A/N: I AM BACK! (EPIC GUITAR SOLO)
Alright, I have been spending the past two weeks pounding the crap out of my phone by a pool in the mountains, so expect some less than mild rage or/and violent thoughts in this one... Still, I am not sure how good this is. Writing on the phone is hell in the Headspace (Epic song by the way), and I would rather never do it again.
I have been meaning to give proper justice to a man often hated and trolled in the entire ME-verse, but you will have to see that for yourselves. I have also been reading my reviews concerning the story and Jenny in particular. I have to admit, I never dreamed that I could make a character as loved as 'little Jack' is, and frankly? I love it. You guys simply are the best.
Also, since High school starts again next week, I will take longer to make these chapters. As a matter of fact, I am starting a new story sometime this weekend. It will be a new cross-over, between Legend of Korra, and Skyrim. From what I can see, there's three, at most, stories concerning that mix, and I intend to rectify that issue. It will be in shorter chapters, to see if that makes it easier to read than my own bricks of 10k chapters.
DON'T WORRY! I am not stopping work on this story, but we all knew that the stream of fast uploads would end eventually. Still, I plan to upload at least twice a month with "Careful what you wish for", plus the new story.
In other words, 'LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!'
Brutality of Reality
"When are they coming?" Jennifer asks, looking around the huge space that is the docking-areas on the depot. I have to admit, the look on her face when I explained to her that we were going to be on a spaceship with the angel, was nothing short of adorable. It seems that I am not alone with the awe that comes from flying through space. However, that might just be because she is a child. Children are easier to impress than most people would be... I think.
"Soon. Did you remember to thank the nice officer for the food?" I ask, looking down at her as she shuffles to sit better on a plastic bench. With a slight smile, I sit next to her, crossing my left leg over the right one.
"Yes… he looked funny though…" She says.
"How?"
"His head-things went wide and not wide all the time." There's wonder in her voice, causing me to crack a smile. With a small sigh, I lean back against the railing, exhaling in a content way. I really have come to enjoy her company these last few days.
"Well that's how Turians express themselves. They can't smile you know."
"That's sad."
"Well they get along just fine without smiling. We actually have a Turian on the ship."
"You do?"
"Sure does. He's called Garrus Vakarian and he has a stick up his butt." I say, chuckling lightly as I remember how Joker described him.
"That must hurt."
"Ah, it's just a way of speaking. It means he isn't that good at socializing." I explain.
"Maybe that's because the stick is hurting. Can't you take it out?" I have to stop myself from laughing here. Her innocent thinking is just priceless.
"You can try doing that. I don't think he wants most people around his hind-quarters."
After Legionnaire Delaron had allowed me to use the comm-system, I took Jennifer out to find something to eat. Mainly it was due to me not wanting to leave her, that made me bring her along. Delaron is probably a decent person, but I didn't want to risk anyone working for Cerberus to take her.
So instead of just waiting around at the station, I took her out for dinner. In a different meaning of the word commonly used to describe a romantic dinner. Because that would just be plain creepy.
All in all, the cafe was a nice place. It wasn't too dirty, and the prices were fair... For a space-station at least. I can thank Ash that I was able to pay for the food though. If she hadn't taught me how to access my account when we were on the Citadel, I would have been stuck with a useless Omni-tool.
Seriously, I took a Cerberus Omni-Tool, and didn't even stop to check if it was code-locked. An idiot of the moment, I believe it's called.
Instead, I treated Jennifer to a massive plate of something the waiter swore was a sort of alien Levo-amino chicken... At least, that's how I understood it. In the end it didn't matter though. We dug in and ate to our hearts' content, leaving only a few pieces of pastry that clung to the plate. I don't think I've enjoyed a meal that much since Nikolai made curry-chicken on his first day as chef.
Dear Gods I miss his cooking.
"Thomas, do you have children?" Jennifer says, snapping me back to the present. A little surprised at the question, I look at her with a soft smile;
"No... No children... Besides, I'm hardly old enough for that yet, don't you think?"
"Maybe, but Ashley seemed like a nice lady, even if she isn't an angel... If you should have children, would you like her to be their mum?" She asks, totally oblivious to me almost falling from the bench with a blood-red face. I end up almost choking, and have to punch my chest to get the air start flowing again. Jennifer just watches my face as I get back on my feet, dusting off my legs and graves as I sit down again, my helmet resting in my lap. She did not just ask me that… I must have heard wrong.
"Why did you do that? Did you eat something bad?" She asks, causing me to rub my temples as I consider just how to respond. Okay, so she did ask me that…I mean it's not that the thought isn't appealing, it's just because I haven't even gone anywhere near that line of thought yet. I mean sure, some day I suppose I would like to have kids, but for the moment it isn't exactly something I'm having as my goal...
Besides, I doubt I'm the right guy for suddenly fathering a child, and I want to know Ash even better than I do now before I even start considering anything.
"I... Jen, can you make me a promise?" I say, my voice hoarse from the shock.
"Sure, what promise?" she asks, a completely innocent smile on her face.
"Don't... Ever mention that to Ash, okay?" I stammer, feeling my heart-rate go up. A look of disappointment comes over her face.
"Why not? Are you scared she doesn't want to?" I know she means well, but it is difficult answering that question while remaining calm;
"I... No, it's not that... Well, a part may be that, but I wouldn't know the first thing about raising a child... I'd just mess up and ruin its life." I mutter, not knowing what else to say. I mean, how the heck do you explain something like that to a child.
"But you're a nice person. And dads are nice persons. And you gave me food. So why are you nervous about that?" It's impossible to give her a straight answer to that one. Instead I just take my hand across my eyes, rubbing them as I consider her words. Maybe one day... Sometime in the future...
"Whether or not I would be a good dad... I think I'd rather wait a few years before going there... Besides, we're out hunting a bad man... Children would not make the best new crewmembers..." I shrug, giving her a smile.
"Can I help? I have biotics. I could throw him to the moon... Or just really far... I once threw a cat up on a roof, and I wasn't even trying that much." Jennifer says, putting her hands in her side like a determined young lady. Not sure how to react to her proposal, I just chuckle mildly, giving her shoulder a little squeeze;
"I don't doubt it. It's just that having children, even super strong biotics like you fight, isn't viewed with mild eyes by the people who pay us... Besides, you're going to see your mum and dad again." I smile, giving her back a little scratching.
"Yeah, but imagine if I could start school with telling them all how I helped beat... Who's the bad man?" She asks, causing me to crack a smile at her virtue. Jack or not... She's got the spirit. Could actually be funny watching her beat up Saren… the fuck am I thinking here?
"A Turian named Saren. He doesn't like us humans and he has killed a lot of people..." Explaining our mission to a child is...difficult, to say the least. Sure, I could go into details with how he had innocents mangled and speared on Dragons teeth, turning them into husks…
As I lean back against the bench, I look out over the space surrounding the station, half expecting any new ship to be the Normandy.
"Well, that was a rather ni- Who's the kid?" Roku's voice causes me to twitch in the seat. At least I didn't fly into the air again.
"Roku! Don't. Ever. Scare me. Like that. Ever again! Jesus Christ you scared me there!"
"Sorry, I didn't choose my time of awakening. In that aspect I am like you a lot… so who's the kid?"
"You don't know?" I ask, a small frown appearing on my face.
"No, when I 'go to sleep', my monitoring is cancelled, in a manner of speaking, and I can't access memories from your time alone."
"Oh… I didn't know that. I thought that since you could see my life before the train, you could… never mind. Her name is Jennifer, and I have a really strong suspicion that she would have become Jack if not for my intervention."
"When we get home, will you say hi to my parents? I would like it if you did." Jennifer says, snapping me back to reality. We'll talk later Roku.
"Sure, was planning on it anyway. Seems like the least I can do... Also, where do you live? I don't think you ever told me." I say, raising a brow at her. For some reason, my question causes her to shift uncomfortably in her seat;
"I... I can't really remember that. I don't know what it was called, but we had a red car, and I lived in a biiiig house, really tall... And I think it was kinda warm, but also a lot of cold most of the time, so mum was always nervous when I was outside, and I always had to wear a sweater, even when the sun shined..." A little odd, but I suppose children remember things differently than older people.
"Was it on Earth?" I ask. For a few moments, it looks like she can't remember that either, but eventually she nods.
"Alright, do you remember what country it was?" We might as well try to narrow it down a bit. However she just shakes her head, causing my hopes to dive.
"Alright... That's just a minor setback... I'm sure we can figure it out on the ship... by the way, what's your last name? I don't think you ever told me." I say, trying to inspire a little confidence in her. I just wish I had some myself.
"Nilsdottir… I remember that some kids in kindergarten always teased me for it… does that help?" Jennifer Nilsdottir…
"Yeah, that is bound to help. Now we can probably search for your data in some way. But we'll have to do that when the ship comes." I say, smiling at her. Being with Jennifer is a great experience. Not only is she cute as hell, she has a way of speaking that makes me smile no matter the situation.
"When is the ship coming? I've never been on a big ship before, are there toys? Do you have a bathtub, like with foam and small ships?" I can practically see the eagerness in her eyes. With a small ships chuckle, I just shake my head at her enthusiasm, remembering the crappy faucets on board.
Somehow I doubt we have a bathtub on the ship. At least I never saw it... Gods do I need a steamy bath... Shower or tub, just hot water will do...
"No... I don't think we do... We have some showers though..."
"Mum didn't like me showering alone..." There's a small tone of regret in her voice.
"Why not?" I ask, shuffling slightly in my seat.
"Remember when I said I nearly destroyed our home?" Jennifer says, reddening slightly in the face while looking down at her knees, feet dangling in the air.
"Yeah... You didn't say why though..." I say, scratching the start of a beard emerging on my face. I really need a shave, despite the green fire torching a bit of the beard, it somehow keeps growing at an insane rate… I hope I'm not going to get a visit from Morgan Freeman telling me to build an ark… Although a visit from Morgan Freeman would be pretty neat.
"When I was four, something bad happened when I took my first shower on my own. I don't know what happened, but suddenly it started to hurt and I tore the door off its hinges... My mum was screaming and dad was shouting about biotics... I was scared." Damn… I can easily image how traumatizing that must be for a kid. Watching your house getting wrecked by your own biotic powers, your parents screaming, your mom crying… Can't have been easy being a biotic kid like that.
"Was that the first time you knew about biotics?" I ask, shifting a little closer to her.
"Yes. I don't think mum liked the things I could do... I heard her say that biotics scared her... Then she said that she would still love me just as much, but she didn't like me being alone since then..." She says, turning her face to look at me. Seriously, what did the universe have against this girl? First she trashes the house, then she overhears her mother describing how her daughter is scaring her, then she gets sick, and then Cerberus abducts her…
"What if she won't love me when I come home?" Her question causes me to get a little worried, returning the look with furrowed brows.
"Why wouldn't she? You're her daughter" I know parents love their kids no matter what. Hell I even think Hitler's parents… okay, bad example. Point is, I'm sure they will still love Jen no matter what. Besides, she's only six, and I, if not love her, at least adore her. How would her parents be able to do any less?
"But I've done some bad things, and I didn't even feel bad until afterwards..." For some reason, her comment causes my blood to freeze and my heart to almost stop. They didn't start with... I mean, not that soon?
"Jen... What are you talking about? I won't blame you if Cerberus made you do bad things...but... what bad things?" I say. I fully remember how difficult it is telling your parents something bad had happened. Now, I just fear I'm making it hard on her.
Jennifer looks at her knees for a few moments, none of us speaking. I look her face as she averts her eyes. I have always found it odd how little girls usually seemed brighter than boys of the same age. And I'm seeing the same in her eyes as well. Now though, the brightness is gone, replaced with sadness and shame.
"When they had me, the men made me fight other children... They put needles in me and made my head spin and my nose bleed... Then I had to fight the other children. I... can't remember if they died or... I just know that my hands hurt and had blood on them when I woke up. What if some of those dead children we saw were someone I... I killed?" Holy God... They really did put her through it?
'I was a kid filled with drugs... I still get warm feelings during a fight...' The twisted version of the adult Jennifer says, the voice haunting my mind as it conjures up images of Jennifer beating other children to a pulp while drugged. A sudden pain alerts me to my nails having penetrated the skin on my right palm, small red marks shining as drops of blood appears. Get it under control, you can't start glowing green in a public area… breathe in, out…
"You hate me now don't you? They all hated me because they knew what I did" Jennifer says, a small shudder going through her little body.
"Jen... I..." I stammer, not knowing just how to respond to this. It's surreal, knowing that this little girl might have killed multiple children her own age or older, maybe even younger.
"I know you thought I was just a scared little girl, and I never wanted to hurt anyone, but..." She says, her voice so low that I have to strain my hearing to pick up her words.
"Jennifer..." I mutter, not sure on what else to say. I'm not sure what I can say. I mean, just how does this even make sense? I rescued her at the age of six, and they still managed to ruin her innocence in that time. Innocence… what a funny word.
"What if some of those dead children... I had blood on my hands when I woke up... I can't... I sometimes see them when I sleep..." Her voice is stronger now, sounding as if it might break. It's hoarse, and I feel my own throat tighten up with emotion. For the love of fuck… This just… it isn't fair!
"Jen..."
"I want to think they're just dreams... But it's the same children... I don't like it when they start crying and then their faces start bleeding and-" She continues, speaking faster and faster as she works herself up. In the end I can't take it anymore. I cut her off as I do the one thing experience has taught me works: I wrap my arms around her small form, pulling her against me in a tight embrace.
"Jen... It was my fault. I didn't find you fast enough, and I should have. It was never your fault, never your fault..." At first, she doesn't respond to the embrace, still caught up in her rant. Then, slowly, she slides her arms around my body, burying her face in my chest. I can feel the trembling going through her little body, the waves of emotion washing over people when they are on the verge of a breakdown. I just want her to be safe, not to have to relive this sort of nightmare. Anyone comes after her; I'll tear them apart, one fucking limb at a time!
I am not sure how well my voice carries over the sound of my heart beating against my ribcage. A loud sniff brings my sight down to her face, a few tears running down her cheek as her breathing slowly returns to normal.
"Why aren't you angry? I maybe killed other children and you haven't even shouted at me." Jennifer asks in a confused and upset voice, causing me to hug her even tighter before slowly letting her go. My heart is still beating like my life depended on it, and my head is starting to hurt. Still, my voice is surprisingly calm;
"Jen..." I say, slowly letting go as I feel more than one tear emerge in my eyes. Fuck... I never was good at this sort of things; "I'll keep it a secret if you can keep a secret as well." I say, forcing myself to smile as I look at her.
"I... But... I can keep secrets." She says, forcing a smile to my lips. This time genuine.
"I know for a fact that you would have turned out alright, even if I hadn't saved you. You are a good person, no matter what they made you do." I say, giving her shoulder a soft squeeze. Jen wipes the tears from her eyes, looking at her feet for a moment before looking back at me;
"Why was that a secret?" She asks, causing me to smile again.
"Because the bad men can't know you turned out just fine, that they failed. Always remember that the best way of showing someone they've lost, is to live the best you can." I state, my voice firm despite the state of my mind. I should probably have added that revenge is never the answer, but if I saw Miranda right now... I would be a hypocrite. Seriously, she got me again with the innocent-act, and I fell for it. I didn't even try to find her when I rescued Jennifer. I should have killed her when I had the chance. If I saw her now… I am almost scared at the debts of the pain and agony I would inflict on the bitch of a 'perfect' human being.
'This facility went rouge' Yeah right... She knew about it all from the start. She really makes it difficult not wanting to set her on fire... Just a beautiful green fire, setting her cold and calculating excuse for a human body on fire, igniting the lies and deceit she has constantly spun around me. I get to the point where I would enjoy her screaming, revel in her trashing of limbs as the fire ate through her flesh and skin. You better hope we never meet again Miranda…
"So when is the ship coming?" I swear, how children can just switch mood like that is beyond me. Forcing my thoughts off the subject of new and ingenious ways of inflicting pain, I look at Jenny, the picture of childlike innocence. How could anyone hurt a child with such… such ruthlessness?
"Jennifer, you going to ask me that question each seventh minute?" I ask, causing her to look slightly flustered before looking down at her feet for a moment. If I didn't know better, I'd say she almost looks embarrassed.
"Well... Are they?" Jennifer says, raising a brow at me. Her voice, while being soft, also holds a little bit of smartness, as if she possesses intelligence on a higher level than you'd think. In hindsight, I suppose that isn't all too impossible.
"Jen...are you pressing me for information?" I ask with a small smirk.
"Maybe...do you have information?" She asks with the most innocent look on her face, hands on her legs. Yep, I'm pretty sure she has a pretty sharp mind… and maybe a bit of bipolar.
"Mara... I think you're right Jen: You're no innocent girl at all" I say, giving her a slight nudge on her shoulder. Looking into the distance, a familiar shape is nearing port. From this distance, I can only catch a few details. A thin but sharp and strong outline of a V-shape upside down is one of them, seeing the ship mostly from the front.
"What does 'Mara' mean? Is it a curse-word?" Jennifer asks, making me cock a brow. I think this is the first time anyone's ever asked me about that. Watching as a long and sleek ship nears the depot, I scratch my neck, not sure how to explain. I mean, I don't even know fully myself why I keep turning to a deity supposed to only exist in a kick-ass videogame. Maybe it's because my belief in reality has been severely shaken by my new existence, but honestly? I'm not sure.
"Ehm... Not exactly. Jen you know people worship God in different ways right?" Still, most people aren't sure about why they pray to God when in doubt or trouble. My dad is… was, firmly atheist, and yet I have heard him pray to God at one time when my uncle had cancer. Maybe it's so that we can find support in dire times?
"Yes, mum had me made a catholic. She wasn't very believing though, because she didn't mind me playing with Daniel Roathlow, and his dad and him are Jews." While keeping an eye on Jen, I can start making out the details of the ship. The backmost wings in particular are easy to recognize. There are two thrusters on each wing, and the ship looks to be about a hundred or so meters long.
"Well, I am a little bit of two things. I started out Protestant, but then a lot of things happened to make me realize that there's more out there than just God. In short, I believe in both God and more than a few deities. One is called Mara, and is the goddess of love and compassion. Another is named Roku. He is the incarnation of Justice, Wrath and… odd behavior. When I saved you, he was the one helping me." If Roku starts getting on my back for having called him a god, then I'll be a little annoyed.
"I do believe that is the single nicest thing you have ever said about me."
"Shut it."
"You believe in other gods? Isn't that a bad thing to do?" Why did I know this would be asked, even from a child. Still, it's better than those 'Jesus hates blacks and Muslims!' 'God hates Sex!' types of people. I really wish I'd seen that movie about a man having had enough and taking a trip across the states, cleaning out in fanatics and douchbags… and spoiled teen-idols.
"Some would say that... But in Christianity you worship almost four main gods, then a lot of humans as well" This is gonna cost me, I just know it.
"No we don't" Jennifer says, crossing her arms stubbornly as she looks at me. Here we go…
"There's Maria, the virgin mother. That's one. Then there's Jesus, the son of God. That's two. Then we have the Holy Spirit and God himself, which makes it four." I say, mentally kicking myself for my lack of social the docks, the long frigate is slowly floating towards the docking tubes. The letters 'Normandy SR-1' are written on the hull in large white letters.
"Have you... Is that the ship? It says Normandy... What's that mean?" As Jennifer speaks, the ship has docked with the depot, the tube giving off a long hiss.
I'm on my feet even as the tube opens up.
"You bet it is. Allow me to personally welcome you onboard Miss Jennifer Nilsdottir. Welcome to the Normandy." I say with a ceremonial voice as we reach the tube, the doors slowly sliding open. As I turn to look at Jennifer, a thought shoots through my mind. Wait a minute... Isn't this where Ash would jump out and kick my ass?
"Incoming!"
"You... God dammed stupid son of a..." Looking back to the doors, I only just manage to catch a glimpse of a body as I'm tackled and sent to the floor in a tumbled heap of arms and legs.
A warm body in a dark uniform pins me to the ground, leaving me with a few inches between my face, and the hard panting emitting from a mouth centered beneath a nose and a pair of dark, brown orbs. Around it all, a flow of black hair surrounds the slightly tanned face.
For a few seconds, none of us speak. I don't know what I am supposed to say, and I suppose Ash is simply going over what to call me, and where to punch me.
"Shit, maybe I should get abducted by Cerberus some time... The reception you get sure beats... Holy Shit! Is that the girl? She's über cute, can we keep her?!" Managing to recognize the voice as belonging to our resident chef, I'm not surprised over his reaction to children. He had a niece not even two years old, last time I checked.
Looking back up at Ash's face, I spot a grin appearing on her face as it mashes down on mine, lips pressed against mine before I can even say a word. Somewhere nearby, Jennifer and Nikolai both exclaim an 'Eeeww'. Him probably just copying her, seeing as he definitely has been in this spot more than once. Our lips are locked tight, and I can taste and feel the emotions and stress leave me as I press upwards against her, inhaling her scent as we cling to each other.
"Brace yourself kid. They get much worse than this." Nikolai says, a sigh in his voice. I don't really pay it any heed as my eyes are locked upon the hazel orbs of my woman.
Pulling back for air, Ash shoots me a new grin before kissing me again. This time I grab her around the neck and head, pressing her against me as our lips meet again. Her breathing becomes faster, and I have to stop myself from tearing her clothes off on the spot. I missed this so much! Dear God I missed her so much! Suddenly I feel something slibbery and wet press against the insides of my lips, and I open up in a satisfied groan, allowing her tongue to enter my mouth. Shooting my own forward, we engage in a sort of sultry dance, tasting each other as Ash hugs even tighter onto my form, almost forcing the air from my lunges as we press against each other.
Her warm and soft lips briefly part from mine, gently brushing against my own in a moment of softer passion and intimacy. Leaning up, I start planting kisses on her cheeks, working my way around her face, completely ignoring the fact that three other people from the Normandy are watching.
"Eeeww!" Jennifer exclaims again.
"Told ya." Nikolai says, and the sound of someone hitting his shoulder reverberates through the place. Well, actually it's the sound of him cursing.
"Adults are gross!"
Looking back up at Ash, I grin, caressing the back of her head with my right hand.
"I think we have spectators" She says, gesturing to the people standing at the tube. I follow her motion to spot a small group consisting of Nick, Jane and Kaidan. I just give them all a brief nod before I turn my attention back to the gorgeous woman nestled on my body, filling me with confusing and mind-twisting feelings as my blood almost starts boiling again. Just this time, it's in a good way.
"I think you may be right... Also, I could definitely get used to this sort of welcome." I say with a grin as we start getting back up, as much as I loathe simply separating myself from her. If it were up to me, I'd simply take her across the shoulder and carry her down to the room in the gym. Instead, I sigh, taking the hand extended towards me as I get up as well, feeling how a tightening in my lower uniform. Considering that my best friend, my favorite colleague and our captain are standing next to me, I am glad that my armor hides the erection.
"Erection… erection… that is a funny word. You don't see or hear it often, yet everyone know that at least fifty percent of the galaxy has it more than once a day… world of wonders, how we can… nah, never mind."
"Thank you, now will you please shut it Roku?"
"Sorry…"
As soon as I'm on my feet again, I'm wrapped in a bear-hug by Nikolai, him squeezing all the air from my lunges, as well as putting strain on more than one of my bruised ribs;
"Dammed you asshole, just because you have a hard time staying dead doesn't mean you should go disappear on us the whole time." He says, apparently ignoring the sound of at least one rib snapping.
"Ni- Niko-ai! You are- crushing me!" I stammer, trying to breathe through his massive embrace. When he's described as a human truck, people aren't calling him fat. Ever seen one of those wrestlers on TV? Yeah, I actually think he could at least punch one of them in the ground. I've seen him do weights, I can't follow that one up.
"Oh... Sorry." He says, letting me drop to the ground.
"Alright… ignoring the fact that I feel like eating a horse…I could really use a shower right now... A really, really hot shower... And maybe a trip to the med-bay." I say, causing the assembly to laugh.
"What?"
"I think they missed you Fisher. Welcome back to the Normandy... And a welcome to your little guest here too." Jane says, nodding to me before she turns to look at Jennifer; "I don't think I caught your name." Jane says, bending down to get a closer look at the little girl in front of her.
Jennifer responds by looking at the mildly scarred red-head with a solid stance, giving her an once-over as if to compare this new woman to the 'angel'. Apparently Jane measures up to standard, because Jennifer adopts her usual easy-going attitude, smiling at Jane. Is this really the terrified six-year old girl I rescued only two days ago?
"I'm Jennifer Nilsdottir, although people call me Jen and Jack too. I am six years old, and I'm going to preschool... When I get home that is..." As she says the last bid, the easy-going attitude gives way to a more longing voice.
"Well Jennifer, I'm Captain Jane Shepard, Alliance Navy. This here is Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, Corporal Thomas Fisher, whom of course you know by now, and Mess sergeant Pfc. Nikolai Tengberg." As they are introduced, each person gives off a little salute to Jennifer who, of course, attempts to return it. She isn't very good at it though, and it ends up being more of a point-at-herself than a real salute.
...
With the sound of a door sliding open, Admiral Shala'Raan entered the office belonging to Admiral Anna Fisher.
The interior of the room was extremely spacious, for a Quarian, and was neatly decorated with simple furniture, a screen and a bathroom. The thing that stood out, was a smear of Levo-chocolate on the large window behind the desk and chair. The fact that it hadn't been cleaned yet suggested a rather lazy person residing here, or at least someone with a rather special mind. Thinking off it, Raan had heard that Fisher was a bit on the side.
Seeing how the gruff captain was nowhere to be seen, Raan looked around for a couple of seconds before sitting down in the rather comfortable chair, despite it not having been designed to accommodate the Quarian body.
"Admiral Shala'Raan. Glad you could make it." The sudden voice combined with the fact that Raan was alone in the room, made her almost jump in her seat. Remembering she was an Admiral though, Raan thought better of it and instead looked around for the origin of the voice.
She noted a faint shimmer of light coming from a holographic projector, it having turned on without her noticing it.
"Captain? I do not see you..." She said, looking around the room to see if the man was hiding behind the table. Because he wouldn't just use the communications to talk to her at a personal meeting.
That would just be rude.
"Take a look at the projector please. Circumstances...prevent me from attending in person. Oh, and I'm glad you didn't bring Daro'Xen along. I don't like that woman." While Price spoke, Raan was making her way to the projector. Tapping in a few keys, she brought it to life, along with the grizzled soldier now standing in front of her.
"Admiral. I'm glad we can finally meet face to face, so to speak." The captain said, giving her a respectful nod. Despite being used to talk to people over CQC, Raan felt there was something off about the projection of the captain.
"Yes I understood that much. I agree that she isn't the most social woman, but to request that I keep her away... What is the matter you wished to discuss?" Raan said, idly studying the odd streams of numbers running across the captain's legs. Certainly an odd holographic presentation.
"Admiral, I suggest you take a seat." The man said, his gruff voice momentarily replaced with a more somber and gentle tone. His hands were still clasped behind his back, eyes turned and attentive.
Nodding slowly, the Admiral dragged the chair out to sit in front of the CQC, watching the captain in the process, studying his face for a reaction as he simply looked at her with, she could have sworn, a slight hint of anxiousness in his face. Still, the odd streams of numbers and code running across his image made her think of a VI.
"I am seated... Now what?" She asked, looking in slight confusion at the captain as he looked somewhere behind him. Before she could even ask, a comfortable armchair had appeared on his end, projecting itself in front of her as Price sat down in it, crossing his right leg over the left before pulling up a cigar.
"You smoke Raan? Can I call you that or just Admiral?" He asked, briefly removing the cigar from his mouth, giving her a casual look. Raan just shook her head, but silently she felt like she was being played.
"Good, it's a nasty habit, but it helps take the edge off when you've been at it in battle. I remember one time I stormed a casino in Dubai, me and a fellow commando named Yuri... I didn't give him the credit he was due, and in the end he died... He took a bullet meant for me, despite my distrust of him... I made sure he was given a proper funeral, hell I made sure was honored by the fucking President..." For a moment, it looked as if a light shone behind the captain's eyes at the memory. It was in the literal sense of the word. It actually looked like a pair of lights appeared briefly behind his eyes.
"Captain Price, I wonder what the purpose of that little tale was, as well for why I am here." Shala'Raan was starting to lose her patience with the man. Had he just called her in to exchange war-stories? If so he should have called Gerrel… who strangely enough didn't respond to any of her messages.
In front of her, Price took out his cigar, looking at it for a moment before speaking;
"The point of both are the same... Yuri was Russian, and per definition I didn't trust Russians… As a matter of fact I was set in the fact that all Russians, except for two, weren't worthy of trust. In the end though, he gave his life to save mine. General hatred and distrust brings you nowhere these days. You get where I'm going?" He said, biting down on the cigar again.
"I get it, yes... You are one of the Alliance's AI-supporters. You want us to go ahead and accept the use of AI's... Why are you grinning like that?" Somewhere in her line of speech, the captain had erupted in a big grin, slightly unnerving the admiral.
"Oh, it's just that you called me a 'supporter' of AI... It's funny, in a way." He replied, blowing out a long cloud of smoke that slowly disappeared from view as it seemingly dissipated beyond the hologram.
"I am sorry for the misinterpretation then. What was the meaning of the tale?"
"Oh no no! You did get a part of it right, though I was hoping you would ask why it was so bloody funny." He said, flashing a smile as charming as an old scarred soldier could manage.
"This really appears as a waste of time Captain." Raan stated, starting to get up. She would have to inform the Alliance that its officers abused the CQC's.
"Just ask the bloody question." He demanded, his voice suddenly hard and determined.
"If you wish. Why is it funny?" She said, replying with an annoyed sigh.
"I find it funny, because I'm not a supporter of AI's." The man said, causing her to perk up slightly. Now she felt sure that she and the captain had completely bygone each other.
"Then what are you?" she asked, although a creeping fear was starting to emerge within her.
"I am an AI. Captain John Price, Systems Alliance AI. At your service ma'am Admiral." Price said, once again giving the admiral a small bow.
"This is by far the worst joke I have ever been subjected to Captain Price!" Raan was angry now. Angry at the prospect of humans playing games with her, and fearful that the man might actually be telling the truth.
"Joke? Who the fuck said I was joking? I'm a bloody digital copy of Captain John Price, SAS captain and world war three fighter. I'm no bloody joker, I'm the real deal." The man's mood had changed from content to a dark scowl. The image of him shifted a bit, the clean blue turning a slight haze of orange.
"But such a thing is illegal, not to mention impossible! No one can create a true AI in that way, it cannot be done!" Raan was on her feet now, pointing an accusing finger at the captain, still smoking his cigar while looking fairly annoyed.
"Is that so? Try looking at the table next to you Admiral. Notice the small disk encased in transparent metal? That's my hardware, and currently I'm transmitting our discussion to Admiral Anna Fisher. If you attempt to destroy me, she will have a team of marines detain you, as well as ban your fleet from Alliance Space... Now, shall we try and be a little calmer?" Price said, settling back into his chair.
"Calm? CALM!? You are an AI! Organic life is worth nothing in your eyes, you respond only to cold logic! You'd slaughter women and children if they didn't serve your sick purposes! My entire race lives on ships because of you, we can't even touch each other without a suit being in the way! You drove us from our Homeworld, you killed billions! I-" Raan was getting herself worked up in a frenzy, her hands gesturing wildly in the air while shuffling in front of the image. Somehow she managed not to notice the dark cloud going over Price's head.
"Shut up! Admiral Raan, shut the HELL up!" Price shouted, having sprung from his instantly evaporating chair, now standing in his full height with the cigar clenched in a strong grip in his right hand.
"I will not have an AI tell me what-"
"Oh but you will, because I am going to tell you a few things Admiral. First, I am completely different from the geth in pretty much all aspects. I think, act and speak like a human being. I also feel like a human being, and I feel fucking insulted over the accusations you just threw at me. Second, I have no desires to kill or take over the galaxy. I enjoy living just as much as the next guy. Third, I think you should stop treating all synthetic life as the Scourge of God. I asked for you in particular, because I thought you the most intelligent. I knew I should have asked for Korris instead, despite him being in Sol and you here." After the long rant, Price finally sagged back into his chair again, letting out a small sigh of annoyance. For ten long minutes, Raan didn't say a word, instead just sinking down into the chair behind her.
In the room next to the office, Anna Fisher sighed as well, activating her ear-piece.
"Well that could have gotten better... You sure yelling like that was necessary?" In the office, the image of Price remained as it was, allowing one of his programs to detach itself from the main code in order to be 'two places at once'.
"Well, you weren't the one being accused of genocide. Would this be a bad time to spill the beans about the geth?" In front of Anna, a projection of Price dangled his legs over a ledge, looking mildly annoyed but also entertained.
"Yeah, hold that one for now. Getting her to accept you takes priority. Besides, the geth are still reaching... What did you call it?" Anna said, rubbing her throbbing temples with both hands.
"Consensus. They might be influenced positively if this goes north, but for now they're fifty-fifty." This version of Price seemed to be in a better mood than what was normal.
Anna wondered if this was what was called 'personality splitting' by Price. If so, this was probably his happy side. The fact that it appeared much smaller and frailer just gave Anna the impression of a pained individual.
"No one ever said I would be playing chaperone for a meeting between a Quarian admiral and an AI..." She grumbled, looking at the techs at her side. Both of them had pearls of sweat rolling down their cheeks. She could understand them, for once. This meeting had the risk of resulting in the Migrant Fleet withdrawing all the support they gave the Alliance, plus the fact that the entire meeting was unauthorized and technically illegal, given the nature of the matter.
"Well, no one ever told me I would be inserted in an Infinity-class warship to help defeat an armada of giant machines that would make the Didact crap himself either, so we're on equal footing there honey." Price mused, a grin sliding over his face as he did.
This version of Price was starting to unnerved Anna.
"Who the frock is the 'Didact', and why would anyone name a ship 'Infinity'? That's like naming it Titanic. It's a disaster waiting to happen." Anna said. Price just shrugged.
"A homicidal maniac, bent on reducing humankind to the Stone Age… again. We had only just wiped the smirk off of the most insane religious zealots you never wanna meet, and POW! In rides a two-meter tall guy with Jedi-powers and a space-ship capable of destruction on a galactic scale… also he was ugly as hell." Price said, a smirk crossing his face.
"Damn… your galaxy sounds like it was going down the shitter." Anna frowned, a hand under her chin.
"Meh, we managed. We had the Spartans, so we could pretty much kick the nuts of anyone trying to throw stones at us." He replied, rolling a shoulder in the process as he did.
"You keep mentioning Spartans… What exactly were they?" Anna asked, briefly allowing herself to forget about the situation in her office. Besides, the techs would alert her if Raan tried anything.
"Take your N7's. They are the best your humanity has to offer right?"
"Of course, aside from the Spectres, the N7's are the toughest soldiers in the known galaxy… if you don't count in a Krogan battle master that is."
"Alright, now… A Spartan, especially a Spartan-I or II, would be able to use an N7 as a punching-bag, and hardly break a sweat. Stronger than a Krogan, more disciplined than the Turian Black watch, faster than an Asari Commando and a better shot than any other human soldier… When Halsey unleashed the Spartans on the Split-Jaws, humanity was on the verge of extinction. In three years we had them on the run. Nothing, I stress the word Nothing, could beat a Spartan with less than a hundred times their numbers."
"Damn… I wish we had something like that in our army. Still, it almost sounds too good to be true." Anna said, reveling in the thought of storming the beaches with an army of soldiers like that. Humanity would be the apex of the galaxy. The she noticed the slight scowl on his face.
"It is… The reason they were called Spartans, was mainly due to their awesome powers… but the backside of the medal didn't emerge until the middle of the Covenant War."
"The backside being?"
"Remember the Spartans of Ancient Greece? They were taken at the age of seven, drilled to become the perfect soldiers, and soldiers only… It was basically the same with our Spartans… only with a lot of genetic alterations and augmentations."
"So… you gave your kids away to become soldiers at the age of seven?"
"No… They were kidnapped and replaced with clones. Either that or they were orphans… in short: No one would think of starting to look for them. The drills were… inhumane, to put it lightly. A seven-year old would go through training and augmentations that would kill most people… and not all of the children survived it… So no, you don't want to start making your own Spartans. It isn't worth the cost unless humanity has no other way out."
"I didn't… Fine, I suppose it wouldn't be worth the soul of humanity to start a program like that… Is there no way you could give it to soldiers? Volunteers?" Anna tried, not giving up on the idea of super-soldiers.
"Hmpf, you really don't give up, do you? Fine, the Spartans made after the discovery of the abductions were nowhere near as good as the Spartan ones or two's, but… after the, in my opinion, failure of the three's… they made the Spartan-IV."
"Which was?" Anna said, pressing the AI for more information.
"Consenting adults. Instead of kidnapping kids, ONI went back to the ORION-program. The original idea of ORION was to train and give adult soldiers the augmentations. Just back at the start, they didn't have the tech to do it."
"But with the Fours?"
"With the Spartan-IV's, they did. Now, nothing ever came close to the power of the Spartan-I's and Spartan-II's, but… I'd still say the Spartan-IV's did a pretty good job. Despite being only a pale imitation of soldiers like 117, they were… good. An N7 might make them break a sweat, but in the end I don't think they could lose to regular humans, not even the N7's… then again, that's all just speculations, and frankly, for the moment it's just counter-productive to start up too many projects at once. Even you must have a limit to your check… Now, what was the second thing you asked me?"
"What?... Oh right, why did you name a ship 'Infinity'?"
"Beats me. I like the more personal names better. By the way, have you come up with one for your ship yet?" He asked, tossing a small lighter through the air before catching it, repeating the motion a few times.
"No...Not yet...it's a pain though, I've been asking around for suggestions, and there have been a few good ones as well." Anna said, bringing up her Omni-tool.
"Give me some of them. Any funny or personal ones?" Price asked, looking at her with expectation and joy in his eyes.
Definitely the happy side of the Captain.
"Mmm yeah. I got one from a colleague the other day. Admiral by the name of Kahoku. He suggested 'Slaver's balls', but quickly added that it was a joke... We have some history."
"Uh huh…" Price just said, gesturing for her to go on.
Another one was 'SSV Out of my Way'. I think that one was from a Sergeant Marcus Khazin." Anna said, a slight chuckle in her voice as she recalled how the sergeant had gestured with a fork how the ship would plow through anyone in its way.
"Ha! I like the man already. Anyone else?"
"A colonel who served under me in the Terminus suggested 'Mindoir's Wrath'. Colonel Exar Kun lost a lot of his family when pirates sacked the colony. I lost a cousin, so I'm heavily considering that one." A shadow went over her face as she remembered just why Steven had been the one to walk Megan up the aisle, and not her dad. The fact that his cooking was extremely good, was just another reason why most Batarians told horror-stories about Anna Fisher's treatment of pirates.
"Sorry to hear that... My old man was offed by the IRA, if it's any consolation... Any others?"
"Hmm... I got a letter some hours ago... It was anonymous though...'Hammer of Vengeance' was suggested, as well as a letter asking for 'Spirit of Eden'. I'm guessing someone who lost family when Saren attacked Eden Prime"
"I liked the two last ones the most. Yelling 'It's Hammer-time!' each time you fire the main guns... That would just be glorious!" Price chuckled, aiming his rifle though the air while grinning widely; "Also... How about 'Goliath'? Or is that a too 'get killed by a tiny opponent' sort of ship?"
"Heh... Yeah, I guess that does sound good...still, I haven't decided yet... Any progress with Raan?" She asked, looking at the screen showing a slowly gesticulating Shala'Raan in the middle of discussing something with the original version of Price. Looking at the screen as well, the happy version of Price nodded briefly before dissolving himself, merging back into the original.
...
"Lieutenant! Talk to me!"
"Lieutenant!"
Zaeed could vaguely pick up the sound of people shouting his rank... Or maybe it was another lieutenant. He couldn't recognize the voices.
"Lieutenant Massani!"
So... It was him they were shouting at.
Curious...
It was curious because he felt sure the fall had killed him. Then again, the migraine and the cold wet feeling in his face should have told him all he needed to know.
"He's not responding! Give him the defs!"
A feeling of intense pain shot through his body as a pair of pads was slammed down on his bared chest, sending electricity coursing through his body.
The numbness instantly retracted, allowing him to shout out in agony. In place of the numb feeling, a searing pain filled his mind, alerting him to the fact that his legs were on fire.
At least, it felt like it was the case.
"For fuck's sake Massani, you had us worried there... Oh, do NOT try to get up. You broke eleven bones in the fall, plus the fact that the debris almost crushed your right arm." A voice said. Zaeed couldn't see who it was.
"How bad is it?" He asked, looking at the blurry shapes that were supposed to be people standing around him.
"As I said, you broke-"
"Not that! How's the fight going?" He snapped at the voice.
Six hours earlier...
Out of the thirty original Apocalypse tanks in the city, just twelve remained.
The tank was built to survive heavy fire and to take a beating from other tanks, hence the extremely powerful kinetic barriers. The problems started showing themselves when it was subjected to missiles. Enough of the explosive rockets impacted on the tank, and even the heavy armor of the tank couldn't stand up to it, crumbling inwards before blowing up. Now only twelve tanks rolled through the streets, seeking out enemy armor and entrenched forces for the guns to deal with, allthewhile it would be left for the machine gunners to deal with rocket-troopers before they could fire off their payloads.
One such tank was AC-11B32, or 'Ma Dalton' as the crew had dubbed her.
"Coming down 10th street now... No movement spotted, but I hear some shooting." Corporal Sewon Meloy of the 6th armored reported from behind his screen. Out of the six man crew, he was the spotter responsible for picking targets for the gunners.
"Figures, now we're lookin' for 'em, and the bastards hide from us..." Secondary gunner Lloyd Williams grumbled. Next to him, Primary gunner Jimmy Retons grimaced but was otherwise quiet.
"Can it. We can go chat in the bar later, if it's even still standing. But right now we're getting paid, which means we're on duty, which means: If it has more than two eyes, you rape it with lead!" Sergeant Cole Nicks barked, giving the steering system a slight increase in throttle. Nicks was born and raised on Elysium, so when pirates invaded, it became personal.
"Still no mov-... Sod! Hostile armor three 'o clock!" Corporal Sewon Meloy yelled, painting and highlighting a hostile tank about a hundred meters ahead of them. Light arms fire was being poured at it from a three story brick-and-concrete house next to it.
As his tank realigned its twin-mounted cannons, Meloy watched with a rotten taste in his mouth how the, to them oblivious, hostile tank fired off first one shell, then another at the building.
Both impacted and sent a shower of debris out the opposite end. What sickened him the most was how the scanner in his optics picked up organic parts amongst the flying rubble, and he watched as a cracked phase-II helmet rolled away from the rubble, missing most of the left side.
"Guns ready!" Williams called out.
"Fire!" Nicks barked, letting the onboard VI know of the orders. The moment the word left his mouth, the twin barrels gave off a single 'bang' in unison.
Before they even heard the sound of the air catching fire behind the shells, Sewon felt a grim sense of joy as he watched the two slugs impact on the hostile tank's shields, draining the completely in the first round, leaving the enemy without shields.
"Repeat fire!" Meloy shouted, observing as the hostile tank pointed its weapons at the 'Ma Dalton'. Listening to the gunners reloading the guns, Meloy watched as the hostile tank opened fire, pouring both heavy slugs and machinegun-fire at them.
He smiled as he watched the shields soak it all up, diving to 92% of efficiency. Taking on an Apocalypse with anything less, was borderline suicide for any tank yet built. Meloy had often dreamt about stripping an Apocalypse of its shields and pin it against the World War two King Tiger tank. From what the books said, it was so heavy that most bridges couldn't bear the weight.
"Guns ready!"
"Fire!"
As the tank shot again, Meloy felt like flipping of the crew of the other tank, watching as a pair of fireballs suddenly erupted from the tank, blowing it to small pieces while sending the turret flying down the street.
"Armor down, good kill!" despite using professional words, the corporal cheered as he spoke. He was then alerted to a crowd coming out from one of the buildings, no more than five men, plus a Quarian in a red suit carrying a rifle almost as long as himself.
"Friendlies, ten 'o clock." He called, noticing two of the humans clutching an arm or keeping pressure on their side.
"Exterior gunners, keep an eye out for trouble. Williams, you received medical training am I right?" Nicks barked out.
"Yes sir"
"Open the hatch. If they have wounded you take care of them. Gibson, make some room on the hull. We're picking them up if they need transportation."
"Yes sir!" Gibson replied from his seat in the rear machinegun-nest on the tank.
As the tank opened up, Sergeant Cole Nicks climbed out, followed by the squad's medic, Lloyd Williams.
"You guys are a sight for sore eyes!" The Quarian called out, showing an understandable relief over being alive. Nicks crossed the distance between the two groups at a brisk pace, giving the squad an once-over while Williams rushed to aid those of them in need.
"Sergeant Cole Nicks of the 6th armored. Who's your commanding officer?"
The entire group looked at the carpet of debris spread over the street. The Quarian then stepped forward;
"Right now... I'm afraid that's me. Our lieutenant was blasted away by that tank, and he's probably buried under a ton of rocks."
"What's your name and rank?" Nicks asked the Quarian.
"Kal'Reegar, Farseeker Platoon Leader. Our lieutenant's named Zaeed Massani."
Nicks' eyes opened wide at the name.
"Well... Shit. I don't believe a man who survived a gunshot to the head can be killed that easy." He said, taking a hand to his comms; "We stay here for a bit" He said, then looked back at the Quarian.
"I wanna see his cold body before I believe Massani to be dead. Find him" Cole said, starting towards the mountain of rubble.
...
As Ambassador Donnel Udina looked over the incoming reports and requests sent to his file from the entirety of the Human race, listing from mere requests for him advocate a new brand towards the Council, to declarations of war or calls for the activation of Protocol Ragnarok. He still remembered how Huerto had described the thoughts going through his head when 'Ragnarok' had been declared back in 2154. In essence it meant total conscription and a call to arms on the grounds that the human race was in danger.
Udina had been born on Shanxi, so he remembered quite vividly how it felt when a horrifying alien force was attacking his home, hell-bent on killing him. A new message arrived in his inbox, alerting him with a small 'ping'. Snapped from his memories, the ambassador sighed opening the message.
His eyes almost jumped their sockets.
Reading through the report with a heart beating faster and faster, he finally reached the button where it was signed by Captain Jane Shepard and Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams.
Forcing himself to remember how he needed a clear head for this job, he briefly put the report away, massaging his temples. He then started cursing and damming the system for having taken seventeen hours before he saw the message.
"As if an impending doom isn't enough... Now terrorists are stealing children?" He growled, opening communications from his office. He would need the Council's compliance in the matter, but he wanted to waste as little time as possible from getting it, to the point where the Alliance sent warships out.
"Admiral Oleg Petrovsky here." A heavily accented voice replied.
Oleg Petrovsky had recently been moved from General to Admiral, due to his aggressive but brilliant tactics as well as his reputation for having a lower loss of men than even Hackett or the infamous Fisher.
The fact that he was slightly xenophobic, while being a negative, was understandable. He had been an aide to General Williams in The First Contact war, and the humiliation he watched Williams being subjected to after the war, had made him highly distrustful of the Turians, as well as it made him trust a hyena more than the Council to have humanity's back when it counted.
He liked the Quarians though, as well as the Volus. Both had to overcome major physical obstacles in order to survive. A trait Petrovsky liked to believe humanity was the embodiment of.
"Ambassador Donnel Udina here. Admiral, a grave matter just came to my attention, and you have the flotilla closest to the Dakka system, so I trust you to handle it."
"Depends... Is it legal or a wet-work job?" He was more than capable of both.
"Legal. I still need the Council's consent, but I want you to ready a force to land on Pragia." Udina would personally have sent Fisher there, knowing how she would likely break a few conventions on the terrorists planetside. Contrary to popular belief, Udina had great respect for the older woman. If anything, she promoted humanity's interests and flipped the council off when they were needlessly annoying. Unfortunately, she was still buried in work back on Acturus, doing research on projects meant to give humanity the upper hand in the galaxy.
"Pragia? But no one lives there, it's just massive jungles and poisonous animals." Oleg protested.
"Not anymore... Say Admiral, did you ever follow the cases concerning the strange biotic diseases?"
"Can't say that I did, why?" Udina could hear on the man's voice that he wasn't following his train of thought. As brilliant as Petrovsky was, a ten-year old would usually know more about current events than him
"About seven years ago, reports started piling up about parents being refused to see their dead children. They had seemingly died from violent biotic outburst." Udina said, rubbing his forehead. A habit he had picked up from meetings with idiotic bureaucrats and cleaning up after Anna Fisher's messes.
"Seemingly?"
"Yes... Now, I don't know how much TV you watch, but about a month ago, I decorated a young corporal with the Purple Heart. Now, about a week ago, he was abducted by unknowns... Wasn't big news, people disappear all the time."
"Udina, you've lost me now." Petrovsky sighed.
"He was taken to a Cerberus facility on Pragia. According to reports it's a biotic death camp for children." Udina said, still tasting bile in his mouth from uttering the words. He could also confirm that the words 'Mother fucking sons of whores' carried just fine from Russian to English in the translator.
"You want me to shut it down, or to save the corporal?"
"Admiral, when I get the permission to carry out the mission in Council Space, I want you to go to Pragia, find the facility and shut it down. Besides, the corporal seemingly escaped with a child from the place, so he is of no concern." Udina almost felt sure he could hear a grim chuckle in the other end of the transmission.
"Rules of engagement?" Usually that would be an odd thing to ask a political ambassador of, but between those two, leaders in their own rights, fact was that no one would ask ethical questions when it came to combating terrorists.
"Get whoever is held there back home... Other than that I don't think we should waste any court's time with captured terrorists. You understand?" Despite himself, Udina couldn't help a smile spreading across his lips.
"Understood." Petrovsky said, terminating the transmission.
Leaning back in his chair, Udina started typing out his report to the Alliance brass. A chore he normally loathed, but this time he went at it with a smile. He would also need to get the Council to agree to Petrovsky's mission. He would also need to delete records of the call, just in case.
"Time to earn that paycheck." He muttered, letting a rare smile protrude his lips.
Thanks to those of you who gave me suggestions for Ship-names. It's a really tough decision... Also, review this chapter as if I wasn't posting a new one right after :D