A/N:
Alright, a new chapter already. Yes, I know there was some... dissatisfaction, about the previous chapter. Yes, I killed Valern. Yes, killing the brain of the Council was a risky move, considering how he was the only one likely to belive facts when hearing them... but it is all planned. Trust me. It might not seem like it at times, but I do actually know what I'm doing. Well, most of the time.
Anyway, the poll is doing quite well, relatively speaking. so far nine people have visited it, and for reasons I have a hard time understanding, four out of five have written Master Chief in the section with the (Completely different person whatsoever) option. And only two people have chosen the Master Chief option in the bottom. That is actually why I added that option... well, never mind.
Also, I recieved surprisingly positive feedback on the Cerberus section in the end... I'm doing something good? Man, that's a first :) Well, I guess that just means you'll se more of them eventually.
This chapter is my attempt to sort of start ending the Citadel-part so far, so... yeah, we'll see.
Enjoy, and I'll see you guys in the bottom.
Dark Tidings
Aaarrhhggg… fuck! I can't move! There is a huge weight on top of me, forcing me down. I breathe in, almost instantly forced to cough it out as ash and dust fill my lungs. Opening my eyes, I can only see a few inches ahead of me, eyes stopped by a large mass of grey material, possibly steel or concrete.
Fuck, I'm locked in, I'm locked in! Claustrophobia… I hate that fucking disorder. I can't… I have a difficulty being in confined spaces. My breath is getting faster, more forced and strained. I need to get out of here.
"Fi- Fisher! Shepard! Respond!" I can hear a faint voice yell my name. It's disrupted by couching, sounding like whoever it is isn't much better off than me.
"Thomas, you okay?"
"I thought you- fuck- I thought you would be able to tell, I'm buried alive!"
"You need to try and get out from there. Nihlus is somewhere around, though I can't get a fix on him yet."
"Ooooouuugh…. Yeah, I'll just… lift away the two fucking ton of steel on my body, no sweat." I sneer, trying to move my arms. My right arm is bruised and it feels like some kind of thick and warm liquid is flowing over it. Better not be blood. I am NOT spending an extra second in a hospital, no fucking way.
At least I can still feel it, which means I haven't lost it. I try to move it, but find that it's obstructed by some kind of weight pressing down on it. I can't move it. My left arm is at least better off. It's lying next to me, still attached to my body. Okay, I can also still lift it. That's good. I move my fingers, only to see that the left thumb isn't responding. Great… so, there must have been some kind of short-circuiting… I can always get it fixed when I get out of here… because I AM getting out of here.
"Shepard, respond! Fisher… anybody hear me?" Nihlus's voice is getting a bit stronger, although it still sounds like he is far off. I need to get out of here, I can't breathe in confined spaces, I just can't.
"Ni-cough- Nihlus!" I try shouting, even though it means huge amounts of dust getting into my lungs. The worst is, the shout isn't even that loud. I doubt he can even hear me out there.
"Fisher, where are you!?" He shouts. Thank Mara, he actually heard me.
"Down- Down here!" I shout, hammering on the huge piece of metal on top of me with my left hand.
"Keep talking to me, help is on the way." His voice sounds closer now, like he is moving closer to me. Awww, my head… I thought I knew what a headache was before… a warm feeling is running down my forehead. As it reaches across my lips, I can taste something like iron. I must have some kind of wound or gash on my forehead or somewhere else.
Well this is just great…
"I assume that was sarcasm."
"Yeah… now we are right back where we started."
"I'm not sure I follow… and you are being surprisingly calm all of a sudden."
"Nihlus is outside, he knows where I am. I'm not that scared when I'm not forgotten. And the other thing? Valern was the only one I could tell about this without risking being hauled off by C-Sec. For fucks sake, he was the brain in the council, and now there are only those two bickering idiots left. Tevos and Sparatus… Arkay, why don't we all just commit suicide already?"
"I doubt it is that bad… but you have a point. So, what's the plan then?"
"I don't know… seriously, my head is killing me and my heart is pounding like fuck… I can't think straight in this place." I can't help but notice that most of my uniform is torn and scorched, looking like I've just taken a dive into a furnace, then into a meat grinder. I can't even see my legs as the big metal thing is blocking pretty much all view, but at least I can feel my feet, so I haven't lost them. Still, they hurt like hell. Something really heavy is pressing down on them, and it feels like one of them is broken. Not again…
Then I remember something. Talos, I could smack myself for having forgotten it so soon. Putting my left hand on the big piece of debris, I start putting some strain to it. It doesn't move an inch. I continue to add on the pressure, feeling the power pumping through the artificial veins in the arm, the wires and motorized parts buzzing like a swarm of bees. My shoulder starts to hurt, still being mostly organic as it is, it isn't all that fit for a test of strength at this magnitude. The debris starts creaking, only a little, but it still is a sign that I'm doing something right. If I'm lucky, there won't be a big piece of debris ready to fall down and crush my body the second I get this thing removed. Come on, come on, push you lazyyyyyyyyy fuck! I mumble, sneering and cursing under my breath. As I start putting even more strain on it, a small sound in my shoulder starts beeping. What the?
"The V.I. You are straining the arm to the limit."
"Bullshit, how much?"
"487 kilos"
"Mara…"
I ignore the beeping. I don't care if I short-circuit the arm or tear it off. If I don't get out of here, it won't matter at all.
"Someone, give me a hand here!" A voice sounds. I can't hear who it is, but it isn't Nihlus. It sounds more human. It almost sounds familiar, but I can't tell through all the crap between us. Okay, last one… last push! Emhart, time to see if you are just a shithead or a genius. I slam my palm against the metal with all the power I can muster. The sickening crack from my shoulder is overpowered by the loud sound of metal bending and twisting. When I look, I can make out a large bulge, roughly the shape of a hand in the metal. Still, the almost blinding pain starts pouring from my left shoulder. Fuuuuuu- it hurts! My fucking shoulder!
"I warned you! You just dislodged it. You really shouldn't be using that much force."
"What was that sound? Sounded like… it came from here, keep looking." The voices are closer now, and I can actually pick up the sound of metal and stone being moved around.
"Yeah well… let's just see if I can't get out from here, alright?"
"Need any help?"
"No thank you. The last time you saved my life, I spent more than two weeks in a hospital. I need to-"
"Hey, there's one over here… a Quarian?" I can hear a voice say. It's funny, each time someone talks, it's like they're closer than before.
"Move over, move o- Shepard! Spirits, I was worried. We only- your visor John!" A flanged voice yells. I'm guessing it's either Nihlus or Garrus. The former being the most likely, though I can't remember having heard him ever use John's first name. Wait a second… Fuck, John's visor! If it's cracked, he'll die! Man, Tali's gonna kill me if that happens…I can't help a small chuckle at the thought, despite the situation. I really need to prioritize my sense of humor.
The voices are coming closer now, almost as if I'm being lifted up through the rubble, or debris or whatever it is. I can actually pick up some voices now, not only those shouting.
"-Fine, but Keelah, what the hell happened? One second we were… where's Thomas?" I can pick out the synthetic voice of a Quarian. So thank Mara, John is okay… for now. But what if he is infected with something now? His immune system is probably none better than Tali's, so he'll die like the average Quarian if he gets sick.
"We're trying to find him. He may be in this area… we heard a loud noise earlier, as if someone was using a sledgehammer on the debris… Shepard, you need some rest."
"The Hell I do. I'm not sitting down till we've found him." Man, I'm actually popular… or something like that. Never tried that back home, then again, back home I never tried being blown up and covered by debris. These kinds of things tend to put everything in perspective. Then again, so does dying twice I suppose. I heave in my breath, fighting the urge to cough;
"I'm down here idioter! (Idiots) I shout, banging my limp arm against the metal above me.
"Hey, I heard someone down here! Keep digging." I can hear more rubble being removed, metal screeching as it is scraped against metal, stone and concrete cracking and falling apart. This continues for what seems like an eternity until suddenly a ray of light cuts through the darkness;
"Found him!" one of the men says, proceeding to remove the large piece of metal above me, with the help of several others.
"Took… took you guys long enough…"I say, forming a pained, wry smile.
…
"Now… would you please repeat that, because I'm not sure I heard right." Sparatus says, hovering over me like a goddamn eagle. The fact that most Turians are naturally taller than humans apparently gives him some kind of imaginary advantage over me. I don't know, but he somehow doesn't seem to believe what Nihlus just told him. Hell, looking back at it from the avian ass's point of view, I can see his point. What are the odds that an assassin slipped inside the Council chambers, killed a councilor without even being noticed by Spectres and members of the STG, planted a bomb and got out again. All without bumping into the three of us, but still late enough for Valern's blood to still be flowing from the wound, and for the bomb to have time to spare before blowing up the place? As if that wasn't enough, why hadn't any security cameras caught him? Seriously, that guy was all smoke and fucking mirrors. I doubt even Kasumi could have snuck past that much security. Right now, we are being held, held in one of the bigger offices in the tower, C-Sec military personnel all around us, armed and armored to the teeth.
Slamming his talons down on the table before us, Nihlus growls, looking back up at the councilor of his species, as well as Tevos, who appears to be on the verge of an emotional breakdown. Sparatus looks more like he could rip Sovereign in half and still have enough rage to take on a Thresher Maw. If Turians could, Sparatus would be red-hot in the face now. He actually scares me;
"Councilor, I've told you twice already. We were headed for a meeting with Valern when all this happened. We entered the office where we were supposed to meet him, only to find him dead from a sliced throat. That was when we discovered a bomb in the room and attempted to get out of it. The bomb went off, sending me flying through the nearest wall and burying Shepard and Fisher in debris." That's pretty much it. When I was dug out, I noticed a hole the nearest wooden wall, about the size of a Turian. When I later learned what had made it, I couldn't help but think that later it might become something to look back on and smile. When I then shared that sentiment, I was brutally shot down. Guess my sense of humor and timing still sucks…
John is seated next to me, right arm in a sling. Apparently he had tried shielding us with his biotics, but had been overwhelmed almost immediately, thrown against the far wall before the entire room collapsed, showering him with debris and steel, knocking him out cold. Luckily, the damage to his suit was superficial, resulting in numerous gashes and tears at his uniform and realk, but refraining from penetrating his inner suit. Which is strange, considering that until now I had no idea such a thing was in use. Still, thinking about it, it makes sense. Astronauts didn't run around naked beneath their suits either. Or, I'm pretty sure they didn't. The visor took a bit of damage, cracking in three places. Apparently, as he later told me, that wasn't the first time he had had a visor rendered almost useless by damage like that. I wonder if the other time was on Akuze, or perhaps when Cerberus caught him.
My own uniform is pretty much ready for the dumpster as well. Just as I noticed when I was buried alive, the upper part of it seems to have been exposed to the flame, being eaten away to the hardest fabric on the inside. My legs are hurting like hell, and I've been given a pair of shin-supporters in case of sudden something. They didn't tell me. Or, they probably did, but my ears were still ringing from the explosion, something that oddly enough didn't come until I was pulled from the pile of shit and steel. One of the doctors took one look at my arm and was about to tell me to get to surgery when I told him what kind it was. He actually hadn't noticed that it was cybernetic. Guess there are posers everywhere. That, or Emhart did an even better job than I first thought. Hell, I would probably have been killed down there if it wasn't for the new arm. I was told later, when they examined my legs, that the only thing that had kept them from being brutally cut off, was the fact that I hadn't let up after hitting the metallic plate, turning out to be part of the ceiling, holding it up instead. If I hadn't had the arm, I would now not even be able to outrun Joker. Which would be the biggest joke of them all. The rest of me didn't fare that much better. While my legs were partially shielded from the fire, resulting in a pair of scorched shoes but nothing else, my entire torso was heated up pretty bad, causing some of the metal on my medal to melt, giving the guy on it a weird looking face. My right arm was fractured in four places, torn a deep gash in, as well as, and this is the worst part, all the hairs were burnt from it, leaving it looking like the skin of a baby. I suffered two minor concussions, a gash on my forehead that is now smeared in medi-gel, as well as losing all hair on the right side of my face to the fire. The ironic in all of this is that me and Ash spent almost half an hour shaving and cutting me, only to have half of it burned off. I also got some pretty nasty looking sore burn marks all over the right side of my body, from the neck to the waist, and my vertical scar was reopened. Apparently, that one was also leaking a fair amount of blood, which would explain why it was almost like a small flood. At least it felt like it.
"Yes… the nasty fact about all this simply is that the only people cameras have caught entering that room were Valern and your group. And the only ones to be seen leave were you as well." Sparatus says, running a talon over his face. John almost jumps from his seat at this;
"You're not serious?! Are you suspecting us!?" He shouts at the Turian councilor, causing said person to stare at him with anger;
"Of course not Qua- Shepard. I'm simply stating the facts that we have next to nothing on what the hell happened in there. One does not simply waltz by security this high, kill a councilor and buzzes off again, making zero people aware of the murder. It just isn't natural." Sparatus bellows, almost spitting every word out. John slumps back into his seat, glaring at the councilor. For the first time since this conversation began, Tevos speaks up;
"Perhaps the murder happened because of the meeting?" She says calmly, managing to control herself and regain her posture. Is that… could that actually be true?
"I don't know… for once, I'm as much in the dark as you are."
"Great…"
"I doubt it madam councilor. The meeting was only known to the four of us. Not even Valern's bodyguards were supposed to be there." Nihlus says, a hint of embarrassment over the statement. Valern's bodyguards were all STG, and could stop even a pack of krogan on the blood rage before they got to the councilor. If they had been there, maybe he wouldn't be dead, and the assassin would instead. The guy must have been following Valern, waiting till he was completely alone before striking. Less of a mess that way I guess. That is, of course, if you choose to overlook the entire blown up office and the ones next to it having been destroyed as well, with the residents narrowly escaping. One of them, only after dodging a flying turian Spectre who suddenly had emerged from the wall before proceeding to plow into a desk.
"Not even his bodyguards could be trusted?" Sparatus inquires, eying all three of us with a predatory gaze.
None of us answer him, simply looking around in silence. Even Nihlus looks like the space-cat finally got his tongue, being completely mute. The lights in John's eyes are darting from Nihlus to me, probably wondering where the hell we go from here.
"Well?" Sparatus says, his voice now rising a few nodes. His mandibles are constantly flaring in and out, making it look like his head is trying to take off, using a pair of bony wings.
"I…" I am not even remotely sure on what to say. I just know that Sparatus will shoot me down if I start talking about Reapers, and I probably won't fare much better from Tevos. Despite being the conflict-stopper, I don't think she is that much brighter than her turian counterpart. Valern was the brain on the council, and of course he had to be the one to die. Why the hell not Sparatus? That would even make more strategic sense from the perspective of the council's enemies.
"Maybe it was not something on Valern's official agenda? Could be STG-business finally caught up with him?"
"Oh yeah… pretty much all the Salarian officials have spent time in the Special Task Group, right?"
"Correct. Maybe this was the revenge of a family he had helped destroy?"
"Right… I tend to forget that all Salarians aren't saints like Mordin."
"Mordin designed an improved version of the Genophage."
"Right… no saint there either."
"Councilor, it was a deeply private matter, one that we could only discuss with Valern. No offense." John says, shifting in his seat.
"Seeing as it apparently ended up costing Valern his life, I would be interested in what the subject of the meeting would have been." Tevos says, looking at our small group like we aren't even here. Okay… Sparatus is a fuming ass, Tevos is a stoic and arrogant bi- woman… why did I save them in Genesis again?
"Paragon-points… and because Toegoff did so."
"Right… well unless they change attitude, I'll be the last person they'll want to make that decision to save them on account of human lives."
"Nihlus, you're the Spectre here… your call I guess." John says, looking at Nihlus. Both the Turian and me are looking at John in what can only be described as surprise. When the hell did we decide on that?
"They'll have to know sooner or later. If not, Saren will pretty much take the Citadel Fleet by surprise."
"But they won't believe us! Or me, or you! Hell, Sparatus will just claim I'm using some kind of mike or something, and Tevos will just agree with him for the sake of agreeing."
"Well… I… councilors, can we send the security outside?" Nihlus says.
"After what happened to Valern? On what grounds?" Sparatus says, actually viewing Nihlus with a bit of suspicion. I guess, after what happened with Saren, another Spectre going rouge isn't that hard to imagine.
"It… is important. Trust me when I say, that it is not for common ears." Nihlus says, looking a bit nervous.
"Hmm… very well, but they will remain just outside, within signal-range, and will be ready to act on a moment's notice." Tevos says, looking at her colleague. I can't believe this. They are going to tell Sparatus, SPARATUS about Roku? Or at least, about the attack on the Citadel, and then they will ask how we know it and then Roku will pop out and I end up in a lab. I grab John's free arm, the one not in gauze;
"John… do you seriously think, just for one fucking second that Sparatus is going to do anything but order us jailed for wasting his time, and that is the best case scenario. Worst case, I end up in a lab, my brain all over the fucking-" I sneer, speaking silently enough for only him to hear me;
"Ahem… if you wouldn't mind sharing your interesting conversation with the rest of us, I would still like to know why you and Valern were meeting without his guards. C-Sec is already going over the place, so you might as well help us out however you can." Sparatus says, sounding surprisingly calm for one who's known for declaring verbal war on anyone not agreeing with him instantly. When the security has left the room, the two councilors are looking back at us, obviously curious about what Nihlus wants to say.
"Well, it is not me, actually, that you should be looking at. I believe Fisher here would like to share something with you." What? Oh he didn't! Now both Tevos and Sparatus are looking at me, Sparatus looking like he just stepped in something.
"Nihlus, with all due fucking respect: I was ready to tell Valern because he is the only non-discriminating person on the council… no offence meant to you councilors… and that was fine. Valern would have found a way to tell them, without me ending up dissected. Now, this is your councilor, you tell them." I growl, shifting between looking at the councilors, Nihlus, and John who looks a bit worried. Possibly, he is starting to realize the same thing as me: that we're about to be fucked in the ass with a white-hot metal pole.
"Are you sure you want me to do that? I might miss some details that could be favorable towards you, or use some words capable of ruining our mission. You know the events better than any of us. It is therefore safest if you are the one to tell them." Nihlus says, gaining an almost soft undertone.
"For Mara's sake! Don't start pulling that shit on me, I remember how you guys reacted when Roku popped out the first time!" I say, raising my voice to an almost shout.
"And that is why you are the best suited to tell them about it… and who the hell is Ro- oh, right… but you know most about this whole thing. I only know what you told us. If you worry about being arrested for it you'll have my support as a Spectre. C-Sec can't touch you then." His flanged voice rises a few degrees, nearing an argument.
Do I really have to?
"Well, if you are desperate enough to ask me, even when I've already given my two-cents… then yes. I believe it would be for the best to tell the truth, then… what's the phrase? Get the hell out of dodge"
"Gee, thanks… now I'm certainly not nervous."
"I aim to please."
"I swear, say that one more time, and I'm going to google Space-dicks first chance I get."
"Sorry, sorry sorry! Okay, I'll shut up."
"Oh for fucks sake… Mara help me, because this will be… fucked up. More so than anything else I've done so far in this place…" I grumble, shoting a look of death Nihlus's way. Looking back at the two surprisingly silent councilors, I notice they are both looking confused at us. Me in particular;
"It is, I believe, in all's best interest that you tell us what you know private." Tevos says.
"Ehm… actually, he is a corporal… just got promoted madam councilor. I'm guessing the stitches were lost in the fireball." John says, actually addressing a councilor politely. Damn, he must be nervous as well.
"Fine… but if you even think about dissecting me after this, I swear to the Divines that you will regret it." I sneer, looking at Sparatus in particular. He would probably love to send me to some lab, even despite Nihlus trying to stop him.
"I would prefer if you ceased the hostile tone corporal. Dissection is not performed on sentient species." Tevos says, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Fine… alright, I'm… Talos, this was so much easier when I planned on only telling Valern… I don't even know how to start."
"Then why don't you allow me to begin?"
"You really think that's a good idea?"
"Better than you standing there stuttering like Professor Quirrel."
"Fine… just let me warn them first, okay?"
"And take the fun away? Give me one reason."
"Space-dicks"
"Fine, fine tell them to sit down or something." Roku says, almost adopting a sour tone.
Looking back at the group of aliens, I sigh, breathing in and exhaling heavily;
"Right… you two may want to sit down for this… if nothing else, then for the sake of preventing that you run screaming for the door." I say, feeling like I'm stumbling over half the words. Surprisingly, they obey me, planting themselves on a pair of chairs across from the table.
"Right… alright, wish us luck."
"Just… don't be surprised if Sparatus still calls this bullshit."
"In that case I have a backup plan… but it would be unpleasant for you, so let us hope it will not be necessary."
The two councilors are still seated, looking at me, when Roku spins up his magic trick;
"Greetings Sparatus and Tevos. Do not be alarmed by me, I mean you no harm."Roku says, voice kept on a relatively low, but still booming level. The two councilors do react differently from each other. Where Tevos almost flies from her chair in a biotic blur, Sparatus looks like he is fumbling for a sidearm. One which he, thank Mara, doesn't seem to have.
"What in- what in the spirits damned hell is this?!" Sparatus then splutters, sounding like someone just kicked him in the balls. Tevos remains standing behind her turned over chair, looking at me as if I had suddenly transformed into a husk.
"Way to go, scaring Sparatus."
"Thank you Thomas, now please…"
"Right, right… concentration."
"I am not a 'what' councilor. I am originally not a 'who' either. My name, or the name certain people on the Normandy has given me, Thomas included, is Roku. I am what you may describe as a spirit, or perhaps a "goddess", however these terms fall short of my meaning. Humans tend to describe me as a 'being of divine power' and they are surprisingly close to the truth, if one such exists about me."
"B- Bu… but this can't be… this cannot be happening!" Sparatus continues, his mandibles looking like they seek to tear themselves clean off his head. Tevos, having calmed down enough to stop glowing blue, manages to speak;
"Why- how… why are you here?"
"Oddly enough, you seem to be the first to ask me that so far Asari. For that I suppose I should give you credit for your calm. The reason I am here would be hard to comprehend to you, or even Thomas, my vessel. To put my purpose here in understandable terms, it seems appropriate that I give you a look into the future."
"Okay… how will you do that?"
"Simply watch, and forgive eventual pain…"
"Eventu- ghaaah!" My head feels like someone just threw a rock at my skull from the inside of it. My vision becomes blurry for a few moments, but I can see some sort of blue and white mist collecting on the wall next to me. Both the councilors look like they have seen a ghost, or a Reaper, when they notice what is on the screen. Because for some reason, Roku just made a screen on the wall, like the ones you would show a movie on.
"What I will do now, is to show you what will be, should you decide not to heed our advice, and act accordingly. Observe, not even a year from now." As he says this, forms and shapes start to appear on the screen, and suddenly it engulfs us, expanding around us like some kind of freaky holo-vid. Sounds begin to emerge as well, cries, explosions and the sound of gun- and cannon-fire.
"Roku, where the hell- oh Mara!"
"Correct. We are on the Citadel Thomas, an uncertain amount of months from now. In this scenario, we never made a difference that the game didn't."
"Goddess… what is happening here?" Tevos asks, her voice small and scared. Looking to where the voice came from, I can see her and Sparatus standing completely still, frozen in place as they look upon the enormous squid-shaped vessel ramming its way through the blockade, crushing dreadnaughts in its path: Sovereign.
"This councilors, is the Citadel, as you can see. Also, please note the swarms of geth destroying your fleets, as well as Sovereign on his way towards the Presidium Tower. Where we are now. Fortunately, this is all just a vision of what will happen, not a portal into the future. You will not be harmed by anything here… unlike that Salarian over there…" Roku says, notifying us of a Salarian in flight, pursued by what looks like… Gods, they are even more ugly than the zombies on Feros! Husks, with all their blue wires and machinery, catch up to the fleeing amphibian, forcing him to fall. They then brutally proceed to rip him to pieces, destroying his body as his arms are struggling to hold back the monstrous beings. It is futile however, as they grab hold on his arm, and with a sickening crunch, breaks it and tears it off by the shoulder. Screaming in pain, the Salarian kicks one of the husks away before scrambling to his feet having covered two meters, he is once again grabbed by the monsters, this time they tear out his throat, leaving him to die in seconds.
"Oh- Oh Goddess!" Tevos manages to stammer before throwing up on the ground.
"Spirit! I demand you tell me, what is this?! What or who did th- what is that black thing in the sky?!" Sparatus yells frantically, pointing at Sovereign, now no more than five hundred meters away, at the most.
"That is Sovereign. The first Reaper to make contact with organics in fifty-thousand years. The last time he killed, it was the Protheans who felt his wrath. Now, it is you."
"Wha- Bu- No, Reapers do not exist! They cannot! Is it Saren up there, steering that dreadnaught?! Why is he attacking?!" Sparatus yells, almost sounding like he could snap.
"SPARATUS! I will not hear this anymore! You have eyes I take it? Look at the monster of steel and flesh, look at what brought doom to the Protheans! Saren has already seen Sovereign for what he is, for what 'it' is. It shames me to think that Valern counted you as an equal in intelligence, when he could acknowledge the truth when it was before him, not reject it despite the evidence!"
"Ehm… Roku?"
"No longer will I be forced to watch in silence because the leaders of the galaxy are bickering like children, not willing to face the consequences that approach them! You refused to listen to Shepard when he told you about the Reapers! You refused to listen to Anderson when he shouted at you, calling you out on your ignorance!"
"Roku? Don't you think-" He really sounds pissed.
"And you as well Tevos! Your constant attitude of non-conflict has brought me nothing but annoyance. If you had been willing to face the truth, to show yourself to be an intelligent individual, as one of your age should be, we would have told you when we told Valern, and he may not have been dead now. I am not blaming you for his death, I am telling you, both of you, to wake up! If and when Sovereign reaches the tower and activates it, he will allow a fleet of hundreds, if not thousands of Reapers to appear right here, right at the Citadel. This was how the Prothean fell. They placed their government, their leaders, the brain of their Empire, here. When the Reapers attacked they never stood a chance.
"Are you saying that… that this whole station…" Sparatus says, realization seemingly coming to him.
"Was built by the Reapers themselves, yes. The Protheans discovered this place, and just as you did, I imagine they thought it perfect for their own seat of power, never wondering who or what had simply left a space-station this size for everyone's taking. There is another thing that is most crucial. The monument in the Presidium, the one right down there. Do you notice anything different about it?" At this, Tevos, Sparatus, me and John, as well as Nihlus, turn our heads to look at the monument placed in the lake. It's glowing and spinning like a regular relay would.
"What is happening to it? Why is it… why does it look like an active relay? Do not tell me that-" Tevos starts, but is cut off.
"Yes. It is an actual mass relay. The only one the Protheans actually built themselves. That, is what Saren has been searching for all along. That, is the receiving end of the Conduit."
"The… the Conduit? But… why?" Sparatus says, his voice weak with shock and dread as he looks upon the destruction around him.
"I do not know the details of its purpose, but my guess is that it was to be used the same way Saren has today. By discovering the other end, he was able to send hordes of geth, husk and Krogan through the gate, sneaking past your forces. Now, that mistake will cost you countless lives. Possibly your own as well."
No one responds, as we simply stand and look on, watching as Sovereign grasps the tower like a black hand would a stick, activating the Citadel's own relay.
"Come… I do not think it would be wise to remain here." As he says this, countless rips and holes in space appears. But instead of it being the Alliance, as in the video back home… it's the Reapers.
"Mara… there are… so… many!" I say, fighting to get each word out. I was never prepared for this, not for this. Where the hell is Shepard? Why hasn't he killed Saren yet?
"You would not like to see what follows…" Roku says, pulling us out from the Citadel, back into the office. The lamps hanging from the ceiling are swaying lightly, betraying the motion that just was. Sparatus is gripping the table to stabilize himself, while Tevos has sat down in one of the chairs, shaking worse than anything I've ever seen. John and Nihlus aren't much better. Where Nihlus is leaning against the wall for support, John has completely flat lined, slumped against the wall and allowed himself to simply lie against the wall. Me? I feel like utter shit. I have the worst nausea since waking up on Eden Prime, and my entire body is boiling. I… I can't… I can't hold it back. Grabbing the nearest trash bin, I let go, throwing up in it and losing the roasted ham and eggs Nic made for lunch before my promotion.
Having emptied my body of all nutrition, I get to my feet again, shaking like someone on drugs. I'm about to fall when a hand grasps me, pulling me up again. I look up to see a rather pale, but otherwise unscathed Nihlus let go of me as he places me against the table. My head is spinning, making me even more dizzy than before. I have to sit on the table and lie down if I am to avoid falling over myself again. I don't give a fuck if someone protests against me lying here. I just saw the fucking worst case scenario happen before my own eyes.
Mara forgive me, what was… I feel awful…
"I am sorry, but I didn't feel like being subjugated to what you suspected Sparatus would do. I had to… speed things up a bit. Forgive me."
"He- He- Hell… I don't think it will… be an issue. You scared the color from their faces, I doubt Sparatus will have anything to say now." Speaking of which, the Turian councilor is looking up, eyes frantic and filled with fear. It's not because I blame the guy. He did just see the end of the world with his own two eyes. I just hope it worked.
"Spirits… what was that? How could we be there and still here?"
"I… it was a vision, councilor. Listen, I know it is a lot to take in, some would probably go mad from it… but please listen to me. You can prevent it from happening, to a certain degree I think. I don't know how exactly, but we know that the ground forces will be coming out from the relay monument… can't we destroy it?" I say, not sure if Roku or I should be the one to speak.
"No… if it really worked like a relay, then destroying it would be the same as a star going supernova on the Citadel. We would all die… we can't even seal it in concrete as it will simply shatter that when it goes active. We can't turn it off either, as it isn't even on yet…"
"So… basically, we're still fucked?" I say, feeling hopeless. Was it all for nothing? We convinced the council, and we're still screwed?
"I… I don't know. Seeing as how that… the Reaper simply rammed through the ships, I don't know how we are going to stop it. I have an idea for how to stop the forces moving from the monument, but against that thing? I simply don't know." That's when I remember the second thing I wanted to discuss with Valern. The co-operation between the Migrant Fleet, the Alliance and the Salarian Union. Now I just doubt we'll be seeing the Salarians in that deal.
"Councilor, there was something else I wanted to talk to Valern about. He stroke me as a person without all the… bad habits the rest of you have, namely the anti-Semitism against Quarians." At this, I notice John's head perk up. He remains on the ground though;
"What has any of this got to do with Quarians?" Tevos asks, lifting her head from her hands on the table.
"Well, I have for some time been formulating an idea, you see. I had planned to work out some kind of deal between the Migrant Fleet, the Salarian Union and the Alliance… I have someone in the Alliance top-command I can depend on, but I still needed Valern before I would approach the Admiralty board… with your help Shepard." I say, using John's last name when with the councilors. It just seems… weird, to call him John in front of them. He turns his head to look at me;
"I… why didn't you tell me sooner? I could have helped convince the admirals even earlier."
"Well, to be honest I didn't want to go ahead and give you a false hope, only then for it to be shot down again."
"I see… but this deal, what was it about?" He says, sounding a bit sulky but otherwise just shaken.
"John, do you remember Kasumi, from the briefing room?" I ask, trying to ignore Nihlus and the councilors discussing something behind our backs.
"It is a little hard to forget someone with the habit of sneaking up on you… why?"
"Well, she has been given me different… stuff, from distant places… and I have been toying with the idea of trying to have someone work out the plans for some kind of proto-type warship. That's why I needed that deal, to have it made into a real thing." I have been spending some waking nights over the weeks, figuring out, or trying to figure out, what could be done, what kind of tech that would be needed, how big it would have to be to stand a chance against Sovereign.
"I guess that makes sense. But how would you be able to plan something like that out? You can hardly take out a plant without almost killing yourself in the process." He says, a small chuckle escaping him. It seems to go largely unnoticed by the councilors. Unless that is why Sparatus is making his way over to me at the moment;
"Fisher… in the light of the recent development… I have been… talking with Tevos. What we… what I, in particular refused to acknowledge has finally come to punch me in the face. I guess it is almost fitting, as I was the one least inclined to believe you people those months ago. But… what I guess I am trying to say is …Thank you. I'm still not sure if I can wrap my head around all of this… but I probably wouldn't even have believed you if this… this 'Roko' or 'Roku' hadn't intervened."
"So… what now?" I ask. Sparatus suddenly regains the exhausted look in his eyes.
"We can't tell the public, not yet. There would be chaos and mass panic if it became known that the… that the Reapers are coming for us. But… there is something else as well."
"What is it? Not to sound impolite, but neither of us have had the best day I think." I say, noticing that Tevos is suddenly standing right behind him, with Nihlus helping John to his feet.
"That much is true… what I want to discuss is this deal of yours. Since the Salarians will probably be in too much turmoil right now to handle making a deal, let alone help you with any sort of project. I overheard something about warships. Is that what the deal is about?"
"In… I guess in short yes. My plan was to have those three work together, with humanity supplying the resources and most of the manpower, the Quarians supplying their craftsmanship and utilizing everything they get into something worthwhile, and the Salarians would have been there because they are the smartest race in the galactic community. No offence intended."
"None taken. So, the deal about warships would be to mass produce dreadnaughts? Would that even work against such a thing as So- as a Reaper?"
"In theory, yes. Enough state-of-the-art dreadnaughts would be capable of bringing down a Reaper. They are, despite all their intimidation and godlike powers, just machines… machines with insanely strong shields and insane weapons."
"You are still making them sound unbeatable."
"Right, sorry about that… but my point is, that this 'deal', this project, would mean the evolvement of the newest weapons, Ion-cannons and plasma weaponry for example."
"Ion-cannons?"
"Hmm, you should try and take a look into human history later councilor. The ion-cannon was meant to be a weaponized version of the EMP created when a nuke goes off. In theory it could knock out anything in the skies, no matter how powerful the shields or armor were." The words 'in theory' are probably why Sparatus's brows are furrowing;
"In theory? It was never used I take it?"
"It was never built. The end of the cold war kinda made sure of that, and the weapon made it to the forget-me books, not to be considered again, except for in sci-fi movies."
"But… such a weapon would tremendously increase our chances in ship-to-ship fighting. I can't believe your people never even shared it with us. How… but, if it was archived with that time's technology, we wouldn't be able to read it now, let alone develop plans for a functional one in only a few months." I think it's time Kasumi has another trip to a galaxy far far away… hope she has some warm clothes.
"Well, I may have…may know someone who can get plans for a functional version. It will take a few days, but it should be capable of being reverse engineered once you have it."
"I… you would just give it to us?" For some reason, Sparatus and Tevos look like their eyes could pop out. What is the deal with them? Of course I will. We're apparently dead otherwise.
"Well… we survive that battle, and then we can talk about payment. It would be pretty jackass of me to demand payment for something I haven't field-tested yet."
"Still, you have done the council, and to that extend the galaxy a great service by revealing the truth to us. We will be… looking into this project as best we can, but it would greatly help were you to share a bit more information about what kind of ship we are talking about. I don't even want to think about the paperwork involved if it really entails dreadnaught-class ships… it does, doesn't it?" Tevos says, looking at me with tired eyes. Frankly, I'm amazed none of them snapped, and the fact that they are already ready to discuss the project? I may have to reevaluate those two.
"Yes. If the plan goes like I have thought it out, it will involve a whole new line of dreadnaughts. Not necessarily bigger, but better than what even the Hierarchy currently has."
"Sounds promising." Sparatus says, almost giving me a turian smile.
"Aren't we forgetting something here though?" John joins the conversation, leaving Nihlus to his own business.
"What would that be?" Sparatus asks, still not entirely comfortable around John it seems. I guess that was too much to hope for.
"Even if the Quarians were offered this deal, I can imagine they would want something in return." John says, looking at Tevos and Sparatus. Why do I feel like I won't like the next minute's words?
"And, if I may ask, what do you think the Quarians would do if we weren't up to full strength when the Reapers arrive, if we can't stop Sovereign?" Tevos says, irritation evident over the fact that the Quarians would want payment for doing the galaxy a favor.
"They would die, of course. The thing you forget is that the conclave and the admiralty board, just as every single other government in existence, tends to be borderline stupid and shortsighted. They will probably demand help in taking back the Homeworld." The last word is followed by a sigh, and I can't help but wonder if John himself has had some doubt as to if it will actually be worth all the death it will take to reclaim Rannoch.
"Wha- but surely thy can see that this is far more important? They won't let the council down, they cannot be that senseless." Sparatus almost chokes on his own words, probably realizing just why the Migrant Fleet perhaps wouldn't give a shit about the rest of the galactic community, given how they have been treating them for the past three-hundred years. Actually, that could become quite the hurdle in my plan as well.
"Councilor, ask yourself if you would risk crucial time for your own people in helping someone who never gave a shit about you, and who has treated your entire race like shit since Rannoch fell." Is all I can say. The lifted spirit that came with my suggestions and plans is pretty much gone, replaced by a cold atmosphere. Ironic that the century-long racism against Quarians should come back and kick the galaxy in the balls now of all times. Easy now… maybe they will see it from our point of view after all. I know Han'Gerrel will probably say 'sod the galaxy' but Korris and Xen should at least be interested, and maybe we can get Shala on our side as well. And, if Tali's dad is still alive, he could help as well. Actually, that could also serve to bring Gerrel into the fold.
"Spirits… we're going to have to talk to them on their terms, aren't we?"
"Yes, but we may have an ace in our sleeve." I say, remembering Rael'Zorah; "One of the admirals has a daughter who works on the Normandy. She could perhaps talk to her father?" I say. I silently pray that the father-daughter relationship here is better than in the game, or we are going to have a problem;
"I wouldn't hold my breath there Thomas. From what Tali has told me, there are still tensions, and the old bosh'ted is still acting more like a boss than a father around her." Great, there goes that idea.
"Regardless, we have to think this over, including which diplomats, ambassadors, political and military leaders to involve. I know this may sound crazy, given the circumstances, but I think we need to cut the meeting short. Also, my head is killing me. I hope we can continue this as soon as possible corporal Fisher, Commander Shepard, Spectre Kryik." Tevos says, nodding. She then leaves the room, leaving Sparatus with us.
Nihlus sends him a look.
"Right… we have been discussing the importance of the scene we witnessed in the vision. Nihlus came up with a suggestion, one which I find to be quite… unusual, but still what I would call only proper."
"Yes… I have been surveying both of you for some time now, and while I am still not completely sure on your skills in combat Fisher, but believe me, you only need some more time, I have been very impressed with you so far Shepard." I can't help but notice John and Sparatus actually exchanging looks. John looks confused while Sparatus simply gestures for Nihlus to continue.
"Meaning?" John says, turning to face Nihlus again.
"That from this moment on, you are to be considered a candidate for the Council Spectres. I will be continuing to monitor your progress as we go on missions together, and if you keep up you so far impressive list of features, I have no doubt that you will become the first Quarian Spectre in the last three-hundred years." Wow… I did not see that one coming, and judging from the way John is swaying, neither did he.
"That… but, my people don't even have an embassy on the Citadel anymore. How can we get a Spectre then?" Good point I guess.
"That fact is merely a smaller obstacle in our path. From what I understand, the council will be forced to take another look at your people's status as exiled from the Citadel's races." Nihlus says, a small smile etched on his face. Or, I think it is a smile. I really need to learn how to read Turians. Would suck if I pissed Garrus off unintentionally.
"Indeed. I… may not be the biggest fan of your people Shepard, but if anything you have proven that there is a bright spot somewhere in the darkness. That is also why I need your help. Consider it your first task in the Spectre evaluation." Sparatus says, looking somewhere between a smile and a scowl.
"Well, I… of course… what is it?"
"Neither me nor Tevos have the best… record with Quarian diplomacy, so I would like you to remain here for a few more hours and help us negotiate some terms with them. I trust the Migrant Fleet has a Quantum Entanglement relay?" Okay… who the fuck just turned the universe upside down? Udina is not that big an ass, the council believes me, Sparatus wants to negotiate with the Quarians… is someone playing Jumanji?
"I do believe I did quite well there."
"Hell yeah you did. Remind me to buy you a dri- oh, right… well, at least you can enjoy it if I go see a movie."
"Hmpf, is that supposed to be some kind of joke?"
"Well, what else can I give you as a reward for probably saving all our lives?"
"You can stop trying to block me from watching you and Ash together."
"That's a joke right?"
"Do I normally joke?"
"Well…"
"Don't answer that."
"Ehm, Shepard?" I say, looking at the Quarian.
"What is Thomas?"
"Well, there are only a few hours left of shore-leave, so I wondered if I could spend the rest of them, you know, with…"
"Ashley? Sure, go ahead. I don't think there is any more reason for you to stick around here anyway. Unless you want to bore yourself with listening to Quarian politics."
"Aren't Quarian politics like a big family meeting or something?" I say, remembering the trial.
"Who told you- right, I… Keelah, I still have to get used to you knowing all that. Anyway, is there any last boon your grateful commander can bestow upon thee before thy departure?" Why is John speaking like that? Sounds like something I would do… Mara, I haven't rubbed off on him, have I?
Still…
"Actually… my gear was fried in the explosion, so could I burrow your Omni-tool to call up Ash?"
"Do you have her number?" John says. That's when it hits me. I don't even have her number. We have simply been together from day one, so there never was a need to learn it.
"…No. Actually I don't…"
"Then let me just call her up. I have the number… here." He says, scrolling through the options on his tool. Why didn't that get busted by the way? I wonder if it is just way more reliable than mine was, or if he protected himself with a barrier. Pressing a few digits, the tool starts humming, like an old cell-phone.
"Williams, this is Shepard… yes, the 'good' one. Listen, I have a certain corporal here who would like to speak to you… yes, it's the cute idiot… no, I didn't say that out loud… just talk to him, will you?" John says, barely hiding the amusement in his voice. I listen to the same hum that signals a call being transferred to one's head-piece, and mine was miraculously not destroyed in the explosion. Worlds of wonders…
"Hey there. Is this the newly appointed corporal Fisher?" The cocky voice says, causing my insides to heat up. That wonderful voice.
"That was the right answer ma'am. You've just won a price." I reply, not being able to contain a grin. I never can when she starts doing her thing.
"Gee, what did I win?" She says, in on the little jest.
"Well, seeing as we have three hours left of the shore leave, you can chose between A) A movie by your choice and from my wallet, or B) a dinner for two at a restaurant after your choice."
"Well… I don't know. Will the dinner for two and the movie be with the host of this competition?"
"Sure will. Sorry Ma'am, but I think he might have a crush on you."
"Damn, and here I am already taken. Well you can tell Fisher, the cute guy with a Mohawk to meet me in front of Dayla Ciné, the Cinema on the Kithoi ward, in half an hour. I've already found a movie."
"Well ma'am, I'll make sure he knows that. Enjoy your evening." I say, hanging up while grinning like an idiot. I just can't help it when around her. Even through the "phone" her presence is enough for me to feel on fire.
"Sounds like you have your day planned." John remarks as I give him the sign that the call has been terminated; "Do you think she'll like your new look?" He says, gesturing to my face and uniform. Crap, I forgot that I had been halfway stripped when the flames ate at me.
"Do you think I could find a taxi that goes back to the Normandy?" I say, wanting to at least get some intact clothes on.
"Sure. I'll have one called up here right away. Oh, and do try to get that wound cleaned up." John ads, looking at, I guess, the gash on my forehead. I hope Ash likes men with scars…
…
Man, this place would have taken me days to find if I hadn't asked for directions. A big station? Big my ass, it's huge. The cinema is a giant silver-white square building, complete with large windows and long lines of green running along the sides. For a building, it's actually quite nice looking. Looking around, I notice Ash standing near the entrance, back towards me, reading something on a poster. Man, this is going to have her kick my ass… but I just have to.
I walk towards her, careful not to stray into her field of vision. When I'm only a few meters behind her, she has yet to notice me. She has changed her clothing from the navy blue to her casual uniform, the black or dark blue one she wears on the ship. I have also donned the casual uniform, dumping my 'fine' clothes on my bed, not sure if I have to throw them out or if I can have them fixed. What pisses me off the most about it, is that my new rank stitches were lost as well, meaning that by appearance, I'm still a lowly private. Sneaking towards Ash, I'm now less than two meters from her. Doubt is starting to yell at me, telling me how stupid this is. I bet Roku is going to reprimand me as well.
"No, by all means, go ahead. This should be highly entertaining, whatever the outcome."
Okay, so he didn't reprimand me. Oh well, too late to turn back now. Ash still hasn't noticed me, but I'm starting to draw a few stares from the people around me, possibly due to my facial scars and the way I'm sneaking up on the seemingly defenseless woman in front of me. Here we go…
Taking a small jump forward, I throw my arms forward, grabbing her around the waist.
"What the- let me go you prick!" Ash shouts, sprawling and flailing as I lift her into the air, grinning like the bad guy in a B-rated action movie. Several people have stopped to look at me, possibly wondering if they should come to Ash's aid. Still not knowing who it is, Ash sends a kick backwards, connecting with my right shin. The pain flares through my leg, causing me to drop her on the ground. I grab for my leg, cursing inwardly. I fucking knew this was a bad idea!
"And I knew it would be highly entertaining!" Roku laughs. Bastard…
"Arrhh… remind me not to try and surprise you again." I halfway grumble, halfway grin as I jump around hugging my shin. Christ, she has a hell of a kick! Turning around, Ash recognizes me;
"What the- Thomas you imbecile moron, why did- what the hell happened to your face?!" She almost shouts the last part, noticing the more than a few scars my face now sports. I should have suspected something like that would be her reaction. Note to self: stop acquiring more scars.
"Well… the meeting took a turn for the worse…" I say, letting go of my leg but still refraining from standing on it. Ash gains an even more worried look than before;
"What do you mean? Did they actually try to dissect you? Did they shoot at you? Why is half of your hair gone?"
"Err… No, No and that was because I was caught in a fireball. You see, when we got to…" I start, then noticing that quite a few people are watching. I gesture for Ash to follow me to the side, a little away from the rest. Leaning against the building, I sigh. I'm pretty much exhausted, having been blown up, dug out and sent into a vision.
"Now, what the hell happened to you?" Ash says, gently touching the gash on my forehead. It's been smeared in medi-gel, so I'm guessing it looks like the world's biggest pimple.
"As I said, the meeting didn't go the way I wanted it to. When we arrived at Valern's office, he was dead and-"
"Dead?!" Ash exclaims, then quickly placing a hand over her own mouth, not wanting to draw any attention;
"Sorry… but dead? What the fuck?"
"I know, I think I said about the same thing before the bomb in his lap went off, destroying the ro-"
"A bomb?! What the hell? How could someone plant a bomb in the tower, and why?" She says, eyes darting from one wound to the other. Eventually her eyes fall to the halfway melted medal I have to keep around my neck in a string, seeing as the ribbon was burned to a crisp. I get the feeling that she would have smiled, maybe even giggled at the melted image of the man on it, were it not for the fact that it was melted because of what happened to me.
"Beats me how it was done, security seemed pretty tight. As to why? I can imagine councilors having a lot of enemies, pirates and the lot hating them."
"Sorry… but how was he dead? Shot?"
"No… it looked like someone had slit his throat. When the bomb went off, Nihlus was sent flying through a wall and John and me buried under a ton of debris. By the way, I found out Emhart wasn't kidding when he said the arm could support almost five-hundred kilos. Apparently, that's why I still have my legs."
"Christ… did… did anyone else die?"
"Other than Valern? No, we all survived. Sparatus and Tevos then made sure we were treated and… listen to this: we actually convinced them. We convinced the council to believe us, about Saren, the Reapers and everything. They even made John a candidate for the Spectres, and now he is helping them with negotiations with the Migrant Fleet. How awesome is that, I ask you."
"Holy Hell… how the- how did you manage to pull that stunt off?"
"Well, actually it was Roku. When we were alone with the councilors, he opened some kind of vision to the future, the future I have seen… or, that was what I thought."
"A vision? What happened in it?"
"We saw the Citadel under attack from the Geth and from Sovereign, the big black Reaper. But… something was off. Instead of the fleets taking down Sovereign, it actually succeeded, opening some kind of relay to dark space, letting the rest of the Reapers through. I… there were so… so many of them. Hundreds… thousands even… Roku ended the vision before we saw what happened next, but I doubt we would have won."
"Jesus… I… I don't know what to say." Ash says, her former cheery mod gone, replaced by a horrified look on her face.
"Neither did anyone else for a time. I threw up, and the rest were forced to either sit down or support themselves against the table. But it worked. They were convinced of the Reapers existence. When Sovereign arrives, I think we'll be more ready than in… than how I saw it the first time." I say, remembering how the fleets had been torn apart, how the Salarian had been killed and how the councilors had reacted.
"In the game?" Ash says, catching me completely off guard.
"Ash… I have tried, so please… do the same and stop talking about the game. It's confusing enough as it is."
"Sorry… but how can they be 'ready', to face that kind of attack?"
"Remember the Admiral, Anna?" I say, remembering the fucked up fact that my sister is alive and here as an admiral.
"Your sister? Yeah I remember her of course, why?" It doesn't get any less fucked up hearing Ash talk about her, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Yes… well, when we were having the meeting, remember how we gave her some schematics?"
"Sure, my arm was dead from keeping it up for so long. Were those schematics for the preparation against the attack?"
"Yeah, but I only showed her the smaller ones. I am keeping the big one until I can get Kasumi and at least one of the clones together. I need her to bring back something pretty wicked."
"A giant gun that fires geth?" Ash says, regaining some of her good mood.
"Nah, though I guess that would be pretty awesome as well. No, the clones, where they come from. Their ships don't use Element Zero to travel, and as a result, most of their ships are more than just one kilometer in length, and often even broader than what the Turians can come up with. If I could get my hands… our hands, on the tech for their drive-cores, I'm sure I could do something pretty awesome with it. I already have a few ideas."
"Still… you can't use something like that yourself. You would need a giant fac- okay, I need that one again… They don't use Eezo? Then how the hell do they travel faster than light?" Ash says, looking pretty much dumbfounded.
"I'm not certain, which is why I need those plans, or a complete engine, whatever she can bring back."
"Okay… let's say you actually get those plans… how the hell will you use them?"
"I'm not going to. The project is." I say, grinning like an evil maniac. Ash looks a little less confused now;
"Wait, didn't you discuss some kind of project with Anna?"
"Yup, the one with the Alliance, the Quarians and the Salarian Union working together to build a big ass bunch of starships."
"Yeah, I thought that sounded familiar… so, if Valern is dead, the Salarians won't join?"
"Honestly? I don't know. I'll leave it to Sparatus and Tevos to figure that out. In the meantime, Sparatus apparently pledged his support to the project, and kept John up there to help negotiate something with the Quarians… and will you now tell me what movie we're going to watch?"
"Oh, I thought it would be the host who would join me. A shame, then I just have to settle for you." She says, leaning in and giving me a kiss. I happily return it, and we stand there for a little while, just enjoying each other's presence and warmth.
Breaking away, Ash smiles that warm smile of hers, and I can't help but smile back. It's simply impossible not to smile when she flashes those curled lips;
"You've gotten better at this." She says, grinning. Say something cool, say something cool.
"Yeah well, I've had a pretty good teacher." Not bad…
"I will take that as a compliment, now come on: the film starts soon." She says, starting to drag me by the artificial arm. Dammit my shoulder still hurts like hell.
"Wait, you haven't even told me what we're going to watch." I say, trying to slow her down. Talos, she's like a four-year old, having spotted the big teddy bear in the shooting-tent.
"Oh, yeah that slipped my mind. It's actually something Tali suggested, saying that she wanted to take John seeing it, but wasn't sure if they would let Quarians in."
"So… what is it?"
"A romantic movie: Fleet and Flotilla." She says, looking at me with that cocky grin still plastered on her face. A romantic movie? Really?
…
The man, impeccably dressed as always, turned in his chair as his employee approached him. Having been searched by a V.I, he didn't pose any threat without his combat knife and sword. Or, even if he did, it would not be enough to escape the place alive, should he turn on his employer. The former Jack Harper never took a risk, not even with his own employees. If he had, he might not still have been called the 'Illusive Man', as the rest of the galaxy had taken to refer to him as. In truth, he didn't mind the name, finding it quite fitting for someone depending on never being found. Now, he turned to face his newly returned assassin.
The man, probably no older than twenty-five, had strong Asian features, middle-length black hair and a hard face. It was clear that this was a man of determination, not of compromise. It was also clear, that the words mercy or compassion were not to be found in his dictionary. This was one of the reasons why he was the best assassin the Illusive Man had in his arsenal, and why he was only sent on the most difficult of tasks. This time however, he had slipped up.
"Welcome back Leng. I have already read the reports on your hit. Quite impressive that you managed to evade every single piece of surveillance they had. The kill, however, was found out before the bomb went off. We now deal with three potential witnesses, and if they survived, they will have told the council what they saw. They will soon realize that this wasn't an 'accident'. You are not starting to slip up, are you?"
"The bomb must surely have killed them. One of them was the turian Spectre Nihlus Kryik. He must have been killed, as well as the human. I did some background check on him, just to be sure." Leng said, lips curling into a slight smirk. Igniting his cigarette, the Illusive man gestured for him to go on;
"Newly promoted Corporal Thomas Vestergaard Fisher, former soldier on Eden Prime, served on the SSV Normandy prior to the bomb, took part in the liberation of Zhu's Hope, as well as finding one Liara T'soni on Therum. Also he… recently was wounded, received the Purple Heart as well as cybernetic upgrades." Leng added the last part with a hint of disdain, not approving of people using genetic and cybernetic augmentations to increase their skills. He had worked long and hard to get where he was now, and had already once had competition from someone close to rivaling his skills in a close-quarters fight. A damned idealistic young blonde, an alien lover, as he had described himself to spite Leng.
"Hmm… you seem to have done your research…" the Illusive man said, bringing the Asian back from his memories; "But what about the third?"
"A Quarian, sir. If the explosion didn't kill him, surely the numerous suit-breaches would have." Leng failed to notice the dark cloud that gathered over his boss's face. That was, however, until he spoke;
"Leng… I'm sure my ears must be failing. I believe I just heard you say that one of the three people from the Normandy caught in the explosion was a male Quarian?" Harper said, barely containing his anger. If Leng had killed John'Shepard nar Rayya, then there was a serious problem. The Normandy would be without a captain, and before a new one could be found, it was highly likely that Saren Arterius would have found whatever it was he was looking for, and bring his forces against the council and humanity. With a slightly shaking hand, he extinguished the only half-way burned cigarette by mashing it into the ashtray.
"Is there something wrong sir? It was just a Quarian… not really a loss. But yes, I do believe that, like Fisher and Kryik, he served on the Normand-" Leng had to cut his talk short to evade the newly purchased ashtray tossed at his head. Shocked, he stared back at his usually so calm and controlled employer.
"What the hell was that for?!" He shouted, giving hell in the fact that shouting at your boss was a quick way to lose more than your job in his line of work.
"You may just have killed humanity's best chance of survival you incompetent idiot! John'Shepard was the commander of the Normandy, and they will never find someone to fill out those shoes before Saren makes his move! Even Captain Anderson seems to have seen too many battles, he's retired. Even should he take back his old position, it won't be in time to stop Saren. If Shepard is indeed dead, I'm sending you after Saren yourself." The usually so calm and controlled face was replaced by the closest thing to rage anyone had ever seen the Illusive Man express. He had not let himself slip like that since Eva's death. Since the day he decided to create Cerberus.
"A Quarian? Are you saying that thát Quarian was the commander of the Normandy? I thought it was just a joke when I heard it. Why would the Council send a Quarian after Saren?" Leng said, not fully believing what he had just been told. Inwardly, he began praying to whatever divine powers were out there that he hadn't actually killed Shepard. He did not carry the illusion that he could get to Saren, let alone get away from the scene when the hit was carried out.
"Maybe because, unlike you, he knows what he is doing. Or, if we are unlucky, he knew what he was doing. You better-" He continued, only to be cut off when his ear-piece activated, signaling an incoming call;
"Yes, this has better be important… yes… ahh… thank you Miss Lawson, yes, I'll tell him…" He said, disconnecting from the caller. Turning his attention back towards the assassin, he smiled. A cold smile created from years of supervising, orchestrating and berating his employees, such as Kai Leng, when they had almost made an irreversible mistake.
"Well Leng… it seems we just pulled by. Apparently Shepards Biotics managed to hold off the explosion long enough for them to be superficially injured only, not killed. Consider yourself lucky, that it didn't go worse, and consider your paycheck for this month cut in half. Good day mister Leng." And with that, he ended the conversation. Turning around in his chair, he made every signal possible that the conversation was over, and that Leng was no longer wanted in the room.
Reluctantly, Leng left, a dark scowl on his face.
The Illusive man returned to the view of the star, picking a fresh cigarette from a small pack in his suit. With a tired look on his face, he pressed his ear-piece again;
"Lawson?" He said, connecting to the female operative.
"Yes sir?"
"Thanks… you may have just saved me some restless nights, as well as Leng's life." He said, rubbing his forehead with his free hand. He was tired. Being the leader of an organization as important and crucial as his, he had to be on his toes twenty-five hours a day, not allowing his numerous enemies to gain as much as a slight notion as to where he was. Humanity needed him far too much for that.
"Just doing my job sir. Anything else before I jump back to bed?" She said, a small smile in her voice. They had long enjoyed a friendly, if professional working relationship, and Miranda would always be grateful to him for helping her hide her sister from their father. Unbeknownst to her, the former Jack Harper had always somewhat admired Alexander Lawson for his work, for his dedication to the human race. It had, however, taken a steep turn downwards on the curve, when the Illusive Man had discovered just how and, more specifically, why, Miranda and her sister had been brought to the world. He had ended all relations with the geneticist the next day. As had the funding to Cerberus that had flown from Alexander's pockets. It hadn't been that much of a loss, however, as he had instead gained the undying loyalty of Miranda. He had told himself many times, and he could do it again: he had never met a brighter woman.
"Actually… can you send me the current files on project 'Lethal Night'?" He said, remembering how he had contemplated the risks against the gains of his newest biological weapon. There was a moments silence from the other end as Miranda dug through her files. A sudden but soft ping told him that the files had arrived.
"That's all of them sir. We still… haven't been able to reduce the casualties." She said, a hint of regret in her voice. They both knew the price, as did the volunteers for the project.
"I know… but keep trying." They also both knew that the volunteers were never told exactly how they were going to, only that their participation would help humanity in the long run. Inhaling the clean smoke from the cigarette, he looked over the holographically displayed files.
Codex entry on Alexander Lawson:
Alexander Lawson (2162) was born to the wealthy Lawson-family, being the younger brother of Henry Lawson, the heir to the Lawson Empire. Being a skilled geneticist, he quickly made himself a name in the company without help from his name. During the First Contact War, Samuel and Lisbeth Lawson, Henry's and Alexander's parents, were killed when Shanxi was raided by the Turian Navy. Since that day, both young men have been known to be very outspoken opponents of humanity's role as a 'servent' to the aliens, Alexander stating that "I would rather see the Citadel and all those serving it, burn, before I saw Earth ruled by aliens and their fan-club."
In 2181, Alexander Lawson was declared a wanted man, due to his extensive research into cloning human beings. Current whereabouts are unknown.