Disclaimer I hate this chapter I just feel like I didn't do a good job portraying what I was trying to. This is as good as I think I am going to get it so here we go.
Shepard's tour of the Normandy wasn't exactly what you would call detailed, she showed me around the main thoroughfares the CIC, mess hall, cargo hold and on-board training facility. While I had most of the layout stored quite nicely in my memory from playing the game the training facility was new I had always figured a warship would have an area I guess the game didn't feel the need to have it.
Shepard had quickly been called away after she was finished with me though she did say she wanted to ask me some more questions but they could wait. Once she was gone I just wanted to get somewhere quiet and alone, while I had been with her the crew had payed me very little attention but once I was alone it seemed that they were avoiding me this wasn't really much of a surprise but the looks of what I could only describe as distain was a bit much. I could understand looks of distrust and suspicious but what I was seeing was much worse.
And so not wanting to cause an incident or give someone an excuse to start one I had quickly and while being as polite as possible to those that past my way, made my way over to the training and exercise area. I figured that Anderson was properly going over the debrief from Eden Prime with the official Alliance ground team and maybe addressing the death of Jenkins. I would properly be asked to give my version of events after that but for now all I wanted to do was think about the past day's events, while I wasn't under fire or at risk of being shot by flashlight robots.
I jumped on one of the treadmills positioned against the wall and started a steady run and began to gather my thoughts.
"What is eating you dear?" Alexandra's voice was as best as I could tell sympathetic but knowing the kind of person she was, since I was technically her creator I doubted that assessment. I closed my eyes and focused on the voice inside my head.
"I don't know maybe the fact that I have no memory from before waking up in a crater that isn't to do with the games that this universe is based around." I let my voice reflect the feelings of anger that were now festering in my core over her actions when I was out cold. "I think I'm entitled to feel a bit anxious about my current predicament." Silence as she didn't answer me, this was a welcome response given my earlier interactions with her had been less than pain free.
"Yeah well here I was thinking you would love the chance to be in this world I mean you did complete fifty-two separate run throughs of the series." Her voice was back and had returned to the patronising tone she had used to address me in my 'dream'.
"Playing a game is a lot different than fighting for your life with other people living in your head and having one of them treat you like a child."
"But you are a child dear." Her reply was as quick as it was annoying. "In terms of your reason for being here that is. Honestly this isn't how it was planned, we spend two years training your body and mind for this and almost as soon as we start you go ahead and get blown out of the sky and forget everything we so painstakingly taught you." She sighed as she finished her little vent at my perceived incompetence.
"Well seeming as you are also part of me isn't that partly your fault?" I quipped in return as I kept plodding along on the treadmill at a steady rate I looked at the display and saw I had already gone a few kilometres but still felt fresh.
"You know you could show A little bit of gratitude as you only survived because of myself and my other self's. We had to seriously hold you back on your little suicide run against Saren." Her words caused me to think back to that moment of zombie like movement. I tried to recall my thought processes at the time but the memory was weak it hurt to recall it.
"I don't understand I couldn't even hear you guys at that point."
"Yes you could, what you think a computer was giving you all that information? Well technically we are computers now but that's not the point it was us. We were trying to seize control of your body to stop you from being an idiot but the connections were still damaged."
"What the fuck do you mean seize control?" I snapped at her at the thought of my body being torn away from me or moved like a puppet on a string. As I finished I found myself speeding up but it wasn't me that was doing it once again I found myself in the feeling of being a spectator to my own actions.
"Like this." She replied as she began running faster and faster before slowing back down to my steady pace. "I told you already we run through your various implants and they can allow us to control you, provided we have a two third majority between the other me's." I didn't know how to react to this revelation, I could lose control of my own body with no say? What was the point of my being here? Why did they need me at all if they could just technically move a human body like a robot?
"Now I suggest you think about running because you are about to have control again." As she finished I felt myself being 'put' back in my body and after a few fumbled steps soon took up the rhythm again.
"Just what am I to you?" I felt like breaking down I sped up on the treadmill venting to this latest piece of news. "Why the hell do you even need me if you can do that?" There was no answer only the sound of my feet crashing against the treadmill. "Why did you ruin my life!" Again no answer came as I jumped off the treadmill, all I wanted to do was hit something, anything I wanted to feel the impact of my fist slamming into a solid object and not seeing anything suitable settled for slamming my fist into the wall. A blue aura had formed around my fist as I continued to bring it to bear against the dent that was slowly forming on the wall.
"Fuck!" I finally brought myself away from the wall and slumped against it letting myself fall to the floor. I looked down at my hands, my body still covered in my armour I had yet to take the time to see how it came off, if it came off at all seeing as how it had just appeared from nowhere on Eden Prime. I truly felt lost, why did this happen to me? I don't even remember anything besides the games, what could I have possibly done to deserve this.
"Perhaps it would be better if I ended it now." I let out with a sigh knowing how futile the attempt would be if the Shepard's in my head could take over at any given point.
"You should find out what happened to your pistol." Sovereign's voice came from my head I could tell this was something I was never going to get used to as his voice snapped me out of my spiral. "You are going to need. You can't change what has happened make the best of the situation you find yourself in." And with those words of I wanted to say encouragement he resided back into my mind.
"Charles King to the bridge, Charles King to the bridge."
The voice was one I heard a million times before it was the voice of Joker, or rather Seth Green's voice. Judging from the formality of the request it would seem he would be in earshot of someone that would reprimand him if he used his usual humour that he would be become memorable for. Deciding not to keep them waiting I picked myself up off the floor and headed for the elevator.
As I made my way on the bridge cursing the horribly slow elevator time as it stopped at every floor picking up other crew members, I saw Kaidan, Ashley, Shepard and Anderson all standing around the cockpit talking. As Anderson saw me he nodded to the others he in response turned towards me.
"Mr King." Anderson said as he approached. "You will be coming with us to see the Human Ambassador Donnel Udina." He paused quickly looking over me. "While you were out we cleaned your armour seeing as how we couldn't figure how it came off. We couldn't have you presented covered in bits of Geth." He added with a quick smile.
"We are just approaching the citadel now sir." Joker added the rest of the party turned to look out the cockpit window I to found myself drawn to the lights of the Citadel. It was massive I stood their mouth wide open as I took it the sheer size of it as we approached. I could make out the sound of Kaidan and Ashely talking but I was to engrossed in what I was seeing, it was impressive enough in game but seeing it in person was truly awe inspiring.
"It's amazing" I said to no one in particular as we moved gracefully between other vessels looking to dock or just orbiting the station. And then like a tonne of bricks being dropped on me I remembered what it was. The catalyst, or the key to the reapers victory, the number of people that would die here the bodies that would be gathered it all came to me and the majesty of the scene in front of me was lost. My face hardening as I stepped back from the cockpit with my legs starting to shake. The others were still looking onwards as Joker pulled us into dock and without another word I slipped into a nearby seat.
Anderson seemed to notice my change in mood but only acknowledged me with a nod of the head which I failed to return as the horrors of a war I knew was coming flooded into my mind. The games had always made the reapers seem horrific and almost god like in their power, but I loved them as an enemy they were interesting and seemingly unstoppable every victory against them seemed impossible the odds always stacked against you, but it was just a game and I quickly came to realize that this was no longer the case. That thought terrified me beyond words.
"They can be beaten we did it and so now can you and the Shepard over there. Never forget that." Sovereign's voice did little to reassure me as we pulled into dock.
The trip from the Normandy's dock to Udina's office was a blur I could hardly remember placing one foot in front of the other or the elevator ride down from the dock. Shepard tried to talk to me some of the way but my answers were quick and aimed at trying to end any conversation that would arise. It wasn't until Udina spoke that I finally forced myself back into reality.
"So I take it this is the mercenary you picked up on Eden Prime?" Udina asked Anderson as he looked over at me, his blunt tone and hardened stare was brutal the games just made Udina out to be a dick but in person he was much more intimating.
"Yes this is Carolus Rex or Charles King." Anderson spoke matter of factually as he addressed Udina clearly wanting this over as quickly as possible.
"The council would like to speak with him and the ground team from Eden Prime, I have convinced them to give us an audience about Carolus's claims against Saren. Needless to say they were not happy allegations against one of their best agents like this was not welcome news." Udina replied rubbing the sides of his temples as he spoke. "You will all follow me to the council's chambers." He added as he began heading out the door to his office. As our procession made its way towards the waiting transit cabs I noticed Shepard looking at me once she noticed I saw her she quickly took her gaze away, there was something in those red eyes of hers. Regret? Doubt? I wasn't sure but it gave me an uneasy feeling.
"Look your pistol." Sovereign said as his presence built in my head. "She has your pistol. Why would she have it?" I looked over and sure enough my pistol was hanging from hip. "Carolus listen to me, whatever happens at this meeting remember what needs to happen the evidence against Saren is paramount. Do not try and speed things along here. Stick to the timeline for now." This time once he finished talking he didn't recede into my mind clearly he was expecting something but what?
We arrived to the council chambers and it was there that I got my first glance of a man I hoped Shepard would soon be spending quite a bit of time with over the coming years. Garrus Vakarian. His blue colony markings clearly visible against the grey colouring of his face. He looked fresh still young and full of energy just wanting to protect the innocent, not the world weary cynic that he would come to be.
"Saren is hiding something I need more time, stall them." Garrus spoke with a sense of urgency.
"Stall the council? You're investigation is over Garrus." The other Turian replied before turning and walking past us. Garrus looked over to us he paused for a brief moment taking a slightly longer evaluation of me before turning to Shepard.
"Commander Shepard, Garrus Vakarian. I was the C-Sec officer in charge of the investigation of Saren."
"Did you turn up anything?" Shepard replied quickly glancing over towards me.
"Saren's a spectre most of his activities are classified. I couldn't find anything solid." Shepard lowered her head at the response. Why is this eating at her so much? "But I know he is hiding something, like you humans say I can feel it in my gut."
"Commander if you are quite finished we cannot keep the council waiting." Udina's voice came booming as he clearly let us know of his displeasure.
"Good luck Commander maybe they will listen to you and your team." Garrus answered as he made his way past us.
As we made our way up the stairs towards the council chamber I struggled to admire the layout and beauty of the area, it was truly breathtaking but sightseeing would have to wait for another time the stairs shined to perfection the layout of this place served to truly make the council seem like royalty deciding the fate of billions every day. As we reached the walkway beneath the councillors the hologram communicator to the side came to life and their he stood, Saren.
I stood there staring at him knowing what he was and what he would do. His mind already lost to his new masters.
"This meeting is brought to order." The Asari councillor started the proceedings. "This meeting will be two fold it will discuss the Geth activity on the Human World of Eden Prime and to discuss the results of the C-Sec Investigation into Saren Arteries and the events surrounding the of death of Nihlus."
The next few minutes were tense as Udina presented the case against Saren and the Geth activity has fiercely as possible while Saren just stood and listened. I listened as my accounts of that day were laid bare along with Shepard's team accounts. Shepard's was very straight to the point carefully listing the events as she saw them leaving nothing for interpretation. Ashley's was much the same flared with a considerable amount of anger about the deaths of her squad and the citizens of Eden Prime. Kaidan's report was filled with his thoughts on events as they unfolded as well as factual recounts of the day he was clear in his distrusting nature of my arrival and actions but drew the line short of accusing me of anything openly besides wild and reckless behaviour.
The councillors stopped to consider all they had heard, before shaking their heads. "
While the Geth attack is a matter of some concern, there is nothing to indicate that Saren was involved in anyway." The Asari councillor's tone was clearly playing around the emotions of those in attendance trying to calm the Human party while not suggesting they were lying about the events of the day and Saren. The Turian councillor was less than diplomatic.
"The Citadel Security investigation into Saren found nothing to support your charge of treason."
"A witness saw him kill Nihlus in cold blood." The venom was clear in Udina's voice as he snapped in response.
"We have listened to the accounts and read the reports of that mission, the testimony of one man who was found unconscious at the scene and who's identify are completely unknown to any official records in our possession is not compelling evidence."
"I not only resent these charges but offer evidence to suggest the guilty party is indeed present at these proceedings." Saren's voice felt like blades being pushed into my skull as I realised what he was getting at.
"Your gun. He used it to kill Nihlus." Sovereign sounded for the first time since I had heard him speak a bit flustered. With a few motions Saren's display changed to show me before quickly changing to documentation about me.
"That human is a known criminal that I have been hunting for the best part of a year. His name is Carolus Rex apparently it is derived from Latin a long dead Human language his real name is unknown."
"We can't stay here we need to go now!" Sovereign's voice was urgent. "We need to get your pistol and go, trust the Shepard will follow Garrus's leads and get the evidence from Tali but we cannot stay here!" I stood there frozen listening to Saren list my known crimes.
"The tests conducted on Nihlus's body confirm that it was his pistol that fired the rounds that killed my good friend and comrade Nihlus. He is wanted for the deaths of several Spectre's and therefore I am invoking my Spectre authority to have him placed under arrest and sentence him to death." I turned my head and watched as Udina stepped back from me and the others tensed themselves.
"The evidence is overwhelming. Captain your team is take this man into custody to await his punishment." The Turian Councillor said as he pointed at me. Anderson nodded to Shepard and Kaidan and Ashely drew weapons.
"That's it, I am taking control." I felt myself get replaced in my mind as Sovereign took control. In the blink of an eye he had created a barrier and charged at Shepard, Ashley tried to stop him but Sovereign threw her down the first set of stairs with a powerful biotic push, before turning to Kaidan and ducking his biotic punch before delivering one of his own to Kaidan's midsection. Shepard opened her Omni-tool and drew my pistol but she hesitated and in that moment of indecision Sovereign grabbed the front of my pistol and wrestled it from her grip.
In a matter of seconds Sovereign had managed to get the jump on three highly trained soldiers. It was a sight to behold.
"Sovereign, what is the escape plan?" Alexandra asked as she joined me in my mind.
"We need to lay low while making sure Shepard goes looking for the right evidence. We need to get to the lower wards and vanish in the crowd." Sovereign replied as he activated the tactical cloak.
"Carolus dear you really are useless aren't you." As much as I hated her I couldn't argue just what was I doing?
As we made our way towards the nearest exit the sound of alarms ringing and security officers arriving on scene was everywhere.
"How long will our cloaking last?" I asked them as we made our way down corridors slowly working our way down towards the lower levels where we could perhaps hide.
"The cloaking will last around fifteen minutes provided we don't fire a weapon." Alexandra answered as I slowly brought my mind out of the daze from what had just occurred.
"I can't keep this up Carolus is going to have to take over." Sovereign added as he rounded another corner and entered an elevator.
"What do you mean I have to take over?" I asked confused as to why I was needed at all.
"If we are in control your mind will begin to fade out. You are not housed in the implants we are, if we took over for good you would cease to be or you would just become a vegetable which to be honest is about as good as you are now!" Alexandra replied as she began fading into my body once more.
"We need your mind; we know the events of a great number of possibilities of the Mass Effect universe but you know more than we could ever hope to imagine. You are the mind and we are to be your body. No I am going to hand back control follow my directions and we should make it to the lower levels where we can hide." And with that Sovereign relinquished control and I resumed our retreat down into the wards.
Hey guys Lord Castor here, hope the chapter was only bad in my eyes but time will tell. You have no idea how much I stressed over writing this.
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Cya guys
Lord Castor Out!