, seeming to flicker between quite a relaxed outlook at times... but yet insisted on addressing everybody by titles nobody else bothered with, and keeping herself; her uniform and demeanor, to a soldier's perfection when on duty. That thought wiped away the last dregs of sleep, and he strode forward as she began to speak with military precision.
'Sir, ten minutes ago EDI asked me to take a look at some transmissions she picked up. The asari fleets in the system have lit up with activity, and... I don't think it's a drill.'
'How do you know?' he asked, striding past her and down the length of the ship. If something was happening, he would be needed either in the war room or CIC.
'Intuition, sir, I can't put my finger on any specific reason but...' Garrus looked at the dark skinned human, whose wet, glossy black hair was tied into a knot similar to that Shepard used to wear before she had it sheared. With a shrug, Traynor caught his eye. 'I know it's not just nothing. It would take too long to explain why.'
The turian nodded, feeling both a rush of discomfort at simply accepting the communication specialist's word... and an eerie sense of familiarity at the scenario. Though, in his memories it was him trying to convince his superiors that his feelings were worth listening to. Making a snap decision, he accepted Traynor's assessment. 'Ok, so something's happening. Any idea what it is?'
They got into the elevator together. 'No, sir. The asari transmissions are encrypted.'
Garrus nodded again. 'Any chance we can break them, just to listen in? EDI?'
'Cerberus installed several-'
'I could do it.'
Both EDI and Garrus paused, surprised at the strength in Sam's voice. He looked at her curiously. 'You sure?'
Traynor nodded confidently. 'Yes, sir, with EDI's help I'm sure I could. But...' her voice dropped, as if afraid the asari might hear her. 'Should we? The asari are our allies, if we contacted them they might let us listen in anyway, and if something's going on, we could offer our assistance.'
As she finished, Garrus flickered his mandibles in distaste. She was right: he should contact the asari, but to do so would be to put the Normandy - currently floating with close to a hundred other ships in a holding area around the planet Janiri - on the military's radar. If something was going on, the Normandy's biggest advantage was its stealth.
Another instant decision, and he resolved to accept the consequences of whatever came of it. 'Hack them. But don't let them know we're listening in. We don't want the asari pissed off at us.'
The elevator opened on the command deck, and Traynor again saluted, snapping off a quick 'Yes sir!' before running back to the war room. Garrus strode up the steps to overlook the galaxy map, clenching the barrier as a display of the Parnitha system floated serenely before him.
'EDI,' he said softly, vaguely wishing Shepard was there. He hoped it was nothing, hoped that he would be forced to deal with a bunch of humans disgruntled that he'd bothered them for no reason. Because most of the alternatives were, frankly, terrifying. 'Wake everybody up.'
'Would you like a seat?'
Shiala glared up at Matriarch Artus, who gazed down on her with unwelcome pity. Pointedly straightening herself, leg trembling from the effort, she shook her head. If she wanted a damned seat, she'd ask for one. 'Thank you for your kindness, matriarch, but I would stand in your presence.'
She'd never particularly enjoyed the formality involved in these meetings. The ancient rituals were beautiful in their own way, but Shiala was a commando; a soldier who preferred to get things done rather than spend all day talking about it. That was why she had always served Benezia so faithfully: unlike most of the matriarchs before her, Benezia was a woman of action, always out traversing the galaxy rather than staying in the comfortable locales of Thessia.
That it meant Shiala got to wear her leathers more often than her ridiculous ceremonial armour was no small bonus. She knew all of the commandos before her personally: they were all tough, experienced... but like the armour, so much of it was for show. In their position as honour guard they rarely faced any real action, because their charges rarely faced any real danger, and as such their experience was often decades out of practice.
Matriarch Ves nodded. Of the three, Shiala liked Ves the best. She was practical and clear in her opinions, often stating clearly what the others thought only in secret: that she wanted the asari to wield greater power. 'As you desire. As has already been said, all here have read the publicly available information about indoctrination. That such a thing could exist is troublesome enough, but that it apparently caught Benezia, one of the strongest of us, is cause for great concern. How it happens, we already know in theory. Shiala, any context you can add to the scientific knowledge will help us determine Benezia's fate.'
Shiala nodded in return, swallowing thickly. She did not want to relive that... violation, but all of those she had killed deserved better than for her to hide from what she did. If she could help any future victims, if she could help Liara and Shepard who had freed her... she would.
Casting back her memory, she recalled the first time she saw Sovereign. 'The first time I boarded Saren's... Sovereign, I... I could already feel it. A pressure at my skull, as if the sh...ship was trying to force itself into my mind. We all felt it. B-but Benezia told us it was just the unusual slopes of the walls, the sheer size of the ship imposing on us. She had already been on the ship for weeks before summoning us... I think she was already lost to us then.'
Shiala glanced to the floor, the beautiful patterns etched into it lost to her memories. 'She told us to see the wonder that was Saren's will, the potential of what he could achieve with such a mag... mag...'
She clenched her teeth, and slowed her voice again. 'Magnificent ship. It was easy, then. It took only the slightest lowering of our guard... the slightest trusting of Benezia's will, and the discomfort stopped.'
'You were indoctrinated then?' Leyya asked softly.
Shiala shrugged a shoulder. 'I do not know. I don't believe so, it was just the first... step. I still wondered at Benezia's devotion to Saren then, though of course I did not speak out.'
A commando's place was to follow and protect, not cast judgement. Through her service Benezia's actions had often confused Shiala until years, sometimes decades later, and she had learned to trust the absolute wisdom of the matriarch to see things Shiala and her battle-sisters could not.
'It was easier,' Shiala said with a grimace, 'to simply accept Sovereign's will.'
'Sovereign's?' Ves spoke up.
With a nod, the green skinned asari continued. She would not hide the true enemy. 'It influenced Saren, who would give his orders to us through Benezia. She would... would order us to do slowly more terrible things. Th...threaten innocent people. Raid merchant ships.' Shiala took a deep breath as she saw many of the matriarchs before her shake their heads in shame. 'We... trusted her, as was our duty.'
Her features darkened as her leg began to tremble, and she leaned more of her body weight onto her cane. 'There was no sudden moment where we turned into... whatever we became. We did not become m-mindless slaves. There was no... no sense of our bodies doing something our minds did not want.'
She paused, biting back the grief at the memories of the flush of power she had felt each time she had killed an innocent, each time she did some terrible deed to help Sovereign. 'It was like a whisper at first,' she said in barely a whisper of her own, 'indistinguishable from my own sense of mor...r-rality. Some... fought. Questioned why they were doing what they were.'
'Did you?' Artus' voice rang out, heavy with implication.
Shiala shook her head sadly. 'I trusted L...Lady Benezia implicitly. I did everything she ordered. M...maybe that made me easier to control, because after a while the whispers stopped. There was just... him. His will was all that mattered. I-I can only see the evil of it now, but then... it was the most natural and beautiful thing to follow him.'
Again, Shiala forced herself to slow down, to keep herself from showing that damned speech impediment. She was about to conclude when Leyya spoke, gently. 'Did you not fight it?'
Her eye twitched. 'There was nothing to fight, matriarch. It... corrupted my very way of thinking. It...' she shook her head. 'It is diff...fficult to put into words. By the end, if Benezia had given me a gun and told me to execute a child, I would have done so without even wondering if it was wrong.'
'It seems impossible to understand now...' She looked up at the matriarchs, seeing a mixture of judgement and pity in their eyes. 'It is insidious. No sense of myself fading, th...there was just Sovereign's will, stronger and stronger. I committed atrocities, matriarchs. We... we all did. Willingly and happily. Th-that is my burden to bear.'
The room fell silent for a moment. Shiala sensed Liara close by, and turned to give the maiden as much of a reassuring smile as she could manage. Liara was not aware of the full extent of what she had done under the indoctrination... of what Benezia had done. But to hide it would be to risk ire, and she could not do that. If it meant reliving memories she would sooner forget, so be it.
'Do you see yourself as responsible for your actions, Shiala?' Matriarch Leyya finally asked.
Yes.
She did. Every life taken. Every family torn apart. Every single action burned her with shame, and the knowledge that she had committed them willingly at the time, even if under the influence of indoctrination...
'Yes,' she answered quietly, eliciting quiet gasps from some of the matriarchs. For she was admitting that the indoctrination was no excuse for her actions. 'Understand that I remember what I did. That I remem...b-ber wanting to obey, and do those... things. But now they... disgust me. My own thoughts from then, disgust me. I... I am not a diplomat, or person of peace, matriarchs. My path in life is to fight and kill. But until then, I could... take pride in my duty. Now...' She shook her head. 'Sss...sleeping through the night is hard.'
'If you see yourself as responsible, how do you expect us to accept Benezia was not responsible for her own actions?' Artus asked, leaning forward onto her lectern.
Shiala bit her tongue, and looked at the ground as she gathered her thoughts... Aethyta's angry voice rang out before she could say anything. 'Were you not listening? She's saying if Nezzy... Benezia... was here today in Shiala's position, she'd be offering herself up for whatever punishment you decided. Because she was a good person, and you lot all know that.'
Shiala looked up to see Aethyta shudder. 'To have that goodness... corrupted... by whatever that ship did... Goddess, can you imagine anything worse? To know you did things so twisted you can't even sleep at night? I don't know the whole of what Benezia did. I don't wanna know. Because as far as I'm concerned, it wasn't her. It was whatever monster that indoctrination made her.'
She strode over to Shiala, standing supportively beside her. 'Shiala's free of it, somehow. But she'll never be free of what she did. We've all chosen to do things we'd rather not. But it sounds to me like she didn't choose at all. And as soon as she was herself again...' Aethyta shook her head angrily. 'Tell me you'd not feel responsible for that.'
Tali'Zorah vas Normandy rolled her shoulders again, still sore from sleep, wondering what Garrus had put everybody to action stations for. They were in allied space, surrounded by allied ships, protected by one of the most formidable military fleets and planetary defence grids in the galaxy.
But while the turian approached his responsibilities with a degree of caution following his losses on Omega, he was also not one for acting unless there was good reason to. Understanding that, she'd done everything he ordered without question: prepared the engine for heavy use, ensured all systems were clean and all non-essential subroutines paused, and had just finished discharging the residual heat in the sinks so they could enter stealth for the maximum amount of time.
Engineers Daniels and Donnelly were ready to receive orders, as was she... but first she wanted to know what was going on.
The elevator doors opened with a soft ping and she swiftly stepped out to hear asari voices calling from multiple terminals around the CIC. Garrus was standing at one of the stations to the side, features tense.
She strode quickly to him, speaking as she approached. 'We've done everything you ordered, Garrus, what's going on?'
His mandibles flickered angrily, and he jabbed a button on the screen before him, silencing the voices. 'There's been an attack on Thessia. Several major communications hubs were targeted which has made comm traffic from the planet... unreliable. There are reports that small freighters were seen crashing into the installations, Tali, but nobody knows for certain. One asari fleet's been scrambled around Thessia, and the other around the Mass Relay... they can't rely on the defence grid with communications as patchy as they are.'
Tali frowned, instantly on edge. Somebody was attacking Thessia? 'Th... that's mad! Nobody could hope to gain anything by attacking a species' homeworld unless... keelah... is it the Reapers?'
Panic flushed through her, and Tali instantly began clenching her fingers together, tense and terrified. If it was... what could they do? They were just one ship, they hadn't done anything like gather the fleets they needed, or...
[We do not believe this is a Reaper attack.]
Both Tali and Garrus started at the deep, synthesised voice coming from the small speaker she had mounted on the side of her helmet. Legion. The geth had been nearly silent for a long time now, occasionally assisting Tali in her work, or answering questions when asked directly, but it had not actively offered its thoughts for weeks. Tali was still well aware that it was in her suit, always watching, but it was so easy to ignore when the geth was quiet...
Tali had not suffered another... incident... like the one in the elevator since, and wondered if Legion's silence had anything to do with it. But that was, right now, unimportant in the face of the current emergency.
Tali frowned. 'Why do you think that?'
[Attacking a species' homeworld as the opening of hostility is not an efficient use of force. It is well defended, and fleeing civilians will scatter across the galaxy. The Reapers are more likely to begin by attacking the Citadel to secure control of the mass relays, and then outlying colonies. Refugees from these attacks will flee to their homeworlds, which the Reapers will then attack when they can inflict the greatest casualties or gather the greatest harvest.]
A chill ran down Tali's spine at the emotionless words. 'I... is the Citadel under attack?'
Garrus shook his head. 'No, it seems this was an isolated incident. We don't even know if this is anything other than a random terrorist attack, or even an accident, but it seems the Citadel fleet is on standby to reinforce the asari here if needed. Not that it should be, there are two asari fleets in the system, all top of the line ships... spirits, this makes no sense, Tali! Nobody's stupid enough to attack the asari!'
The quarian looked down at her hands, tightly clamped together. 'And Shepard?'
Garrus scowled again. 'We can't reach her. The damned trial's today, and the building it's in blocks most incoming communications. We can only hope somebody down there realises what's going on, and interrupts them.'
'No Liara, you freed me, I won't go back.'
She was smiling. I had not seen her smile for so long, how could I have forgotten that she smiled as she died?
'Please mother! I need you!'
Did I sound like that? It has been just a few years but that sweet, innocent voice full of honest, unguarded grief no longer sounds like my own, hardened by my life over the years...
'You haven't needed me... for a long while now... you have your own life...'
Even then, her lifeblood pumping over my hands, she tried to reassure me, to stop me from saving her, to stop me from returning her to a life of servitude to Sovereign's will.
That was the woman I knew from my childhood; strong and kind, not the ever-colder matriarch I eventually grew estranged from... how much of that can be blamed on her indoctrination? How much was actions she regretted? How much... how much was my fault, for rebelling against the path she wanted for me?
'Thank you, Little Wing... I'll see you again, at the dawn...'
The image projected before us - footage from my helmet camera - slowly drops to the floor, shuddering with my grief, from a time that seems a lifetime ago. My own armoured hands, coated in rachni filth and my mother's precious blood, scramble at the image, desperate to pull off the helmet that seemed so heavy...
Eventually, it fades to black, the hall silent at witnessing mother's death. Faith's hand is clamped tightly around mine, unashamed at the poor protocol it represents in this place.
A single tear runs down my face, quickly brushed away by her thumb. 'I'm sorry,' she whispers.
I manage a thankful smile in return. Seeing her again like that... my most recent memories of her are cold and terrible, and though it brings pain, it was her who died there, not whatever shell Sovereign made her... and there is some, however little, comfort to be found in that.
I swallow thickly in the silence. How long have we been here now? Four hours, of questioning? Five? Longer? Faith has constantly spoken well and respectfully to the matriarchs, always absolutely honest... much better than I could have done, or Aethyta. More than once what has been discussed has had me biting my tongue, pushing back tears, trying to remember the good in mother... and Faith has stayed strong through it all. For me.
After several minutes, Leyya speaks quietly. 'Thank you for releasing this footage to us, Spectre Shepard. We are aware of its classified nature, and the contents will never leave this room.'
She nods. 'Thank you, matriarchs. I apologise if the images were upsetting, but I believe they were important to the case at hand.'
Leyya responds with a gentle smile. 'We are none of us strangers to violence, but your concern is appreciated.'
Artus leans forward. 'I notice that video was heavily edited though, would the complete version not be available to us?'
Faith told me about her deal with Aria T'Loak, and whilst the concept of publicly humiliating one of my peoples' most prominent speakers is distasteful to say the least, Artus' constant questioning of the evidence presented, her seemingly endless campaign to doubt anything that might exonerate mother - always in that sickly sweet voice that grates my nerves - has made the idea slightly more palatable. Faith has constantly met those doubts with barely veiled contempt and casual disregard even as she treats the other matriarchs with respect, but surely that is not enough for a criminal warlord?
I still do not know what Faith plans to do to... complete... her plan against Artus, but I can do nothing but trust her to do what is necessary... as she always does.
Faith shifts her stance into a military parade rest, though I can see straight through her demeanor to the anger bubbling beneath. 'The sections I censored are sensitive enough that I judge their secrecy conducive to galactic stability. They are immaterial to the more important matter of Matriarch Benezia.'
'And who judges that?'
For the first time today her passive mask breaks into a frown of frustration, and... no... a thin red scar splits her jaw close to the ear. She has been standing for so long, speaking for Benezia and myself when the duty should be mine, though I do not trust myself to speak clearly, impartially...
'I do.' The sections Artus referred to were anything to do with the rachni: images, spoken allusions, even vague hints... surely there was enough there about mother?
Artus looks angry that Faith did not try to justify herself in any way... Goddess... if it were any of the others asking the question she would have at least explained herself, but she just disregarded Artus' question as if a mere inconvenience... is this her plan? To quietly and continually demean Artus' authority in this place? Until...
I glance at the matriarch. She looks furious!
Ves shoots Artus a disgruntled frown, and speaks before anybody else has a chance to. 'What we saw was more than sufficient for today's purpose. However, it raised a troubling question to me. Shiala, might you again stand before us?'
After her questioning Shiala took a seat to the side of the room, taking weight off her leg, though at the words she stands instantly, taking Aethyta's arm and crossing back to my side. Matriarch Ves nods respectfully to the commando, then continues. 'Do you believe you would have been able to... break... yourself from the indoctrination, as Benezia appeared to in the video we just saw?'
Shiala looks pale. As does Aethyta...
They had not seen that before.
They had not seen Benezia's death.
Her final moments... Shiala's employer and charge. Aethyta's bondmate of over a century.
I should have shown them that before now, or at least told them!
Goddess, I have done so much wrong here...
A heavy hand claps onto my shoulder, and I look up to see Aethyta standing, eyes swimming, but her face holds no condemnation, just a soft sympathy. A moment passes, before she nods up to the other matriarchs.
She is correct, now is not the time...
'Shiala?' Leyya prompts.
With a slow shake of her head, Shiala replies quietly. 'No. Not like th...that. My sense of self was completely gone. Only the Thorian freed me, somehow.'
'Then can you explain why was Benezia able to?' Artus asks in that horrible, sweet voice.
Shiala, looking uncomfortable, drops her gaze to the ground before Faith speaks clearly. 'I believe it is because Benezia was stronger than anybody else and even then only managed to keep just a few words for her daughter with her last moments.'
She squeezes my hand, reassuringly strong. 'You heard her last words. She was glad she was dying there. She might have committed terrible crimes when she was influenced, but she died herself, with her daughter there for her. Not only that, but she gave me data vital for the completion of my mission. We could not have stopped Sovereign's attack on the Citadel if it wasn't for her.'
The room falls silent for a moment, before Artus smiles in a show of sympathy that does not convince me - and I can see her anger just under the surface every time Faith speaks. 'As... touching... as the gesture was, it was rather convenient she chose then to help, rather than any of the times she could have stopped herself, and saved lives.'
'She did save lives, more than any she could have done by stopping one of Saren's smaller attacks.' Faith snaps in return. 'Everybody on the Citadel owes their lives to Benezia. I have no idea how she was able to break out of the indoctrination, for that moment. But she did it then, and then was the right time to do it for the good of the galaxy. Speculating about what she might have or could have done is pointless.'
'Pointless?' Artus bristles angrily at the implication.
Faith, I hope you know what you are doing...
Voice scathing, the matriarch continues, 'We all know what Benezia did. You have claimed her actions were due to indoctrination, but you present us only with this video which shows that she appears to be in complete control of her mental faculties. What then are we to believe?' She frowns. 'If you had not killed her then-'
'Don't.' Faith's cold word stops the matriarch dead... draws gasps from some of the others, and even shocks me - how could she speak like that to a matriarch?
She points to Artus. 'I won't let you insult the memory of Benezia or her commandos by doubting what happened was anything other than necessary.'
'Won't let me? You overestimate your importance here, human, and we will question whatever we deem necessary to learn what we need to pass judgement, including the necessity of Benezia's death.'
How can she say that?!
Several of the matriarchs in the background begin to mutter uncomfortably. Did Faith purposefully provoke her into saying that? No... she could not have known Artus would respond that way... Goddess, this whole trial is so horrible!
Faith looks around. 'You misjudge your words, matriarch. Unlike you, nearly every other asari in this room has faced war in some capacity, and they all understand the respect you hold for the dead, even enemies. Insulting them should be beneath somebody of your station, and you should know that.'
'That's enough.' Leyya's voice, uncharacteristically raised, rings above all the others. 'Spectre Shepard, remember you are a guest here and it is not your place to judge what we should and should not do.'
I swallow uncomfortably, before Leyya turns to Artus. 'And Artus, Goddess, show some respect. Shepard is correct, we will not insult the deaths of Benezia and her retinue by questioning what might have happened.'
Artus' face blanches, and she looks around, seeing that none of the matriarchs will meet her gaze. Before the trial I pulled up her career history for Faith: she was correct that Artus has never faced war; her life has been political since she was a maiden, unlike most of the others who, as is typical for asari, spent at least several decades in the military or even mercenary bands.
Was that what she planned? To... have Artus show her relative inexperience? Will that be enough for Aria?
Before I can consider it, Leyya speaks again. 'I believe there is nothing further to be presented. Maiden...' she smiles softly, and corrects herself as Faith suggested earlier. 'Doctor T'Soni, thank you for coming before us and sharing the insight of your experience. It saddens my heart to have had to speak of such things about Benezia, and I apologise if today's proceedings were upsetting.'
I bow my head, still slightly shocked by the direction the trial took. I knew there would be an element of demonisation towards mother, but some of the comments made about her were horrible... Is it always like this?
Leyya clasps her hands behind her back, and I instinctively straighten. Mother would stand like that whenever she was about to impart an important lesson. 'The measure of a person can be judged by those they surround themselves with, and your allies today do you great credit. The daughter of Benezia was always destined to be a powerful woman, and I saw the beginnings of that today. But be warned that despite your considerable achievement, you are still young, and it would be a terrible shame to see such promise lost to a rush to achieve even more.'
I frown. Is that a threat? Aethyta said they sent her to spy on me... with the will to assassinate me if they deemed it necessary! 'I am not sure I understand, matriarch.'
She nods. 'It is not our place to tell you your path, but to offer guidance. You know that we live long lives, and this grants a perspective rare in a galaxy that can change so quickly. Your maiden years have been atypical, to say the least, and you should know there is always wisdom to be found in taking a moment to pause.'
And in pausing too much you fail to see what is coming... The bitter thought rings heavily: for all their wisdom, these people cannot see the truth of the Reapers, just like every other government. But it would not do to say so now, so I bow my head. 'Thank you for sharing your insight, matriarch. And thank you all for allowing us the privilege to stand before you.'
The matriarch smiles again. 'You are excused from our presence. We will discuss the new evidence presented, which will allow us to make an informed judgement as to Benezia's guilt, and call you back when we are ready to give our verdict.'
The four of us bow simultaneously, then turn to leave.
I can barely believe it is over. It has been years since she died, and now in just a few days all of those feelings, those worries and that... loss... has been revived, and at once put to rest properly, with the help of Faith, Shiala and Aethyta. I hope our defence was enough... I should have said more!
Faith was the speaker for the majority of our time in the grand hall.
Only once did I say more than a few words, describing the few interactions I shared with mother in the years before Faith saved me on Therum; managing to recall the cold conversations we had, my awkwardly asking for an advance on my allowance to pay for a piece of machinery I needed, or one of our increasingly brief updates on our lives to each other. The recollections reminded me just how little we had in common, the powerful matriarch and the silly student who could not even control her own budget...
But somehow Faith managed to make it sound... better... asking me to share the warmer times for comparison, speaking tales of her kindness which had more than one of the matriarchs nodding in recognition of the asari they all recognised before her work and the indoctrination took her.
I take her hand, and she flashes a warm smile, though her brow is tight with worry, and I see more than one small scar across her face. She spoke so well for mother, despite not knowing her, and even having once seen her as only an enemy. With a formality and clarity I struggled with even during my brief moment, she presented all of our evidence about indoctrination and Benezia's actions to the matriarchs, for so long...
Thank you...
And now it is over. We can do nothing but wait.
As we finally exit the hall, Aethyta strides over, and slaps Faith on the back with a wide grin. 'Damn, human, speaking to Artus like that... you've got one hell of a quad!'
+Hensa class cruiser, you are outside of your assigned holding area. Please return to orbit Janiri at once.+
+Records say it's an independent merchant vessel, granted leave to stay while its crew does business on the planet.+
+I repeat, you are outside of your assigned area. The dreadnought Eternal Fate of the Thessia defence fleet has a target lock on you.+
+It's not making any aggressive moves, but it's not stopping. Orders?+
+Is it even receiving our warnings?+
+Life support's active and there's no sign their comms are out... picking up scans... it's doing a system-wide proximity scan, all that's going to tell it is the current location of the planets, and maybe pick up some of our bigger ships.+
+Hensa class cruiser, this is your final warning, identify yourself!+
+It's a batarian model ma'am, but the it's copied throughout the Terminus. Still no sign as to what it's doing.+
+Ok, Cybaen, fire a warning shot across its bow. I don't want to take any risks with what's happening on the homeworld.+
+This is Cybaen, orders acknowledged. We're moving to position... shot fired. No reaction... belay that, detecting a minor change of course.+
+What's it doing? Is it aiming for any of our ships?+
+No ma'am, its main cannon is pointing away from us... It's powering up weapons!+
+Ok, I'm done negotiating. Cybaen, get clear, the Eternal Fate is going to blow this thing away. And stay out of the way of whatever it's aiming at.+
+Goddess! I've extrapolated its firing solution, it's not aiming for the fleet! It's-+
+It just fired a shot! Blow that thing out of the sky, now!
Faith narrowed her eyes on the small, glowing red split in her skin across the joint of her thumb, hand clasped around Liara's which had since stopped trembling.
There was nothing more she could do. She hoped all she had said was enough... though the dull anger she felt towards Artus had still not abated. That had not turned out how she wanted it to, though she had no way of predicting how the matriarch would react.
She glanced sideways at Liara, seeing the maiden's eyes wide and nervous, looking at the door to the main hall. At the movement, Liara shifted her gaze to Faith's, and smiled softly. Shepard dropped her gaze away, ashamed. 'I'm sorry Liara, I didn't mean for Artus to end up saying that about Benezia. I... I was hoping I'd get her riled up enough to attack me, not...'
She shook her head angrily. It was bad enough for Liara to have to go through all of this, but also to have one of the supposedly wise matriarchs insulting the manner of Benezia's death?
Liara softly touched the human's chin, and drew her gaze back. 'I... I understand. I would have preferred it did not have to happen at all, but Aria...'
With a grimace, Faith nodded. 'Yeah. I... I am sorry, to get that dragged into all of this. I wish we could have just done it without the damned war knocking down the door.'
Liara's face was a soft, soothing mask as she replied. 'I already said I understand.' She always understands...
'Besides...' the asari's features shifted into a teasing grin that seemed refreshingly out of place after all of the grief recalling Benezia's death brought up, 'watching you shout at her was rather... appealing.'
Liara dropped her head onto Shepard's shoulder, speaking softly in the quiet room. 'I... do not think I can thank you enough for today, Faith.'
Faith shifted awkwardly in her seat. She had never been comfortable receiving praise; preferring to just do her work and let those more interested take whatever credit there was... but the sheer weight of emotion in Liara's words warmed her through. She smiled. 'I'm glad they didn't go demanding things of you. Your politicians seem like a pretty decent bunch.'
Feeling Liara grin into her shoulder, Shepard rested her head on top of hers as the asari spoke seriously. 'Faith, you just reduced over one hundred thousand years of life and experience into "a pretty decent bunch". I feel I should be offended on their behalf.'
'Are you?'
'Not especially.'
Liara shifted slightly closer, pressing herself against Faith's body. Despite the tense expectation, a pleasant peace descended-
To be abruptly broken as heavy thump echoed through their senses. The couple separated themselves, and looked, brows raised, at Aethyta. The matriarch had been stomping impatiently around the small room, and her head was currently pressed against the richly decorated wall. 'Goddess, what's taking them so long?!'
'They have a lot to discuss, and-' Liara tried, before Aethyta overrode her, straightening and restarting her agitated pacing.
'Bah, don't give me that crap, Kiddo. No way they haven't already decided.'
'What makes you think that?' Liara asked, curious.
'I know how they work. They've had years to discuss everything already. That new stuff about indoctrination might shake them off their pedestals a bit, but chances are those who hadn't already made up their minds know that after Shepard's tongue lashing in there, they'll look like a bunch of tits if they vote her guilty now.'
'Ah...' The wordless noise dragged itself from Faith's mouth as Aethyta slowed to a halt.
The matriarch's face brightened as she caught up to her own words. 'Ha! Tongue lashing! That's a good one...'
She dropped herself into a seat opposite Faith and Liara. 'Seriously though soldier girl, you did real good in there. Not that beating the shit out of me to... protect... Liara wasn't enough, but stickin' up for Nezzy as well... damn. Keep on like that I might even think you're good enough for Liara one day.'
Faith raised an eyebrow. The odd matriarch and herself had developed... something of a shared respect over the past few days, but she doubted Aethyta's protectiveness would simply go away, just as her own suspicion was not abating any time soon. 'Really?'
The matriarch chuckled. 'Nah. But it can't hurt.'
'I can make my own choices, father,' Liara added, to little avail.
'Course you can! I'm still gonna disapprove the shit out of whoever you're dating though. Wouldn't be doing my job properly otherwise.' Aethyta leaned back, legs splayed in a graceful show of how not to wear a dress, and raised her voice to carry across the room. 'What d'you think, Shiala, reckon Shepard pulled it off?'
The commando, who was inspecting a case of ancient weapons mounted on the far wall, looked back. 'I hope so. Even if Artus had it com...coming, some won't like that a human put her in her place.'
'Eh.' Aethyta concluded with a shrug of her shoulders. 'Most of us were thinking the same damned thing. Speaking shit about Nezzy like that... sounded better coming from an outsider anyway.'
She grinned. 'You know Shepard, I've been out of official politics for a while but I'm pretty sure you're the first human they allowed in there. They won't be forgetting you any time soon.'
'As long as Benezia's name is cleared, and they believe us about indoctrination, they can remember me however they want,' Faith replied. While the asari matriarchs were better than any other government officials she'd had the misfortune to meet, she still did not particularly like dealing with them. Their lengthy rituals, ponderous pace and vaguely threatening "advice" to Liara left her distinctly uncomfortable: the asari people's unquestioning deferral to the wisdom of their elders was a mindset she had trouble accepting. To Shepard, true authority was based on experience and ability, and while many of those in the room had both in quantities humans could never hope to achieve... too many did not. Age was the prerequisite for being part of their group, not achievement. I hope their military leaders are better... those matriarchs could not fight a war.
The large, ornate doors to the main hall slid open, and a stunningly beautiful asari Faith guessed was only a little older than Liara entered their chamber. 'The matriarchs are ready to announce their decision,' she said, gesturing to the hall, 'they will see you now.'
Faith stood, biting back a rush of exhilarated nervousness. There was nothing more she could do, just take the few steps and hear their judgement... yet her mind was racing with possibilities. She shook her head, banishing the worries, as she was more than adept at doing. It was a necessity for somebody with her job. She took Liara's hand, again trembling, and helped the asari to her feet, the beautiful white robe loosely wrapped around her body fluttering despite there being no breeze.
There was nothing more to say.
The four slowly made their way into the hall, the silence broken only by the tapping of Shiala's cane against the floor, abnormally loud.
As they reached their previous position, Faith looked up. The matriarchs' faces were unreadable, though she was unsurprised to see Artus' posture both slightly cowed and bristling with anger. Was that enough for Aria? It wasn't too much, but maybe enough that next time there'll be somebody else in one of the top three spots...
Faith couldn't worry about that either. If Aria wasn't happy, Aria wasn't happy. She would find another way to deal with it. Leyya gave a tight but welcoming smile, and Ves a respectful nod which Shepard returned.
'What we heard today has shaken the foundations of what many of us once knew as truths.' Leyya proclaimed, voice solemn and heavy.
Just say what you decided!
'Matriarch Benezia was one of the best of us. A true beacon for our people across the galaxy. When the extent of her crimes was unveiled, none of us could have imagined that it would lead to this.'
Ves took over. 'The revelation of the process of indoctrination is one that merits more discussion that these proceedings allowed for. But we did make our decision on its validity, and by extension Benezia's culpability in her own actions.'
The room fell silent, before both Ves and Leyya turned expectantly to Artus, whose face was a mask of unpleasant disgust. Is that because she's taking some sick pleasure in this? Or because we won? God, just tell us!
Artus managed to clear her face of emotion, though her voice was strained. 'Given what we learned before today, and taking into account what was today presented to us, this council voted... nearly unanimously...' She spat out the words as if they were poison, and Faith's heart picked up. Had they done it? Was Liara's mother going to be cleared? The maiden's hand again clamped tightly around Shepard's. 'That Benezia's actions were the result of her indoctrination.'
Yes!
Liara's hand tightened as Leyya's face broke into a welcome smile. 'This means that Matriarch Benezia of House T'Soni is cleared of all charges, and-'
Chaos erupted through the joyous moment.
With a deafening explosion, the richly adorned roof of the hall shattered like glass, and a massive shockwave blasted everybody in the room to the floor.
Heavy rubble began dropping all around them, and Faith, desperate, pushed herself to her hands and feet, legs feeling like jelly, the telltale symptoms of shock setting in.
Instinctively, she moved to protect that which was most precious to her.
The asari had collapsed by her side, motionless, and Faith managed to drop her body over hers to protect her from the falling rubble...
Before a small section of roof hit the side of her head with a sickening crack, and the world went dark.
A/N: Thank you Jay8008 and Vector 71!
Another long one! From here out will be mostly action chapters for a while, with a few more chapters of totally original content then we will move into my interpretation of the events of ME3.
Thank you as always for reading!
