Chapter 7 – Fly on the Wall

The Leviathans experienced a brief blindness, the connections to their tools broken as the fragments traversed the many disruptive fields around the Citadel, but then they had sight again. Collectively, they sent pulses to overload any nearby systems. It drained them to send so many at one time, but they would recharge, and it had worked; the fields power sources were offline, and the tendrils reconnected to their tools.

Suppressing the frightened minds of each individual again, they bid their mature tools to withdraw their weapons and to begin the assault.

They watched, detached, as guard after guard fell to the ground. The chaos being wrought as they pulled the strings was in stark contrast to the quiet serenity of their own surroundings.

The Citadel had been breached with ease, and now they would initiate the next stage. The children were brought forward - shields for not only the fragments but for the adults, and together they moved further into the Citadel.

Using the fragments, the Leviathans began searching. Though they could do little more than see through the eyes of those they had yet to control, it didn't matter; they were simply looking for the one mind that would be impenetrable.

oOo

Garrus led the others who were prepared to fight, at a run to the nearest C-Sec office. He needed secured network access, and his companions needed weapons.

The sirens had them all instantly alert and on edge, but the ensuing silence was somehow worse. Floating security VI's had launched automatically, dispersing the crowds quickly with their warnings to return to their homes or to go to designated 'safe' areas.

Swearing as he swiftly pored over the alerts that came through on his omnitool, Garrus charged into the office and towards a terminal, barking out an order for someone to get them all weapons. Aethyta and Wrex went to oversee the responding asari officer's choice of arms.

"Garrus?" Kaidan prompted, fighting an inordinate fear.

"It's the detection programs," Garrus confirmed. "Multiple points. I can't connect to anyone at the docks affected. I'm accessing security cameras to get a visual."

Feeling on the verge of panic, Shepard tried to contact Joker, Kaidan pressing close to her so he could hear over the noise of large numbers of enforcement officers massing, waiting for orders.

"Was there no word from Citadel Patrol?" frowned Victus, who had chosen not to go with the councillors and their guests as they headed to the safe-room, despite the Executor's protest.

"No, but they definitely came through the docking bays." Garrus then shook his head in frustration when all he got back from the camera feeds in the affected areas was static.

"My people confirm there's no unusual activity out there," stated Hackett, closing down his link to his fleet. "Somehow they slipped right by us." He was distracted by Terra and Kaidan's concerned faces.

Kolyat rushed in. "Executor-"

"Krios. Get me eyes on these docking areas. I want to know what we're facing." With Kolyat on the terminal, and Zabeleta moving to offer assistance, Garrus moved away to take the incoming call from Bailey.

Terra was willing Joker to answer…

"Shepard!-"

"Joker!" she breathed out in relief, then heard the faint sound of gunfire through her omnitool. Her gut wrenched with the horrendous realisation that they weren't at the apartment. "Tell me where you are!"

"One of the parks… Uuh…shit, uh-"

"Shepard," Edi's calm voice, having opened the line. "I am transmitting our co-ordinates now."

As Terra brought it up on her omnitool, Kaidan's heart sank to see that their position was a long way from the Presidium.

"Don't worry though. We're pretty well hidden at the moment," added Joker. "Is it ironic that I'm squeezed into a kid-size replica of the Normandy? And they put the entrance to a slide in my cockpit," he complained.

Garrus returned to the group, a perturbed look on his face.

"What have we got?" asked Kaidan, taking a pistol and rifle from Wrex.

"Estimates are over 800 attackers…turian, human, asari and salarian."

"Mercenaries?" wondered Coats. Aria T'Loak had been informed of the leviathans, and had stated she'd do what was necessary to keep Omega 'clean' by watching out for reports of apparent amnesia, but how successful she'd been was anyone's guess; she would answer to no-one, as possessive of her domain as ever.

"No. …Families. Including children."

There was a collective intake of breath, and they could hear Joker curse under his breath.

"Colonists?" frowned Hackett, and he exchanged looks with Victus.

"But we checked them all."

Suddenly uncertain about everything, Hackett looked burdened. "Doesn't mean anything. Not if they were still under control."

"They're strong enough to maintain their connection from dark space?" worried Raan.

"It's a smart move," added Coats. "Give up enough thralls to make us draw the wrong conclusion. It's why they've been able to move so quickly."

"And why they got past our ships," Hackett frowned. "We weren't expecting our own."

"We've got visuals," Kolyat called out. "We couldn't regain access to the bay cameras, but Mr Zabeleta got the nearest working cameras to zoom in." He sent the feeds to a larger screen on the wall.

In every view, Garrus could see his officers locked in rather one-sided firefights. Children, some as young as Rorie, stood in front of their adults, no sign of any emotion on their faces as their parents fired guns over their heads. It was shocking, and it ratcheted up a new level of anger for the Leviathans.

"Jesus! They're using the children as shields!" said Kaidan, horrified.

"Makes us hesitate to fire back," Victus said, grimly.

Shepard stared at the screen, wishing it was all a bad dream and if she just concentrated hard enough she'd be able to change it. Her baby was out there… and so were all these others. She took the pistol but shook her head at the assault rifle that Aethya offered her, then gestured at the sniper rifle held by the asari officer who quickly handed it over.

"Using children," Koris said with disbelief. "They're innocents."

"Makes no odds," Wrex stated, brutally. "It's them or our kid."

Garrus swore under his breath. "I hate to agree, but-"

"No," Shepard said firmly.

"Terra?" Hackett questioned.

She tore her eyes away from the screens and faced him. "We can't shoot them. They're being controlled. All of them."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Dummy rounds only, unless there's no alternative but deadly force."

"Shepard. Those peop- the Leviathans… aren't holding back," Garrus voiced his doubt.

The gaze she fixed him with made her resolve clear. "I will not allow the Leviathans to use them as nothing more than cannon fodder."

"Admiral, you're not being logical-" started Victus.

"Yes, I am, Primarch. I'm not prepared to sacrifice those people's lives without looking for another way first."

Garrus didn't question her again, and turned to send out the word to his officers – no live fire, unless necessary; suppressing fire, not deadly.

Liara and Javik had doubled back to the Presidium and were quickly armed as they joined them, followed by Bakara.

"Are you sure this is wise, honey?" Aethyta pressed Shepard, no trace of humour now. "Dummy rounds aren't going to stop them getting to that gorgeous little thing of yours."

"No, but cutting the connections will." Shepard stated, her face determined as she froze the feeds and indicated at the artifacts that could be glimpsed close behind the groups of children.

"Terra," tried Hackett, hating the fact he was attempting to make her see sense in gunning down kids. "Those children are clearly in place to prevent us doing that."

"So we knock them out," Kaidan said, wholeheartedly supporting Terra.

"Yes. Something like we used on Feros," nodded Shepard.

"Nerve gas?" Garrus said sceptically. "We don't have anything like that, here."

"But we have hospitals."

Kaidan was, as ever, impressed with her thinking. "They put people under all the time."

"You're talking anaesthetic," Hackett cottoned on. "Is it possible to use it like that?"

They all turned to Narin Solus, who had been quietly taking it all in, and now blinked as everyone looked his way.

"Would recommend krogan anaesthetic. Potent enough to affect other species, even with air dispersal."

"Then that's how we end this." Shepard stared at Rorie's position, knowing they were going to have to head to Huerta first.

Garrus was looking at that same thing. "Five bays have been compromised close to where they are. There's a good chance they could end up getting boxed in fast," he warned.

"Shepard. I have no agents in their vicinity," apologised Liara, ashen.

Terra gave her a look that told her friend that wasn't her fault. "It's a reasonable distance from where the Normandy's located," Shepard noted.

"You want us to head for the Normandy?" Joker asked.

"No. I want you moving away, towards the Presidium, but Cortez, Knox... they should be able to get to you quicker."

"Notifying Lieutenant Cortez as highest-ranking officer aboard," notified Edi. There was only the briefest of pauses. "I also request access to the Citadel's internal systems in order to ascertain the optimal direction in which to avoid confrontation."

"Handing over the Citadel to an AI!" exclaimed Raan, before remembering that the geth Prime was standing there.

Ignoring the quarian, Garrus didn't even hesitate, going straight to the terminal. "You've got it, Edi."

"Can you get Rorie to safety?" Kaidan asked quickly, knowing she could assess it in seconds.

"Affirmative. Secure route determined. We will head to the Presidium."

"I've got shuttles ready to go," Garrus said.

Shepard held her hand up to Diniel. "You need to stay away from this."

"Shepard, Admiral?" the Prime responded.

"You don't stand a chance against those pulses. It's too much of a risk for you."

Processing that, Diniel bent his head forward slightly in deference. "We understand. Thank you."

"You too, Zee." Shepard placed her hand reassuringly on the Zabeleta's arm. "Thank you for being here, but you don't need to go back to that place."

He looked back at her in relief, swiping away the sweat that had formed on his forehead with his sleeve. 'That place' was Mindoir, and his nightmares had only recently lessened. The thought of seeing more atrocities...

"I'm going," Clay countered as she turned his way.

Koris sighed. "I'll keep him close, Shepard."

"Okay. Let's do this. Joker, Edi, get moving."

"Holy crap! I can't believe this!" blurted Joker, and he took an audible breath. "But we'll keep her safe, guys, I promise."

"I know you will, Joker," answered Shepard walking swiftly as she talked. "You shouldn't be alone long. If anything changes, let us know."

"Will do."

"Mommy?"

Terra almost stopped at hearing her daughter's voice so timid. Only Kaidan's encouraging arm at her waist carried her forward. "Rorie… You're going to be absolutely fine. Edi and Joker will look after you, okay?"

"Uh huh. Uncle Joker brought me a new cap! It's got a Liance picture on it, just like you and daddy and Ganpa Hackett have!"

Terra found herself unable to adjust to the sudden topic change, so Kaidan answered for her.

"That's great, honey. You can show us when we meet up with you."

They jumped into a shuttle and took a seat.

"Okay, daddy."

"Rorie," Hackett spoke up as they lifted away. "Wearing that Alliance symbol means certain things are expected of you."

"I keep everyone safe from the bad people."

He smiled at her words. "That's not your job yet, sweetheart. But I do expect you to follow orders. So be brave and keep yourself safe, Aurora. Understand?"

"Uh hu- Aye, Sir."

"You don't need to salute. They can't see you," Joker could be heard whispering to Rorie.

"We love you very much, sweetie," managed Terra. "See you soon."

"Love you, too. Bye, bye. No… Rorie, out," she corrected, before closing the call.

Reluctantly, Shepard shut her omnitool off, her eyes locking with Kaidan's. She appreciated the hand that claimed hers and squeezed in reassurance, and she gripped those strong fingers like a lifeline. Feeling all eyes on her, and needing a less public place to claw back her military head, she moved to the cockpit where Garrus was piloting. Knowing Chakwas would be at Huerta, she called her.

In the main body of the shuttle, an uncomfortable thought came to Kaidan. "How the hell did they get past the LDF's?" he murmured to Hackett. "They should have lost their connection when they hit that. Is there a chance they've already overcome the fields? That they no longer work?"

Hackett met Kaidan's concerned look with his own, and they both turned their gazes on Terra, fearful they were in danger of losing her to the Leviathans.

oOo

The Leviathans flicked from one mind to another. But these minds were not their tools; they couldn't access memories or suppress the person to control the body. All they could do was see through their eyes. However, they had no interest in the visuals they received, because each one told them only one thing: it was not the child.

They bid those they did control onwards, deeper into the Citadel, paying the barest of attention on the pathetic creatures that threatened to shoot but failed to pull the triggers, easily manipulated by the young faces that stared back at them.

oOo

Chakwas had grabbed everyone she could and they all worked feverishly within Huerta's labs. When Shepard had called her wanting something along the lines of Lizbeth Baynham's nerve gas back on Feros, Chakwas hadn't asked, hearing the urgency in Shepard's tone.

She'd been sat in Narin's lab already, unable to sit idle while the ship was in dock, and eager to do what she could to help while the doctor was at the meeting – his very presence at the same short-notice meeting as Shepard telling her exactly what it pertained to.

Narin's work was advanced but she'd learnt a lot from the salarian during the past years and had only needed a brief synopsis of what he wanted her to do. While she'd been waiting for some results, her thoughts had turned to the previous evening she'd spent in Greg's company in the ship's lounge, a bottle of decent brandy and good conversation were all they'd required to enjoy themselves. Her changing relationship with the head engineer was an unexpected blessing at a time when she'd convinced herself she'd never meet anyone she could be more than a friend to.

Then came the sirens, but despite them, she and everyone round her carried on, their nerves shredded but ignored because patients still needed tending to regardless, and if it was indeed another attack, their services were all the more vital.

Now here she was in the middle of a serious situation she had a horrible feeling about, formulating an idea to convert anaesthetic gas into stoppered glass vials which could be thrown and shattered to release the gas. Crude but effective. She'd claimed the hospital's stockpile of krogan anaesthetic, which when inhaled by any other species would be enough to quickly interfere with the neural pathways.

A lab assistant rushed in with a trolley-full of empty vials, and they hurried to fill them as a large group ran past the lab window led by the reassuring presence of Shepard and Kaidan.

oOo

Joker had Rorie's hand clutched tightly in his as he hurried his pace to keep up with Edi, while trying to avoid the panicked civilians who raced about with no apparent direction. He pulled up hard in time to avoid being crashed into by a woman running across their path, screaming.

"She should be quiet," Rorie said wisely.

"Yeah. Some people, huh?" Joker responded with false levity. He didn't mind admitting he was crapping himself, but at least he was silent about it. The screams of the people around them only worked to string his nerves out even more. The responsibility for another person's life took on an intensity all its own when he wasn't in his ship and it was Shepard's little girl. Her mother had died on his watch….

Gunfire burst out, closer than before, making Rorie jump.

"Edi?" checked Joker.

"Our course is still optimal, Jeff. The closest indoctrinated presences are many stories above us. Also, Garrus has IPD's installed at either end of this concourse. We would know if they arrived on this level."

"Good. Great. How much further?"

"Our destination is a door at the far end of this walkway. Only those with security clearance are able to enter. It opens to an internal network of corridors and elevators that, when followed correctly, lead to the Presidium. Once I have accessed it, it will automatically seal behind us and we will be beyond the reach of the Indoctrinated."

"That sounds really great." Joker looked past her, hoping to be able to see that door ahead of them. Instead he was disheartened to see nothing but a mile of walkway. "Damn… I guess we have a way to go. And you're sure you can access it?"

"Do you know how to fly?" Edi responded, dryly.

"Uncle Joker's the best flyer!" Rorie answered for him.

"Pilot. And thanks, Pip-squeak," Joker returned, with no sign of his usual sarcastic tone. Feeling on the verge of a meltdown, he couldn't get Rorie to that door fast enough.

oOo

The Leviathans stopped searching as they met resistance. Everything was fuzzy within this one's mind, and they recognised the distortion created by Garneau's field. They pulled back to other 'eyes' to get a visual. The one called Coats. At the same time, they were aware of another distortion, in another part of the Citadel. Again, accessing the sights of the nearest individuals, they saw Shepard.

The races had chosen to protect these two. It would work for now, but soon they would find a way to overcome the meddlesome fields and regain control.

For now they moved on from the distortion, searching once more.

oOo

They had split into two groups, heading in opposite directions. They were one less after Narin had wisely chosen to remain at Huerta where he was most needed.

Now Garrus' team were back on foot having decided this was as close as the shuttles could safely go without falling foul of the pulses themselves. He'd gathered more officers as they went, and Bailey, who had met up with them at Huerta, would be doing the same with his followers, consisting of the quarians, Liara, Aethyta, Javik, Coats and Hackett.

The two Spectres had insisted on going with Garrus because this route took them closer to Rorie, still too far away for comfort. Cortez's assurance that he was on route had made it easier to concentrate on their task.

However, Kaidan also had another reason for going where his wife did: he wanted to keep an eye on her in case the prototype defence field truly didn't work. It was why Hackett had gone with Coats. Kaidan had no idea what he'd do if the worst happened, but he had to be there.

Emerging from a corridor onto one of the main public areas, Garrus waved his officers back while they took cover to assess the situation. There were three sets of colonists, spread out and firing back at more officers who were hunkered down, still reticent to fire even their dummy rounds in case the children were hurt. Their hesitation had led to them being cornered.

"We need to do this fast," rushed out Garrus. "My officers are running out of time."

"We separate and deal with them in one sweep," nodded Shepard.

"Wrex and I will take the left," decided Bakara.

"I'll go right," Victus said, then looking wryly over at Garrus. "Still sticking to my ass, Vakarian?"

"While I'm still next in line for Primarch? Damn right I am. You'll go down over my dead body."

A yelp of pain from a guard as he took a bullet in the shoulder, had Shepard exchanging a look with Kaidan.

"Kolyat and I will deal with the last group," Shepard added in quickly. "Let's do this."

Kolyat was surprised, glancing at Kaidan, but the Spectre seemed to have his own destination: the guards. Noticing Shepard moving out he followed her lead as she went for a better position.

"I need you to draw their fire. Aim above their heads, and keep down. I'm going to cloak, get behind them, and deliver the gas, adults first." She placed a surgical mask over her face, which would help stop her succumbing to the gas vapour herself, and immediately vanished.

His shields fizzling as it was hit by the odd round, Kaidan ran over to join the guards, who looked at him like he'd gone crazy. Without a word, he created a barrier that shielded them all. "It's okay. You can stand down. See to your colleague. We've got this in hand." The relief amongst the officers was palpable, but Kaidan was now fully focused on watching the backs of the others.

Wrex was moving forward using what little cover was available under Bakara's cover fire, but then in true Wrex-style, he roared and ran right out in the open for the last stretch that would bring him close enough to lob one vial, then a second, into the human colonists. He took a few hits before the vials smashed open and caused the whole group of humans to crumple to the ground. With the way clear he raised his shotgun and took out the artifact with a single close-range shot.

Garrus was more subtle than Wrex, keeping to cover nearly all the way while Victus distracted them. He threw the vial from a further distance than his krogan friend, where it broke against a human male's chest. Several adults close to the impact fell to the ground, as did all the children. Victus took the honour of destroying the orb with some carefully placed rifle fire, while Garrus' second vial landed at the feet of those who remained, bringing them down too.

Kaidan watched as Shepard materialised right behind the oblivious group of turians. He looked for any sign that she was not herself and the tension left him when he saw nothing but his wife – the field was working. She dropped the vials right at their backs and quickly reversed, her pistol ready. Once the way was clear, she kicked the artifact away from the youngsters and blew it apart, then stood staring solemnly at the unconscious children in the shocking silence that ensued.

Standing, Kaidan went to join her, while Garrus ordered his officers to secure the colonists in a room, not a cell, until they could be checked over and helped. They would be added to the list of those who required the omnitool upgrade first.

Shepard didn't care that they were turian. All she saw were the tiny bodies lying at her feet, thankfully breathing. She decided then that the Leviathans were more like their creation than organic; devoid of all emotion except arrogance and contempt. She checked them all over for wounds. Nothing major. Her eyes fell to the insignia's the adults wore on overalls: OFIR MINING CO. These weren't colonists, but miners and their families. Who knew how many years had been taken from them.

Placing his hand on Terra's shoulder to bring her back to him, Kaidan felt the sadness she exuded. Then there was anger, and Admiral Shepard re-appeared.

"This has to end. Now."

"Yes, it does," he said, in full support.

The others regrouped around them, and as one, turned towards the distant gunfire.

oOo

The shuttle was going at an almighty pace, the severity of the situation had Cortez fully focused on one destination. Rorie was so vulnerable, as were Joker and Edi, and he and those he'd gathered were the closest people able to offer them any reasonable defence.

"What exactly were you thinking, woman!? Coming on a dangerous mission like this!?"

Knox rolled his eyes and gave a heavy sigh. He was finding it hard to concentrate with Donnelly obsessing about his wife's presence. He wasn't sure what the hell the engineers were doing here. From the sounds of it they would all be liabilities. Even the older engineer was there, though he may at least have experience of combat. He got up and headed into the cockpit to sit beside Cortez, the man not taking his eyes from his task for even a millisecond.

"It's a freaking circus back there," Knox grumbled.

"Have some respect for the people you work with, Corporal," Cortez said, a harder note in his tone. "They're here for one reason: they care about that little girl. Can you say the same? Believe me when I say that the only reason you're on this shuttle is because I need your training beyond the basics the rest of us have."

"Good. Because my training's all I'm offering," bit back Knox.

Before Steve could respond, the shuttle shook violently, internal alarms chiming, and the vessel's power gone. They'd been hit by a pulse.

"Hold tight! We're going down!" warned Cortez, through gritted teeth. He'd been expecting it, and the fact he'd pushed the engines to their limits to get to Rorie meant he'd also have enough momentum to get them over to the concourse that lined the Citadel's arm. He knew precisely where he wanted to be, and had calculated how high the shuttle needed to be to reach it if they lost velocity. Now, he worked to keep them level so landing would be a skidding ordeal rather than a full out crash.

The impact wasn't pleasant but, when the shuttle finally came to a stop, everyone was whole and getting to their feet.

After verbal confirmations that they were all fine, Cortez readied his weapon, and contacted Shepard.

"Steve. Everything okay?"

"Pulse took us down, but we're not far behind them. Depending on any resistance we encounter, we should be with them shortly."

"That's a relief to hear. Let me know when you have them in sight."

"You got it."

"Good luck. Shepard out."

Looking at his team, Cortez placed his hand on the shuttle's hatch and waited for them all to nod their readiness. Then he yanked the hatch back and led the way out, knowing that Rorie was somewhere ahead of them.

oOo

The events on the Citadel played out like hundreds of screens in the backs of the Leviathans minds, amidst thousands more from throughout the galaxy. Some they controlled, others merely windows. Still, there was no effort. Except their influence was becoming increasingly limited as their tools went dark. The Leviathans didn't like that. These creatures were their tools, to do with as they pleased. The races interference was impudent.

Suddenly, they took a collective inhalation as their searching tendrils hit a mind that offered them nothing. This was not like those with the fields; there was no distortion, just a wall.

As one entity they pushed against it, exerting all of their energy, but this mind did not relent, continuing to emanate warmth. They moved to a close pliable mind, to see the threat for themselves. The eyes of the nearest person flicked from the back of a synthetic, then surveyed the surroundings before looking down at a child whose hand he held. They had found her. She looked up into the eyes they borrowed, and the Leviathans nearly shrank back. She was saying something they could not hear and then smiled.

"The child seems unafraid," commented the Second.

"That will change," assured the First.

With a single thought, they turned all of their tools on the Citadel towards her.

oOo

The sound of screeching metal as a shuttle hit the ground a distance behind them, had made Rorie's breathing hitch, her hand tightening just that little bit more on his. Joker knew how she felt. He'd turned to look, but couldn't see anything. Friend or foe? He had no damn clue. Could the Leviathans puppets even use a shuttle? Then he shook his head at himself. Why couldn't they? These weren't mindless zombies…quite. They had masters pulling the strings. He looked down at Rorie who had tugged his hand, meeting her young eyes and thinking that she shouldn't be seeing all this.

"Uncle Joker? Am I being brave?"

"Braver than me, that's for sure. I actually think I might cry," he said, trying to sound light-hearted.

She grinned back at him. "You're being silly! You don't cry!"

Pleased he could make her smile despite the circumstances, Joker nearly hustled straight into Edi when she suddenly came to a stand-still, and his heart sunk, sure whatever had caused her to stop was bad.

"What is it?"

He then wished she hadn't turned around to respond to him, because there was no way an AI should be able to look that troubled. Only she wasn't answering him, she was calling someone.

O

Shepard frowned over at the others as the indoctrinated group they were trying to close in on - most of whom were asari - suddenly detoured, ignoring them completely.

"What the-?" she began, watching as Kaidan, his surgical mask in place, made the most of the situation and raced towards the retreating backs of the colonists and launched his vials to knock them out, then backed away. Bakara then strode in and dealt with the artifact, while Shepard's omnitool demanded her attention. "Edi-"

"Shepard. All groups are converging on our location," informed Edi, sounding alarmed.

Now she knew why the Leviathans focus had changed, and her heart-rate accelerated as she started running, knowing the others would follow. "Can you still get to safety?"

"Yes. The closest group is still several storeys above-"

"EDI!"

Startled by Joker's frantic shout, Terra knew instinctively that Edi was down, and she feared what that meant for her daughter.

oOo